Getting HOA approval for paint colors in metro Atlanta

CBy Carla Bingham, Painting and Restoration Guides Editor · Updated September 2026

Why approval comes first

Most subdivision covenants require board or architectural committee approval for exterior changes, and a color change counts even when the new color is close to the old one. Painting before approval can mean a violation letter and, in the worst case, repainting at your own cost.

Repainting in the exact same colors is often exempt or needs only a short notice, but rules differ between communities. Read your covenants or ask the management company before assuming.

What a submission usually needs

Boards want enough detail that there is nothing left to interpret:

• Paint brand and product line
• Color names and codes for body, trim, doors, shutters and accents
• Photos of the house as it is now, and often of the neighbors on each side
• Painted samples or a color rendering if the board asks
• Your contractor's name and planned start date

Approved palettes save time

Many communities keep a pre-approved palette or a set of approved color schemes. Choosing from it usually means a faster review, and sometimes no review beyond a notice. If you want a color outside the palette, expect more questions and possibly a sample painted on the house.

We bring the palette to the walk-through when you have it, so colors are chosen with the approval in mind rather than after.

How long boards take

Review times vary widely between communities, from a few days for palette colors to a full meeting cycle for anything unusual. Ask when the committee meets and when submissions are due, and build that into your schedule.

Exterior painting also depends on weather, so it helps to submit early in the season. Approval in hand before pollen season ends gives you the best shot at a late-spring start.

Doors, shutters and accents

Front doors and shutters are where owners most often want a bolder color, and where boards are most likely to have rules. Some communities allow any door color; others limit doors to a short list. Check before ordering paint.

Trim and gutters are usually expected to match neighbors more closely, so changes there may need more justification than the body color.

Repainting a whole townhome community

When the association itself repaints, the board approves colors once for every building, and the work is phased building by building with notices to residents. Owners usually cannot choose their own colors during a community repaint.

For those projects, we prepare sample areas for the board to approve and keep color records so future touch-ups match.