For homeowners in Colorado Springs, selecting a new exterior paint color is not just a matter of personal taste. In communities governed by homeowners associations, covenants and design guidelines dictate what a house can look like, and failing to secure approval before work begins can lead to expensive repainting. According to The Colorado Division of Real Estate's 2024 HOA Information and Resource Center Annual Report, there are 8,362 active common interest community registrations in Colorado, and approximately 2.7 million people—about 46 percent of the state's population—live in such communities. That means nearly half of all Coloradans are subject to rules that can govern everything from lawn maintenance to exterior color palettes. The report also highlights the volume of disputes: the HOA Center received 3,811 inquiries and complaints from 300 individuals in 2024. Among the complaint categories, improper or selective enforcement of covenants and not following governing documents each appeared 67 times. These figures underscore that conflicts over HOA rules are not isolated incidents but a recurring issue for many residents.
However, the state office has limited authority. The Division of Real Estate states that its HOA Center does not mediate or arbitrate on behalf of homeowners, board members, or community association managers, and does not investigate or intervene in disputes between homeowners and associations. This leaves homeowners largely on their own to resolve disagreements, making it critical to understand and follow governing documents before undertaking any exterior modification. Tom Reber, founder of Simplify Painting, a company that has served the area since 2015, says association approvals are a frequent topic in newer neighborhoods. "In a lot of the communities we work in, the color question gets answered by the HOA before it gets answered by the homeowner," Reber said. "We'd much rather see the approved palette at the first walkthrough than find out after the first coat is on."
Exterior projects are most visible and therefore most likely to require approval. Simplify Painting's exterior painters colorado springs teams schedule work only after any required association approval is in place. Reber advises homeowners to pull design guidelines and submit requests before booking a painter. "A few weeks of approval time is a lot easier to plan around than repainting a house twice," he said. While waiting for exterior approval, homeowners can often proceed with interior projects, such as colorado springs interior painting, which typically falls outside association review. The same applies to kitchen updates like cabinet painting colorado springs, which can be completed on their own schedule. With HOA rules affecting nearly half the state's population, the implications are clear: homeowners must treat covenant review as a first step, not an afterthought, to avoid costly conflicts and delays.
