You’ve finally found the ideal house. Great yard. The right neighborhood. And your pooch will really enjoy it.
Next, read through the HOA records.
No wood fences. No chain-link. No vinyl panels more than four feet. There are no buildings that depart from the visual continuity of the streetscape.
Sound familiar? This is one of the most frequent complaints from new homeowners in a subdivision in Southeast Michigan – or soon will be in a subdivision in Southeast Michigan. You want your dog to be able to run the yard freely, but you have limited access to all your usual options due to your Homeowners Association.
Did you know that an underground dog fence isn’t the only solution for those who don’t want to deal with an anti-dog group? It’s often the more desirable choice for many homeowners: invisible, customizable, inexpensive and fully compliant with almost any HOA in Michigan.
Here, we’ll discuss in detail how Michigan HOA fencing rules work, why underground pet fences typically comply with the rules, what to look for in a HOA’s rules, and how to get started – often without needing HOA approval at all.
Why Michigan HOAs Restrict Traditional Fencing
You won’t find any random rules or policies that prohibit homeowners from doing this. Their purpose is to safeguard the value of the property, to keep the neighborhood looking nice, and to keep the planned communities open and uniform in appearance.
Restriction on physical fences is very common in Southeast Michigan, especially in newer subdivisions throughout Oakland County, Livingston County, Washtenaw County and Genesee County. There are homeowners all over Brighton, Commerce Township, Novi, Clarkston, Bloomfield Hills, Farmington Hills, and Grand Blanc who found out after they bought their homes that a traditional fence won’t fit.
Most of the rules you can expect in a typical HOA are:
Height limits. Fence height is usually limited to 4 to 6 feet in most Michigan HOAs with many having a three foot or lower limit for front yard fences, or none at all.
Material restrictions. Common materials that are often banned include wood, chain link and wire mesh. Many HOAs will only allow white vinyl or aluminum, or will not allow anything at all.
Placement rules. Many times fences can be placed only on the back of the property behind the rear building line of the house. Not only can’t you fence your front yard, but your side yards – where your dog might spend time – can’t be fenced either.
Aesthetic standards. All approved materials must adhere to style guidelines. Some post styles, cap designs and gate constructions may need committee approval prior to installation.
Complete bans. Some communities, particularly newer developments, may not allow any type of visible fencing, no matter what material is used, how tall the fence is, or where it is placed.
That means thousands of Michigan pet owners have a lovely yard that will not be a place their dog can safely enjoy.
Why Underground Dog Fences Are Almost Always HOA-Compliant
An underground dog fence, or hidden fence, invisible fence or in-ground pet fence, is a system that utilizes a wire loop buried in the ground, and a receiver collar worn by your dog. There are no posts. No panels. No gates. No buildings or other structures to be seen.
It’s so boring from the street, from a neighbor’s yard, from a drone overhead – there’s literally nothing to see. The yard appears the same before and after installation.
This is why underground pet fences are uniquely positioned in HOA communities. They don’t trigger the visual continuity rules. No permits are required for them. They don’t alter structures. They don’t change anything that is visible or permanent on the property.
As far as most Michigan Home Owners Associations are concerned, underground dog fencing is not even regulated under fencing laws: it’s not a fence.
The answer lies in the wording of the legal covenant – usually, HOA fencing covenants pertain to fences, walls, and structures. A standard HOA covenant does not include those things for an underground wire loop and a collar transmitter. As long as there is no specific language in your HOA that prohibits electronic pet containment systems, you are pretty much off the hook and don’t need to ask for permission at all.
Step-by-Step: How to Check Your Own HOA’s Rules
It’s never a bad idea to take 20 minutes before you install and read your HOA documents. Here are the tips to watch out for:
Step 1: Pull your CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions)
These are the main documents that govern your HOA. If you have lost these CC&Rs, they are available at your HOA management company or your county register of deeds, but were provided at closing.
Step 2: Search for fence-related language
Search for fence, fencing, enclosure, barrier, structure and containment with Ctrl+F. Carefully read each of the following sections where the word is mentioned.
Step 3: Look for language specific to electronic containment
Look for words such as electronic, invisible fence, underground fence, pet containment and electric. If none of these are in your CC&Rs, then it’s a very good sign that underground fence systems are not regulated.
Step 4: Review the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) guidelines
Some HOAs have a separate document covering exterior changes (ARC). Determine if an underground fence installation (no outside changes) would even necessitate a review.
Step 5: When in doubt, submit an inquiry
If your CC&Rs are unclear, write a brief message to your HOA board stating if electronic underground containment systems for pets need to be approved. Get the response in writing. Usually, the response will be no approval needed.
What Happens If Your HOA Does Require Approval?
In very rare cases, especially in highly regulated communities, the HOA may need to be approved prior to any exterior change, such as underground fence installation.
If you are in this position, then here are some tips on how to go about the approval process:
Create a basic one page proposal. Explain what an underground dog fence is, how it works and why it won’t look bad around the house or neighborhood. Provide a short description that there are no parts above ground.
Emphasize the invisible nature. It’s appearance that’s the biggest concern for your HOA board. Let everyone know that no trace of the system will be visible to neighbors, visitors or passers-by.
Include installation details. Remember, the wire is under the ground and the transmitter will be in the garage or utility room. No exterior walls, fences or structures have anything mounted on them.
Reference similar communities. Include in your proposal if you are aware of other HOA communities in Michigan that have approved underground fences or neighbours that have fences installed.
Based on our experience with installing underground pet fences throughout Southeast Michigan, the overwhelming majority of the time, requests for HOA approval are granted. Aesthetic or sight-line issues that are part of the reasons for HOA rules don’t apply to underground systems.
Michigan Neighborhoods Where Underground Dog Fences Are the Standard Solution
In some of the most desirable communities in Southeast Michigan, the HOA rules prohibit dogs from being on the property other than in an above-ground kennel or other above-ground dog containment structure.
Brighton and Hartland Township also often do not allow any physical fencing in front yards, and impose rear yard fence restrictions, including material and height. For communities like these, the solution to the problem is underground fencing.
Commerce Township and Walled Lake have many planned communities with open streetscape requirements. Dog runs allow dogs to be in full view of the yard, while the neighborhood stays open.
Bloomfield Hills and Bloomfield Township HOAs typically have rigorous architectural requirements. Pet fences are frequently seen in communities around the world below the ground surface and are not subject to approval under most covenants.
Farmington Hills consists of both older neighborhoods and newer planned developments. Usually, subdivisions do not allow or limit physical fencing, but rather underground systems are common.
HOA controlled subdivisions have become the norm in Grand Blanc and Mundy Township in Genesee County and underground fencing for pets has become ubiquitous in these areas.
Ann Arbor adjacent communities – including Pittsfield Township and Superior Township – have HOA developments near the city where open aesthetics are strictly maintained and underground fences are the norm.
Why Professional Installation Matters in HOA Communities
Professional installation is not only a convenience in an HOA community, it’s a practical necessity.
A licensed underground fence installer will use MISS DIG, Michigan’s free utility marking service to locate and avoid all underground utilities before any underground fence wire is laid, and will install the fence in compliance with all legal requirements.
Professional installers also know how to make driveway crossings and hardscape routing properly – making sure they route wire under concrete and not any surface channels to avoid potential visible damage to your property and trigger scrutiny from your HOA.
At Pet Containment Services, all installations in Southeast Michigan come with a MISS DIG Coordination, a Professional Wire Burial, Proper Driveway Crossing Technique, Transmitter Placement inside your garage or utility area and a complete Professional Training Session with your dog – all in one visit with no mess and no visible evidence left in your yard.
You won’t have to let anyone else know. Your HOA will have no grounds for complaint. Your dog will be able to roam the entire yard.
Your HOA Said No to a Physical Fence. We Have the Answer.
An underground dog fence is likely to be your answer if your HOA has limited or banned traditional fences in your Michigan subdivision – and maybe it doesn’t need to be approved by your HOA.
Pet Containment Services provides a professional dog fence system installation in the Southeast Michigan area like Oakland County, Livingston County, Washtenaw County and Genesee County. We are a family business located in Fenton, and much more cost effective than national brands.
Free in-home consultation. No pressure. No surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions: Underground Dog Fences and HOA Rules in Michigan
Most Michigan HOA communities do not require approval. HOA fencing covenants apply to visible structures, such as fences, walls and panels, and not to systems that are only underground with the same wire without any fencing or other above-ground structures. Underground dog fences are completely hidden, which means that they are not usually part of HOA architectural review. It is always advisable to check your CC&Rs but it’s not often a condition of approval.
Yes – HOAs may put a restriction in their governing documents to ban electronic pet containment systems; this is extremely unusual in Michigan. Most of the time, however, the HOA CC&R doesn’t even mention underground pet fences, so owners can do them by default. For any doubts, ask for a written decision from your homeowners’ association board prior to installing.
Southeast Michigan residential subdivision lots can be professionally installed for $500 – $1,200, depending on yard size, number of dogs, and the complexity of the yard layout. This is much less expensive than physical fences – at least in areas where physical fences are allowed. There are no franchise markups and free in-home consultations at Pet Containment Services.
Once professionally installed, there is virtually no sign of the installation. Using a specific burial tool, the wire is buried below ground, marked temporarily with flags (which will be removed after 2-4 weeks), and the transmitter is installed inside of your garage or utility room. Once the training flags are taken off, no trace of them in your yard.
Yes – and this is one of the most significant benefits to underground systems for HOA communities. The wire loop may encompass your entire home – front yard, side yard and back yard in one continuous loop. Your dog will have the entire yard to play in and your neighborhood will keep its open streetscape look.
Yes. Multiple dogs can be on one underground fence system, with each dog wearing its own receiver collar. No extra wiring is needed – just another collar on each pet. For those with multiple dogs in their homes who wish to have the entire yard covered, this is especially useful and affordable for HOA homeowners.
Yes. Pet Containment Services place professional underground pet fences in Brighton, Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills, Farmington Hills, Canton, Clarkston, Commerce Township, Grand Blanc, Howell, Novi and other communities in Oakland County, Washtenaw County, and Genesee Counties. Call (248) 653-8873 for a free in-home consultation.