Codes & Covenants

Homeowners within Hunters Creek are required by law to adhere to both deed restrictions specific to our subdivision, as well as to abide by all City of San Antonio ordinances relating to building construction and property maintenance. Various City departments oversee the details of these ordinances, and the City’s Code Enforcement team is charged with responding to complaints about properties that are not maintained to the standards described in the codes. For more details, refer to the section below on Building & Property Maintenance Codes.

Deed restrictions (aka Restrictive Covenants or Community Covenants) are common sense rules established by the original real estate developers and attached to each property’s deed. They are essentially a multi-party private contract intended to safeguard Hunters Creek property values, maintain neighborhood integrity, and reduce conflict among residents. Supplemental to the Municipal Ordinances mentioned above, they take precedence unless prohibited by law. Each homeowner should have received a copy of their restrictions during closing, because no property is exempt from these restrictions and HCNA membership status is not a factor. In other words, the Covenants are not HCNA rules.

Actually, the Covenants empower all property owners to insist nearby properties comply with the rules and to seek legal action if necessary. Of course, HCNA encourages property owners to resolve differences directly, as a simple conversation between neighbors should resolve most issues. And even though HCNA does not have any legal right of enforcement, we can and will help residents understand the deed restrictions and make suggestions about ways to resolve issues that arise. Or help organize neighbors who might want to consider proposing changes. For more details, refer to the section below on Restrictive Covenants.

San Antonio Building & Property Maintenance Codes. All properties located in the City must follow legal guidelines that govern the construction, modification, maintenance and use of all properties across the City. These are spelled out in Municipal Ordinances related to the City of San Antonio residential building codes and property maintenance codes. These are documented in several areas and can be found on the City’s website at www.sanantonio.gov:

The City’s building codes are based on International Building Standards and apply to every aspect of construction and systems, including the foundation, plumbing and electrical systems. They were first incorporated into the original City Charter but have since been expanded to include a separate Unified Development Code and a San Antonio Property Maintenance Code. This last ordinance includes guidelines that address upkeep on buildings, yard maintenance, etc. Questions or complaints in these areas should be directed to the City’s Call 311 system.

Hunters Creek Subdivision Restrictive Covenants. Also known as deed restrictions, these outline specific requirements for design, construction and maintenance of each property in Hunters Creek. Established by the original real estate developers circa 1976, they have been attached to every purchase or transfer of property in Hunters Creek. However, because our subdivision was built in a dozen phases over many years, there are actually different versions for each unit of development. The good news is the restrictions are virtually identical from phase to phase, with only the block/lot number references and the effective dates changing.  Here are some of the main topics addressed in our Covenants:

  • New construction or alterations to existing structures
  • Fencing and sheds or outbuildings
  • Property upkeep
  • Yard signage
  • Pets allowed outdoors
  • Vehicle or trailer parking in driveways and yards
  • Nuisances undermining a neighbor’s quality of life

These documents all include language that says they “run with the land” which means they transfer from one property owner to the next. They also include a statement to the effect they can only be amended by a formal vote by a majority of the affected property owners in that section.

While HCNA does not control the restrictions or have authority to change them, we can assist Members with finding a specific covenant, help answer questions or help organize neighbors who might want to consider proposing changes.

Members of the Association have developed a sample set of Covenants that is a composite of these multiple Covenants. Note it is for illustration purposes only, and in all cases the actual Covenant document governs property in each specific section. All homeowners should have been given a copy of the restrictions, but your Association has also developed a Cross References Document to assist property owners who want to find the Book and Page in the Bexar County records where their specific Covenant is kept. The original documents and all subsequent amendments are filed with Bexar County property records and may be found by clicking this link: https://bexar.tx.publicsearch.us/

 

page v2.5 updated May 2025