Governing Documents
Four recorded instruments govern Bayou Landing. All four were filed with the Harris County Clerk in 2003 and are transcribed here in full, in readable text, so residents can search and print them without hunting for a scanned PDF.
These text versions are provided for residents’ convenience only; the official recorded instruments filed with Harris County, Texas control in the event of any discrepancy.
The four documents
-
Declaration of Covenants & Restrictions
The core deed restrictions that run with the land. It defines the common areas, the assessment obligation and its lien, the easements, the architectural review requirement, and the use restrictions on what you may and may not do with your townhome and site.
-
Bylaws
How the association itself operates: meetings of members, notice and quorum, election and removal of directors, officer duties, committees, records, and the assessment and appeals procedures.
-
Articles of Incorporation
The corporate charter filed with the Texas Secretary of State that brought the association into existence, setting out its purposes, powers, membership, voting classes, and director liability and indemnification. Also carries the 2010–2011 covenant compliance inspection resolution.
-
Architectural Control Guidelines
The specific standards the Modifications Committee applies to exterior work — fences, paint, roofing, lighting, driveways, signs, antennas, landscaping and more — plus the application procedure and processing timeline.
Which one do I need?
- I want to change something on the outside of my home. Start with the Architectural Control Guidelines; the underlying authority is in Articles VIII and IX of the Declaration.
- I have a question about assessments, liens or delinquency. Declaration Article IV and Bylaws Article XI.
- I want to know how a meeting, quorum, or election works. Bylaws Article III (meetings), Article IV (directors) and Article V (nomination and election). See also the meetings page.
- I want to know what I can and cannot do on my lot. Declaration Article VII (protective covenants) and Article XII (other restrictions).
- I disagree with a committee decision. Bylaws Article XII sets out the appeals procedure.
- I am buying or selling a home here. The covenant compliance inspection resolution explains the inspection required at transfer.
- I want to know what the association is legally empowered to do. Articles of Incorporation, Article IV.
How these documents rank
Where two documents conflict, the recorded order of precedence applies: the Declaration controls over the Bylaws, and the Articles of Incorporation control over the Bylaws (Bylaws Article XIV). The Architectural Control Guidelines supplement the Declaration and yield to it where they differ.
All four are dedicatory instruments recorded in the Official Public Records of Real Property of Harris County, Texas. Certified copies can be obtained from the Harris County Clerk.