Auburn Fields Community Q&A – Resident Reference Guide
Welcome to your updated community reference guide! To keep everyone in our community well-informed, the Board has compiled this comprehensive Question and Answer list from our Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) and the latest 2026 Rules. Please keep this guide handy for a quick glance at our community standards, policies, and neighborhood guidelines.
🛠️ Maintenance & Repairs
Q: Who is responsible for maintaining the exterior of my townhome versus what the HOA covers?
A: Maintenance responsibilities are split between the Association and individual Owners as detailed below:
HOA Maintenance Responsibility
- Improving, managing, operating, insuring, inspecting, and maintaining all Common Areas.
- Providing snow and ice removal for all Common Area sidewalks and roads.
- Grass mowing and irrigation system repairs for all Common and Limited Common Area lawn areas.
- Maintaining, repairing, and replacing the exterior finished surfaces of the walls, soffit, facia, and roofs of your Living Units.
Owner Maintenance Responsibility
- All interior and structural components of the home.
- Exterior doors, door frames, casings, jambs, hardware, and any exterior door weatherproofing.
- Garage doors, moldings, garage door hardware, and automatic openers.
- Windows, window frames, casings, hardware, and window weatherproofing.
- Maintenance of driveways, walkways, patios, or any other concrete adjoining the Lot.
- Exterior light fixtures, electrical outlets, light bulbs, HVAC installations, plumbing, and electrical installations serving the Lot.
- Clearing snow and ice from the driveways, walkways, stairs, and porches that serve their individual Living Unit.
Q: Can I modify my backyard, fence, or change my home's exterior color?
A: No exterior work, improvements, alterations, repairs, or excavations that change the exterior appearance of a Lot or its structures can be made without prior written approval from the Board. This restriction strictly includes modifications within Limited Common Area backyards. No building, fence, wall, or other structure may be erected, improved, or altered—including your choice of exterior color schemes and building materials—without prior written Board approval. Furthermore, any exterior alterations to a Living Unit must also be approved by the appropriate municipal governmental entity.
🚗 New Parking Policy (2026 Update)
Q: What are the parking rules, and how does the new guest parking tag system work?
A: To ensure fair use of limited parking, the community is implementing a new parking compliance program. The key rules are as follows:
- Driveway-First Rule: All residents must use their driveways and garages first before utilizing guest parking spaces.
- One Guest Parking Permit: Each homeowner receives one parking pass/permit tag usable only when the driveway is completely occupied.
- Permit Display: The permit must be visibly hung on the rearview mirror of vehicles in guest spaces. Vehicles lacking visible permits or parked inappropriately face fines and towing at owner's expense.
- Vehicle Registration: Homeowners must complete and return the vehicle registration form listing all vehicles on their property. Unregistered homeowner vehicles are subject to fines.
- Guest Spaces: Guest spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are not guaranteed.
- Oversized & Recreational Vehicles: Recreational, commercial, or oversized vehicles are completely prohibited unless kept entirely inside your garage with the door closed. A brief 24-hour exception applies strictly for loading or unloading.
- Tenant Education: Homeowners with rental properties are legally responsible for informing their tenants of all Auburn Fields parking rules and regulations.
🐾 Pets & Animals
Q: What is the community pet policy, and what is PooPrints?
A: We love our pets, but strict guidelines are enforced to maintain hygiene and harmony:
- Dog & Cat Limits: Residents are permitted to keep a maximum of two domesticated dogs or cats provided they do not create a community nuisance. No livestock, poultry, birds, or insects may be bred or kept on any Lot.
- PooPrints DNA Registration: Every dog in Auburn Fields must be registered with the PooPrints DNA program. This allows the association to keep the community clean and trace uncollected pet waste. Fines will be issued for non-compliance.
- Leash & Roaming Rules: Pets must be securely leashed at all times whenever they are outside of the individual Lot, with the exception of dogs inside the designated dog park. Cats are strictly prohibited from roaming freely in the community.
- Pet Waste: Owners must immediately clean up and properly dispose of all pet waste. Waste bag stations are provided throughout the community.
- Excessive Barking: Homeowners must take proactive measures to minimize continuous barking or animal noises. Ongoing noise issues are subject to HOA enforcement actions and fines.
🏡 Neighborhood Living & Courtesies
Q: What are the community quiet hours, playground expectations, and garbage can schedules?
A: To keep Auburn Fields safe, clean, and quiet, we adhere to these neighborhood guidelines:
- Quiet Hours & Speed Limit: Quiet hours are enforced between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Please observe the 10 MPH speed limit when driving inside the community, and remain alert for children playing. Parents, remind children not to play in the streets for safety.
- Playground Expectations: Parents are responsible for ensuring all trash, food, drinks, and toys are cleaned up after playground use. Woodchips must be swept or blown back into the play area if displaced. The HOA will assess fines for non-compliance.
- Garbage Can Schedule: Garbage cans may be placed out on Tuesday (the day before pickup) and must be stored out of sight by Thursday at noon. Failure to follow this schedule will result in fines.
- Front Porch Storage: Porches must be kept tidy. Outdoor furniture in good condition is allowed, but porches cannot be used to store bicycles, toys, barbecues, trash cans, or other clutter.
- Window Coverings & Signs: Under no circumstances may cardboard, tinfoil, or plastic be utilized as window coverings. No signs may be erected in Common Areas without prior written Board consent. In accordance with Utah state law, residents have the right to display reasonable for-sale, political, or holiday signs and flags on their private Lots.
📋 Rentals & Leasing
Q: Am I allowed to rent out my townhome?
A: Yes, subject to specific rules to maintain community stability:
- The Lease Cap: No more than 35% of total Lots within the community may be leased at any given time (excluding bank-owned or hardship-exempt units). If the cap is met, the Board maintains a priority-based waiting list.
- Minimum Term: All leases must have a minimum initial term of 6 months. Nightly, hotel, short-term, or dormitory-style rentals are strictly prohibited.
- Occupancy & Registration: Lots may only be rented to a single family or a maximum of three unrelated individuals. Owners must apply to the Board, pay a setup fee, and register the lease prior to tenant occupancy.
- Hardship Exemptions: Hardships include active military deployment, occupancy by immediate family members (parents, children, siblings, etc.), charity relocation (min 1 year), and employment relocation (min 2 years).
- Owner Liability: Owners must supply tenants with copies of all Governing Documents and are personally liable for any rule violations, assessments, or fines caused by their tenants.
🛡️ Insurance Deductible Update (2026 Policy)
Q: What are the HOA requirements for homeowner's insurance deductibles?
A: Effective April 1, 2026, all homeowners are required to increase their personal homeowner’s insurance deductible from $10,000 to $50,000. This update ensures coverage consistency across shared property and building structures in the event of major incidents or claims. Homeowners should contact their insurance providers immediately to update their policies and must submit proof of compliance to the HOA if requested.
💰 Assessments & HOA Dues
Q: When are assessments considered late, and what are the penalties for non-payment?
A: Assessments fund the essential upkeep and operations of Auburn Fields:
- Late Period: Assessments are collected on a schedule established by the Board. Payments not received within 10 days after the established due date are officially late.
- Interest & Late Fees: In compliance with Utah state law, late fees cannot exceed the greater of 10% of the assessment amount or $50. Late interest is capped at 1.5% per month (18% per annum).
- Non-Payment Action: If an account remains delinquent for 61 days or more, the Board may accelerate the remaining assessments for the fiscal year. The Association also reserves the right to suspend voting rights, restrict access to common amenities, and place a continuing lien on the Lot with the Salt Lake County Recorder.