The One Rule to Remember
It comes down to a single question: will the change alter the outside of your home or your lot?
Inside your home? You may make interior alterations or improvements without Association approval — as long as they don't affect the building's structural integrity or its exterior appearance.
Anything visible on the outside? No change to the exterior of the building or the grounds may be started until its design and location are approved in writing by the Association. That written approval comes through an Exterior Change Request (ECR), reviewed by the Board's Architectural Committee. Please submit before you begin — and before you order materials or schedule a contractor.
When You Need One — and When You Don't
Submit an ECR for…
Almost any change you can see from the street or from a neighbor's home, including like-for-like replacements of several regulated items. Common examples:
- Paint, stain, or any exterior color change — all exterior color changes require a request
- Doors — front, garage, storm, sliding, or patio door replacements
- Windows — replacements or changes to size, style, or location
- Roofs, gutters, and vinyl siding
- Decks, patios, and walkways — design or material changes
- Fences, railings, and privacy screen plantings
- Plantings that alter the original look, or anything with a mature height of 4 feet or more
- Generators, fire pits, awnings or canopies, and lamp posts
- Solar panels and TV dishes / antennas
- Removing or replacing large trees
- Temporary placements — dumpsters or PODs, and compost bins
No ECR needed for…
Everyday upkeep and small touches that keep your home consistent with the community:
- Interior work that doesn't affect the structure or the exterior appearance
- Name plates, house numerals, door knockers, and doorbells — as long as they're consistent with those already in use
- Replacing similar shrubs and other minor planting changes that don't alter the original appearance (and stay under a 4-foot mature height)
- Routine maintenance that keeps things as they are — cleaning, sealing, and in-kind repairs
Seasonal decorations and temporary celebration signs don't need an ECR, but do follow the community's standing rules on how long they may stay up.
Still Not Sure?
Not Permitted at All
A few items fall outside the standards entirely — an ECR won't be approved for these, so please don't invest time or money in them:
- Above-ground or in-ground pools
- Outdoor hot tubs and jacuzzis
- Tool sheds and outdoor storage units
- Permanent basketball hoops, sandboxes, and swing sets
- Lawn signs
- Wood-burning fires on decks
Standards can change over time. The Board's current standards are the final word — see the full Exterior Changes Policy below.
Rules of Thumb
When a project falls in a gray area, these almost always point the right way:
- If the change would be visible from the street or a neighbor's home, submit an ECR.
- If it creates a permanent difference in how your home or yard looks, submit an ECR.
- A true like-for-like replacement that matches the original and the community standard is usually fine — but when in doubt, ask before you begin.
- Neighborhood differences apply. A few standards differ between Nott Street East and Balltown Road (for example, shutters and approved roof colors), so check the full policy for your street.
A quick email or call to the managing agent, Kelly Lambert (kelly2@edgewatermg.com · 518.281.0043) can save you a wasted trip — she can tell you in minutes whether your project needs a request.
How the ECR Process Works
1. Submit early
Send your request well ahead of your planned start date — the Association asks for at least 30 days' notice, and the Board acts on requests around its meeting on the second Tuesday of each month. Time-sensitive? Submit anyway and note it; the management company and Board will make every effort to act sooner.
2. Include the details
Describe the change and its location, and attach photos or drawings. Include a Town of Niskayuna building permit application if one is required for the work.
3. Wait for written approval
The Architectural Committee reviews each request and typically responds with a decision within 1–2 weeks through the managing agent. No work may begin until you receive written approval.
The Full Standards
This page is a plain-language summary. For the complete, item-by-item architectural standards — and the specifics for your neighborhood — see the official policy and forms: