Got an HOA Violation Letter in Round Rock, TX? What to Do Before the Deadline

The short answer if you are holding a notice today

Stay calm. An HOA violation letter in Round Rock, Texas about a dirty driveway, mildew, a stained fence or roof streaks is usually a maintenance issue, and maintenance issues can normally be fixed. Here is the order that works:

1. Read exactly what it cites. Find the problem, the rule, the cure deadline and the mailing date.
2. Take dated photos of everything cited, before you touch anything.
3. Fix what can be fixed before the deadline. For dirt, algae, mildew and stains, that is usually cleaning.
4. Send proof (after photos plus invoice) and ask for written confirmation that the matter is closed.
5. Know you can request a hearing, in writing, if you disagree or need more time.

Have a deadline? Tell us the date and we will tell you what is realistic. Get a free quote Call (512) 546-6208

Jump to:

• What should the notice say?
• How long do I have: the two clocks
• Where do I find my community’s rules?
• What is the 7-day action plan?
• What do I send the HOA? (copy-paste emails)
• Will cleaning fix it, or do I need repair or approval?
• Sprinkler stains, roof streaks and shared driveways
• What should I ask a cleaning company?
• When is cleaning not enough?
• How do hearings and fines work?
• FAQ

What should an HOA violation notice say?

Under Texas Property Code Chapter 209, section 209.006, as summarized by public legal references, an association generally must send written notice by certified mail before it fines you, suspends your use of common areas, or takes certain other enforcement steps. Confirm the current text and your own governing documents. As summarized, the notice should:

• describe the violation;
• say you are entitled to a reasonable period to cure it, if it is the kind of violation that can be cured and is not a health or safety threat, and state the date;
• say you may request a hearing, and give the window for doing so.

Write down the postmark date and the date you actually received the letter, since homeowners report letters arriving long after they were dated. Also check that it names the specific problem and location. If it is vague, ask in writing using the template below.

Curable or not? Why a dirty driveway is on the easier side

Chapter 209 treats some violations as curable and some as not. As summarized, curable examples include parking violations and maintenance violations. Uncurable examples are one-time events that cannot be undone, such as fireworks or removing landscaping. Dirt, algae, mildew and stains are maintenance. That is why the usual path is simple: fix it, document it, send proof.

How long do I have to fix it? Two different clocks

This is where homeowners get tripped up. There are two separate time limits, and they are easy to mix up.

Also as summarized, if you cure the violation before the cure period ends, the association generally may not fine you for it. Fix early and keep proof. Do not rely on a hearing request to pause a fine; we could not confirm that from the statute text, so ask the HOA or an attorney how your situation is treated.

The summaries also say a repeat of the same violation within six months may not require a fresh notice. If the mildew returns, treat the first letter as a warning.

Where do I find my community’s rules?

We do not quote rules for any particular Round Rock community, because every association writes its own. Your notice should cite the part of your declaration, rules or design guidelines you are accused of breaking. If you cannot find your documents:

• log in to your management company or HOA portal, where documents are often posted;
• search the state’s HOA registry at hoa.texas.gov (confirm how the search works) for your association’s filings;
• look up the recorded documents with the Williamson County Clerk’s public records;
• ask the manager in writing for the provision cited, and for the association’s enforcement and fine policy. Texas law (section 209.0061, in effect for fines due on or after January 1, 2024) says associations that fine must adopt a policy with a fine schedule and give it to owners.

What is the 7-day action plan?

This is the order we would follow if the letter were on our own kitchen table. Adjust it to your deadline, and if the deadline is shorter than seven days, combine steps.

1. Day 1: Read, date and photograph. Record the mailing date, the date received and the cure deadline. Put the deadline on your calendar with a reminder a week ahead. Photograph every cited area, wide and close.
2. Day 2: Ask for specifics. Email the manager using the first template below: the exact provision, the evidence they relied on, what a passing result looks like, and the fine policy.
3. Day 3: Get a written quote. Send photos to us or another insured cleaner. If a repaint, stain or replacement might be involved, ask the architectural committee for the approved specification first.
4. Day 4: Decide on a hearing. If you disagree with the notice, put the hearing request in writing now. The window is counted from the mailing date, not from the day you opened the envelope.
5. Day 5: Schedule with a buffer. Finish before the cure date, leaving room for a rain day.
6. Day 6: Clean and re-shoot. Take after photos from the same spots. Keep the invoice.
7. Day 7: Send proof. Use the second template, ask for written confirmation, and note a date six months out to re-check the area.

What do I send the HOA? Two copy-paste emails

Send these by a trackable method and keep a copy. If your notice was sent by certified mail, consider replying the same way as well as by email. Fill in the brackets.

Template 1: request the specific rule and confirm the cure deadline

Template 2: proof of cure

Wording of a hearing request may need to follow your HOA’s instructions. Check the notice for how they want it submitted.

Will cleaning fix it, or do I need repair or approval?

Match what the letter says to the likely fix. These are our general readings from cleaning work, not rulings on any HOA’s standard.

What the letter says	Usually means	Cleaning fixes it?	What to do next
Driveway or walkway stained, dirty or discolored	Algae, mildew, dirt, tire marks or oil	Usually yes. Deep oil and old rust may lighten but not vanish.	Photograph, then clean the driveway and flatwork
Mildew, algae or dirt on siding, stucco or brick	Organic growth in shade or on the north side	Usually yes with a soft wash	Schedule house washing before the deadline
Roof discoloration or black streaks	Typically algae	Often yes, with low-pressure soft washing	See roof soft washing; get the roof checked if hail damage is possible
Fence dirty, gray, green or stained	Mildew, weathering or irrigation staining	Often for dirt and mildew; not for failed stain	See fence cleaning; check approved stain colors before restaining
Peeling, chipping or faded paint	Failed coating	No. It needs repainting.	Ask the architectural committee for approved colors, then repaint
Broken, leaning or rotted fence boards; missing or damaged shingles	Repair or replacement	No. Cleaning helps appearance only.	Repair first, with approval if the guidelines require it
“Unapproved” color, material or change	Approval issue, not dirt	No	Request the architectural committee’s decision in writing
Vague wording such as “exterior appearance”	Unclear until you ask	Unknown	Send Template 1 to find the exact item

Sprinkler stains, roof streaks and shared driveways

Fence stain and sprinkler overspray

Fences often look dirty, orange or blotchy because sprinklers hit them daily. Irrigation overspray can leave mineral spotting (Round Rock city water is hard, around 14.5 grains per gallon) and orange rust stains. Cleaning can lift much of it, but if the heads still hit the fence it will return, so redirect them. If you plan to restain, check your HOA’s approved colors first. The City of Round Rock’s fence staining program page also tells owners in HOAs to confirm the approved stain color before buying; it notes some homes, such as those in MUDs or the ETJ, are not eligible for the program, so confirm details with the City.

Roof streaks

Those dark streaks are usually algae. Shingle makers advise against high-pressure washing and scrubbing, so a roof should get a gentle low-pressure treatment, not a blast. If your roof has hail damage, worn granules or lifted shingles, cleaning will not solve the real problem, and a roofer should look first. We will not promise a streak-free roof, and we tell you what we see before we start.

Shared driveways

If a driveway is shared with a neighbor, the notice might name only you, or both of you. Photograph the whole area, read your documents for who maintains it, and talk to the neighbor before the deadline. If responsibility is unclear, ask the HOA to state it in writing.

Water use while you clean

Round Rock publishes water-use standards. As we read the City’s guidance, residential pressure washing is allowed on the household’s designated watering day, businesses whose main work is pressure washing are not tied to those days, and wasting water is always prohibited. Rules change with drought stages, so confirm on the City’s water page or with Utilities before you wash.

What should I ask a cleaning company?

If you worry about being steered to one vendor, get your own written quote from a company you choose. Ask any company:

• Are you insured? Ours is available on request.
• Can I get the quote in writing before work starts? It should name the surfaces and the scope.
• What method will you use on each surface? Concrete usually calls for a surface cleaner to avoid stripes. Roofs, siding and stucco call for soft washing, not high pressure.
• Will you send before and after photos and a dated invoice I can forward to the HOA?
• Can you finish before my deadline, with room for weather?
• What happens if something is missed? We come back and fix it at no charge if you tell us within 7 days.
• How do you handle water? Ask how they follow Round Rock rules and work to keep wash water out of storm drains.
• What won’t come out? Old rust and deep oil may lighten but not vanish. Ask before work starts.

Our pricing page explains what moves a quote, and our general FAQ covers common job questions. HOA board or manager? See HOA and commercial pressure washing.

When is cleaning not enough?

• The surface is damaged, not dirty: peeling paint, rotted boards, cracked or spalling concrete, failed shingles.
• The fix needs approval: a new fence color, new paint, a new roof. Ask the architectural committee for the approved specification before spending money. For larger associations, Texas law (section 209.00505, as summarized) requires a denial of an architectural request to be in writing with reasons and to explain the right to request a hearing. Confirm the details for your association.
• Stains remain after washing. A clause demanding stain removal may not be satisfied by a wash that leaves marks. Talk to the HOA early if a stain may not fully lift.
• You disagree with the notice, such as a condition that was there before you bought, a photo that looks old, or a standard that seems applied unevenly. Put your questions in writing and consider the hearing.

How do hearings and fines work in plain English?

As summarized from Texas Property Code section 209.007, an owner who is entitled to a cure period may submit a written request for a hearing before the board. The association must hold it within 30 days after receiving the request, and must give notice of the date, time and place at least 10 days ahead. Either side may ask for a postponement. The association is generally required to give you its evidence, such as documents, photos and communications, at least 10 days before. Either side may record the hearing on audio. Check the current text and your notice for instructions.

On fines, section 209.0061 (summarized) says that if your documents allow fines, the board must adopt an enforcement policy with categories and a fine schedule. We found no statutory dollar cap in the current text, so ask for the schedule and compare it to what you were charged. Proposals to add a reasonableness limit were not enacted as of our last check. Unpaid fines can still lead to collections or a lawsuit. If you receive a fine, a lawsuit threat or a lien notice, talk to a Texas attorney rather than rely on a guide like this one.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to fix an HOA violation in Texas?

Your notice states the cure date, and the statute says the period must be reasonable, not a fixed 30 days. The 30-day figure in Texas law, as summarized, is the window to request a hearing. Your own documents may give more time, so check them and ask in writing if you need an extension.

Can the HOA fine me without warning?

For a curable violation, Chapter 209 as summarized generally requires written notice by certified mail and a chance to cure first. An exception described in the summaries covers a repeat of the same violation within six months of a prior notice.

Is a dirty driveway a curable violation?

Generally yes. The statute’s examples of curable violations include maintenance violations, and dirt, algae, mildew and stains are maintenance. Confirm against your notice and documents, since each association writes its own standard.

What if I clean it and the HOA says it is still not clean enough?

Send dated before and after photos and ask in writing what standard they are applying and what remains. If you still disagree, request a hearing in writing and bring your photos and invoice. If a stain may not fully lift, such as old rust or oil, say so early rather than late.

Do I need HOA approval to clean my house, fence or roof?

Cleaning to the existing color generally does not change appearance, but confirm in your guidelines. Approval is more likely needed for a new fence color, repainting or a new roof.

What proof should I send after cleaning?

Send dated before and after photos from the same angles, the invoice showing date and scope, and a short email asking for written confirmation that the matter is closed. Keep copies. We can give you a photo set and invoice to forward.

Have the letter in front of you?

Send us a photo of the notice and the cited area, and tell us your deadline. We will say what cleaning can realistically fix, give a written quote before we start, and clean with a 7-day guarantee. See areas we serve and neighborhoods. For timing and seasonal tips, read when to pressure wash in Round Rock, and for stubborn marks, driveway stains from caliche and cedar.

Get a free quote Call (512) 546-6208