Planning a Remodel in Leisure Village? Here’s What Needs HOA Approval

When buyers walk through a Leisure Village home with me, they start picturing changes right away. A patio cover out back. New windows. Solar on the roof. Maybe a lemon tree by the side yard.

All of that can be possible. But Leisure Village remodeling works differently than remodeling a house on a regular street, because the Association has a say in anything that changes the outside of the home. Owners who skip that step can end up with fines, a stopped job, or a fix they pay for twice.

I went through the Association’s current Rules & Regulations (the November 2025 update) and the permit forms posted on its forms page. Here’s what they say, in plain English.

Which Leisure Village Projects Need a Permit?

The main rule is short. Architectural Committee approval is required before you make any exterior alteration, or change the structures or plantings on your lot. The rules also name a few items on their own.

What about inside the home? The architectural rule is written around exterior changes. Interior projects that touch plumbing or pests have their own permits, and every contractor who comes through the gate still follows the pass and work-hour rules below. If you aren’t sure where your project falls, call the Association Office before you schedule anyone.

How the Architectural Permit Works, Step by Step

Here’s the order of things, based on the rules and the application form.

• ✓Fill out the Architectural Permit Application. It asks for your model name, your contractor’s name and license number, and a detailed description of the project, with complete construction details.
• ✓The committee reviews it against its approved specification sheets. If there’s no specification yet for what you want to do, the rules say it won’t be approved until one is in place.
• ✓Wait for the signature. Work can’t start until the Architectural Committee chairperson signs the permit, and a representative of the firm doing the work picks up the approved permit before work begins.
• ✓Post the permit at the job site so it can be seen from the front of the house. Not posting it can bring a fine of up to $100.
• ✓Start within 60 days. The permit expires in 60 days unless the chairperson extends it.
• ✓Expect inspections. All exterior work is subject to inspection by the Association, and any corrections are made at the homeowner’s expense.
• ✓Call when you finish. The form asks you to call the Association’s compliance inspector at (805) 484-2861 when the project is done.

Don’t Forget the City of Camarillo

An Association permit isn’t a building permit. The rules say the City of Camarillo may require a building permit for some alterations or additions, and getting every required City permit is the owner’s job. The Association’s own form says it’s highly recommended that owners get all required City permits.

One more thing from the form. In California, a business doing work worth more than $1,000 in labor and materials has to be licensed by the Contractors State License Board. You can look up a contractor’s license on the CSLB website before you sign anything.

If you plan to act as an owner-builder, the rules add more. The home has to be your principal residence, lived in for 12 months before the work is finished, and the work has to be done before the home is sold. Anyone you hire still has to follow state rules and carry the insurance Leisure Village requires.

Contractor Hours, Passes and Parking

This part matters to your neighbors as much as to you. Here’s what the rules say for contractors hired by residents.

Trucks and trailers that stay overnight have to cover their loads and park in front of the home where the work is happening. My post on Leisure Village security explains how the gates and passes work.

Dumpsters and PODs During a Remodel

A remodel, a clean-out, or a move often means a dumpster or a storage POD out front. Those need their own permit too.

• ✓The first 30 days have no fee.
• ✓After that, a large dumpster (10 yards or more) or a POD is $100 per 90 days. A small 3-yard dumpster or a portable restroom is $50 per 90 days. The limit is 210 days.
• ✓It has to sit right next to your home, as close to the curb as possible.
• ✓Keep it off landscaping, red or blue curbs, driveways and mailboxes, and at least 15 feet from an intersection.
• ✓Let the office know when it’s picked up, or you may be charged more.

If you’re clearing out a parent’s home, we can connect you with trusted vendors for the clean-out and schedule them for you, or hand you their contacts. Whichever you prefer.

What a Permit Mistake Can Cost

The fines are clear in the rules. Starting work that needs a permit without one can bring $100 per business day, from the day you’re notified, for every day the work continues, and the work has to stop until a permit is issued. A project that isn’t finished before the permit expires can bring the same $100 per business day until it’s done. The Board can also add sanctions for the owner and the contractor.

And there’s the cost after the fine. If an addition doesn’t match the permit, the corrections are made at the homeowner’s expense. Owners who add something are also responsible for maintaining and repairing it from then on. My post on who fixes what in Leisure Village shows where the Association’s care stops and yours starts.

Thinking of Selling? Read This Before You Remodel

Before you spend a dollar to get ready to sell, ask yourself one question. Will a buyer pay more for this, or would they rather pick their own finishes?

I worked with a brother and sister who put $20,000 into their mother’s kitchen before selling. That home sold for the same price as a comparable home on the next street that hadn’t been touched. Families do this out of love, and I understand why. It’s still worth seeing the numbers first. My post on renovations that won’t pay you back and the one on upgrades that can hurt resale value go through what to skip.

In Leisure Village, add the permit timeline to that math. A project that needs committee approval, a City permit and inspections can take longer than families expect, and an unfinished job is hard to market. If you’re buying and already dreaming up changes, my post on personalizing your new home and my guide to buying a home in Leisure Village are good places to start.

Why This Matters in Leisure Village

Leisure Village is 2,136 homes in a guard-gated 55+ community, and the Association’s rules keep the homes, gardens and streets looking the way residents expect. My Leisure Village quick facts post has the basics and the current dues by model.

Steve and I are in Leisure Village all the time with buyers, sellers and owners. Whether you’re updating a home to stay, or deciding what’s worth doing before you sell, we’ll help you look at your options before you spend money.

This post is general information based on the Leisure Village Association’s Rules & Regulations (Update November 2025) and the permit forms posted on leisurevillage.org in October 2026. It isn’t legal advice. The CC&Rs and the Association’s current documents and Architectural Guidelines control, so confirm anything specific with the Association Office at (805) 484-2861 before work starts, and check City of Camarillo permit rules with the City and a licensed contractor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions About Updating or Selling a Leisure Village Home?