
What an association may review
Section 720.3035 of the Florida Statutes (chapter 720, homeowners' associations) says a committee may review and approve plans and specifications for the location, size, type or appearance of improvements, but only to the extent the declaration or published guidelines state or reasonably imply that authority. Your declaration decides whether a pool, a screen enclosure or a fence is covered. Ask the association for the current documents before you design anything.
What a denial must say
Under subsection (4)(a), a denial must come as written notice to the owner that states with specificity the rule or covenant it relies on. If you are denied, ask for that notice and compare it with the declaration.
Hurricane protection specifications
Subsection (6)(a) says the board or a committee must adopt hurricane protection specifications for each structure or improvement on a parcel, and that all specifications the board adopts must comply with the applicable building code. Ask whether your association has adopted them and whether they touch pool enclosures.
Source: Florida Statutes 2025, section 720.3035, read November 6, 2026. The page carries a disclaimer to use the official printed statutes for official purposes.
A sensible order
- Get your declaration, rules and any pool or exterior guidelines from the association.
- Ask the board or committee about its application form and its timeline.
- Submit plans to the association with the site plan your builder prepared for the county. The permit guide lists what the county asks for.
- Apply for the permit only after you know what the association will accept, so you do not redraw plans twice.
Frequently asked questions
Does HOA approval replace the county permit?
They are two reviews by different bodies. The association reviews under its own documents. The building department reviews under the building code. The statute does not say one replaces the other, so get both.
Can an association deny my pool without saying why?
Under section 720.3035(4)(a) a denial needs written notice that states with specificity the rule or covenant it relies on.