Question 1

Just Purchased a Home or Moved In: What To Do

Accepted Answer

Whatever type of resident you are, sign up for email communications from the HOA here. This is also how the HOA board sets you up for billing (tenants will not be billed) and for sending notifications for membership meetings, votes, or community events.
Dues are usually paid through the end of the calendar year, you shouldn't need to pay until December unless the board says otherwise. If you moved in during December, please make dues payment by January 1 (see the contacts page for payment information). Always put your Maplewood street address in the payment memo/description). We will send annual invoices out in December every year, but it is the homeowner's responsibility to pay by January 1 even if you don't receive a bill.
If you're on Facebook, join the Maplewood Homeowners group to keep up to date on neighborhood news and ask questions you can't find in the FAQ.

Question 2

Sidewalk Ownership

Accepted Answer

The city does not own sidewalks in our neighborhood. Homeowners own sidewalks in their yard (they're actually within your property line, you can see the little tacks in the curb that mark property corners), and the HOA owns sidewalks in common areas. If any sidewalks in the neighborhood (common area or homeowner) are causing a mobility issue for you, please notify the board by email (maplewoodrenton@gmail.com) describing your issue and the exact location, we can look into fixing common sidewalks or notifying homeowners to fix theirs.

Question 3

Installing Artificial Turf

Accepted Answer

Modern artificial turf options have dramatically improved in recent years and the board considers them to fit in with the character of the neighborhood. If you wish to install artificial turf in your yard, please submit a non-standard project approval form to the board by email (see the documents page) with web links or photos of the specific product you wish to use so the architectural control committee can consider it for approval. We are considering whether to create a list of pre-approved turf products to streamline this process using the pre-approved projects notification form.

Question 4

Installing Roof Solar Panels

Accepted Answer

Washington State Law allows anyone to install solar panels on their own roofs and does not allow any local jurisdictions (county, city, or neighborhood HOA) to ban them. You may install standard solar panels on your roof without approval from the HOA as long as they follow the existing roofline (no panels sticking up above the ridge line). If you wish to install solar roofing tiles however (like a Tesla roof), while the HOA cannot prevent you from installing solar roof tiles, because there is a roofing material component, you must seek approval from the architectural control committee for the specific color or material of the tiles you are choosing to install. Please submit a project approval form to the board prior to purchasing the product (see the documents page).

Question 5

Greenbelts, wetlands, and common areas: rules, maintenance, trimming shrubs and trees, removal of problem trees

Accepted Answer

The Maplewood HOA hires a landscaping company to maintain the common areas in the park and main entrance. The greenbelts and wetland areas that are next to homes are not for human use (other than trail use) and must be kept in their natural state other than cutting back any trees or shrubs that are encroaching neighboring areas or posing a risk of falling trees or branches on neighboring areas. Any homeowners who have a greenbelt bordering their lot can cut the bushes back as needed. If you have bigger problem trees overhanging your home that you think need professional removal, please contact the board by email (maplewoodrenton@gmail.com).

Question 6

Crime: theft, prowls, vandalism, etc.

Accepted Answer

While we live in a fairly safe area, there are incidents of burglaries and vandalism. Keep your belongings safe by not leaving valuables unattended in cars. Keep your homes safe with good lighting (suggested: motion activated outdoor lights) and optional security cameras. Keep your cars safe by parking in garages or within the range of lighting and cameras. Please report all recent vandalism or theft to the Renton Police crime reporting website. Please call 911 for any crime in progress (especially violence).

Question 7

Traffic Safety

Accepted Answer

All of us want safe car-pedestrian interactions in our neighborhood, especially children and pets. The city has done several speed studies to determine that some signs are warranted to remind drivers to watch out for children. Also, they have completed inspections at intersections and removed trees/shrubs to maintain safe sight lines while turning. Keep our neighborhood safe by watching out for children and pets and keep your speed to 25 MPH while driving the neighborhood streets. If you see repeat speeding offenders, you can submit the license plate to the Renton Police Department's Traffic Unit here.

Question 8

Street Lights

Accepted Answer

Street lights are maintained and operated by the City of Renton and Puget Sound Energy. They are paid for through a fee on resident sewer bills. Report street light outages here.

Question 9

Reporting Downed Trees, Abandoned Cars, Damaged infrastructure.

Accepted Answer

If there is a fallen tree or damaged infrastructure in a Maplewood common area or greenbelt, please report it to the board (maplewoodrenton@gmail.com) If there is a similar issue on a city street (like an abandoned car) or damage or fallen trees from adjacent city or county property, please use the SeeClickFix application (available for Android or iOS). The app will pinpoint your location and assist you in reporting the correct type of issue to the correct department.

Question 10

Mailbox key replacement or damaged mailbox locks

Accepted Answer

If your individual mailbox lock is damaged or you need to replace lost keys, it is the individual homeowner's responsibility to contact and pay the post office to do this work. If an entire mailbox cabinet is damaged (vehicle collision, mass break-in, etc.), report it to the HOA and the HOA will have the cabinet/locks repaired/replaced at HOA expense and distribute new keys to homeowners (in person) if necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions