FAQ

Homeowner associations can compel homeowners to pay a share of common expenses, usually per-unit or based on square footage. These expenses generally arise from common property, which varies dramatically depending on the type of association. Some associations are, quite literally, towns, complete with private roads, services, utilities, amenities, community buildings, pools, and even schools. Many condominium associations consider the roofs and exteriors of the structures as the responsibility of the association. Other associations have no common property, but may charge for services or other matters.

Where can I find my account number?
Your account number will be located on the first billing statement you receive, or you can contact your Management Team 30 days after you close on your home.
 
What is the Association ID?
597TX
 
What is the Management Company ID?
6675

A set of rules or guidelines regarding the operation of a non-profit corporation such as a Board. Bylaws generally set forth definitions of offices and committees involved with the Board of Directors. They can include voting rights, meetings, notices, and other areas involved with the successful operation of the Association.

 

The term CC&R refers to 'Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions.' A real covenant is a legal obligation imposed in a deed by the seller of a home and or property upon the buyer of the real estate to do or not to do something. Such restrictions frequently 'run with the land' and are enforceable on future buyers of the property. Examples might be to maintain a property in a reasonable state of repair, to preserve a sight-line for a neighboring property, not to run a business from a residence, or not to build on certain parts of the property. Many covenants are very simple and are meant only to protect a neighborhood from homeowners destroying trees or historic things or otherwise directly harming property values. Some can be more specific and strict, outlining everything a homeowner can do to the exterior of their home, including the number of non-familial tenants one may have, acceptable colors to re-paint the home, exactly when holiday decorations are allowed up, automobile placement or repair on property, satellite placement, etc. 

 

The Declaration, Bylaws, operating rules, Articles of Incorporation or any other documents which govern the normal operating procedures of an association.

A monetary claim levied against a property for unpaid mortgage, taxes, contractor work, or other charges. A lien is attached to the property, not the owner, but legally must be recorded in the property records of the county of residence. If a Lien is in place, the property owner has very limited ability to do anything involving the property until the Lien is satisfied or removed.

Similar in essence to a lien, the Notice of Noncompliance is a document sometimes authorized under the CC&Rs and may be recorded in the county property records. Its' essential purpose is to notify prospective buyers that the property is in violation of the documents.

 

An interest or a right in real property which grants the ability to a landowner to use the land of another for a special purpose or endeavor. An association may for example have an easement for slope maintenance or other repair purposes. A public utility may also have an easement for maintenance or repair work to be executed at a future date. 

An estoppel letter is used in a transfer or conveyance of real property prior to the Closing transaction. The document is sent to a bank (or other lender), to an HOA (or Condo Association), to a city/municipality, or a tenant requesting payoff of a mortgage, assessments or taxes due, or rental amounts due on a lease, to incorporate these amounts into the Settlement Statement for the buyer and seller of the real estate. Assessments and payments due must be incorporated into the amounts due at Closing and paid at the time of the Closing. Some amounts may be pro-rated, but all must be included in the Settlement Statement. The estoppel letter is the document that facilitates this process. 

A property management entity contracted by a Board of Directors or community to provide a variety of services including but not limited to collecting assessments, sub-contractor endeavors, financial advisement and statement/reports preparation and analysis, general maintenance and problem resolution, and advisement on legal and other property related matters. Some of these companies manage hundreds of properties simultaneously, while others focus on individual properties.

A Homeowners' Association (HOA) is a legal entity created by a real estate developer for the purpose of developing, managing and selling a community of homes. It is given the authority to enforce the covenants, conditions & restrictions (CC&Rs) and to manage the common amenities of the development. It allows a developer to end their responsibility over the community, typically by transferring ownership of the association to the homeowners after selling. Generally accepted as a voluntary association of homeowners gathered together to protect their property values and to improve the neighborhood, a large percentage of U.S neighborhoods where free standing homes exist have an HOA. Most homeowners' associations are non profit organizations and are subject to state statutes that govern non-profit corporations and homeowners' associations.

In relation to an HOA, Community or other formal organization, a director is an officer charged with the conduct and management of its affairs. The directors collectively are referred to as a board of directors, and are generally elected or appointed. Sometimes the board will appoint one of its members to be the chair, making this person the President of the Board of Directors or Chairman. 

 Lawn maintenance is scheduled weekly on Thursdays or Fridays, depending on weather conditions.

Please ensure that front and side yard areas are free of personal items, pet waste, and obstacles to allow for efficient service.

Mulch is applied once a year.

The service includes:

• Mowing front yards
• Maintaining front landscaping beds (note: weeding is not included)
• Litter pickup
• Trimming
• Blowing grass clippings
• Cleaning the alleyways

If weather conditions prevent work on the scheduled days, services will be completed as soon as conditions allow, typically within the same week.

If your lawn was missed or you have concerns about the quality of service, please contact the HOA management team as soon as possible. Providing photos and a brief description helps us address the issue promptly with the landscaping provider. You can report issues directly through the "Report a Concern" tab on the community website for faster follow-up.

No, backyard maintenance is not included. The service is limited to the front and applicable side yards. 

Riceland welcomes responsible pet ownership. Pets must be kept on a leash when outside of a fenced yard and under the control of their owner at all times. Pet owners are required to clean up after their animals immediately. Excessive barking or other disturbances should be addressed promptly to maintain a peaceful environment for all residents. For more details, please refer to the community’s governing documents or contact the HOA.

 

In the event that you observe an animal at large, animal cruelty, or any other animal-related issue, please contact the city's non-emergency Police Dispatch (281-576-2417) to make a report and an Animal Services Officer will be dispatched to handle the issue.

A MUD (Municipal Utility District) is a way to fund roads, water, sewer, and drainage in new communities. Most MUDs are used in areas outside of cities—but Riceland uses a special “In-City MUD” model that’s different from the traditional setup.

 

Here’s how it works in Riceland:

• No cost to current Mont Belvieu taxpayers: The developer pays 100% of the upfront costs to build the infrastructure. Future property owners in Riceland help repay those costs through MUD taxes.
• No treatment plants or long-term operations: Once construction is finished, all utilities and roads are turned over to the City of Mont Belvieu. Residents buy their utilities from the city just like anyone else.
• The MUD will dissolve once everything is built and reimbursed, because it won’t have any assets or responsibilities left.
• The developer is motivated to deliver quality homes and amenities in order to receive any reimbursement, which benefits the overall community.

These areas are intentionally designed as “no mowing” or “limited mowing” zones to support the community’s natural and open-space theme. While they are meant to grow more naturally, we are actively treating the weeds to keep the areas looking maintained. Please note that treatments take time to show visible results, and we appreciate your patience as we continue this process.

Streetlights in the community are managed and maintained by CenterPoint Energy. Because they oversee the operation and maintenance of these lights, any issues, such as outages, need to be reported directly to them for the quickest response.

 

Here is how you can report a streetlight outage:

1. Visit the CenterPoint Energy’s Streetlight Outage Page 

2. Enter the location of the streetlight. There is a number on the pole that will pinpoint the exact location on the map. 

 

3. Click on the light that is out and follow the prompts to submit your report. 

The City of Mont Belvieu sprays the community once a week from April to October in an effort to keep the mosquito population as low as possible. Mosquito spraying takes place on Thursdays between the hours of 9:00PM and 12AM.

 

The City of Mont Belvieu uses a broad spectrum all-temperature, quick knockdown, low odor, and non-corrosive synergized synthetic pyethroid insecticide for the control of adult mosquitoes in residential, recreational, and other areas. This same product can also help control biting and non-biting midgs and black flies.

Trash is collected on Tuesdays. Tips for trash collection:

• Place carts curbside by 7 a.m. on collection day.
• Make sure carts are at least three feet apart.
• Don’t overload carts.
• Make sure lids are closed.
• Everything in the cart must be bagged.

Before making any exterior changes— such as updating landscaping, adding front yard decorations, or building a patio—residents must submit an Architectural Review Application for approval. This ensures all modifications maintain the aesthetic and standards of the Riceland community. The application and guidelines are available on the community website. Please remember, approval must be received before any work or installations begin.