Protective Covenants

The Protective Covenants (sometimes referred to as "restrictive covenants" or even "CC&Rs") for Bell Canyon Acres along with the plat map are what establish the bridle paths / access roads in our subdivision along with numerous other restrictions / protections. Without the Protective Covenants we are not guaranteed the right to ride horses on them or, more importantly, to utilize them to access the rear of our properties. There are many homes in our neighborhood that rely on the bridle paths / access roads to access the rear of their property as they have no access otherwise. 

Our neighborhood, Bell Canyon Acres, was developed and established as an HOA in the 1970s in six stages or phases.  As each phase was developed, the developer created Protective Covenants to go with that phase.  

The only differences between the Protective Covenants of each phase are: 

1 - The first paragraph that describes/defines that phase, ie lot numbers (or description of the boundaries in the case of phase No 1). 

2 - The date it was recorded with the county. The phases were completed over a few years' time frame and the dates on record reflect that.  Everything else within the body of the Protective Covenants is the same for each phase.

Here is a link to each phase's Protective Covenants including the recorded plat map  reflecting the legal boundary lines -- inner property lines (fence lines) as well as total acreage -- for each lot in that phase.

The bylaws are the HOA's operating manual. 

This document defines:

Size of the board and how it will function.
Roles and duties of directors and officers.
Rules and procedures for holding meetings, electing directors, and appointing officers.
Use of the bridle paths.
Other essential corporate governance matters.

This Special Development District (SD) Zone defines the standards and regulations for our unique neighborhood.  Things that are different from other Sandy neighborhoods like:

Uses allowed
Farm animal area set aside
Ratio of farm animals to lot size
Special use permit for keeping of additional farm animals
Additional square footage for accessory structures
Fencing

1.  Is the Bell Canyon HOA the kind of HOA that assesses fines and dues and 
can put liens on the title to your property?  
No. Membership in the Bell Canyon HOA is voluntary. Bell Canyon Homeowners Association was established as a non-profit corporation (as some HOAs were back in the day) when the subdivision was developed and since that time has been registered with the Utah Division of Corporations as a non-profit corporation.  In 2011 the Utah Legislature made changes to the Community Association Act.  In the fall of that year, those in charge of the Bell Canyon Homeowners Association chose not to register our association as that type of HOA.

2.  Why does the Bell Canyon Homeowners Association Exist?

Part of the unique nature of our subdivision are the recorded plat maps and recorded Protective Covenants that helped to establish this subdivision as a neighborhood where people could enjoy a more ranch rural way of life with the ability to have horses.  These protective covenants and plat map establish, among many things, the common bridle path easement that runs throughout our neighborhood.  The Bell Canyon Homeowners Association remains an organization that seeks to educate the community as well as encourage continued preservation of what many of us consider the most unique characteristic of our neighborhood--our common bridle path trails throughout our neighborhood. We also work to build community cohesiveness through outreach events like the Christmas parade and yearly barbeque.

3.  Are there other covenants or laws that are specific to our neighborhood?

In addition to city-wide zoning codes and ordinances that specify leash laws, county weed ordinances, fireworks restrictions, etc., our neighborhood has received a special district zoning.  This SD zoning protects the unique intent and design of our original subdivision by allowing among other things, the ability to have more than 2 horses per lot as well as establishing a requirement for a farm animal area set aside on each lot.  Enforcement of zoning violations is done by Sandy City Code Enforcement. Enforcement of the Protective Covenants is via legal means (the courts) as was designed by the Protective Covenants.

June 2023