If you are eyeing a home in Trilogy at Monarch Dunes, one of the first questions you may have is simple but critical: what will you maintain and what does the HOA handle. You want a clear picture so you can budget, plan projects, and avoid surprises after closing. In this guide, you will learn how Trilogy’s three associations divide responsibilities, how California law frames maintenance, and what to verify for your exact lot or townhome. Let’s dive in.
How Trilogy HOAs are structured
Trilogy at Monarch Dunes has three associations with different roles. The Central Coast Maintenance Association (CCMA) oversees the Monarch Club, lifestyle programming, and some front yard maintenance programs. The Woodlands Master Association (WMA) manages broader common areas such as parkways, trails, and habitat areas. The Monarch Ridge Townhome Association (MRTA) governs the townhome buildings and related areas. You can review the community’s association overview on the official site at the Association page for Trilogy at Monarch Dunes.
Professional management companies administer day to day operations for CCMA and WMA, and MRTA is managed separately. The HOA or management office is your primary contact for documents, approvals, and clarification on maintenance.
California rules that shape maintenance
California’s Davis Stirling Common Interest Development Act sets the default rule. Unless the declaration says otherwise, the association repairs, replaces, and maintains common areas, and you maintain your separate interest and exclusive use areas that belong to your home. You can read a plain English explanation at Davis Stirling’s overview of common area maintenance. Civil Code section 4775 and related provisions outline general maintenance obligations and reserve planning for major components.
The practical takeaway is important. The recorded CC&Rs for your tract or phase can assign duties differently. If the CC&Rs or a maintenance chart say the HOA maintains a specific component, that governs. If they are silent, the statute controls.
Who maintains what at Trilogy
Big picture
- CCMA typically runs the Monarch Club, on site dining, spa, fitness, events, and manages the front yard maintenance program in certain phases. See the HOA’s overview for CCMA.
- WMA handles non club common areas and shared landscaping such as parkways, trails, and habitat areas.
- MRTA governs townhome structures and related common elements. Townhomes follow CCMA and WMA rules plus MRTA’s own policies.
Typical items to check for your lot
Use this as a starting checklist, then confirm in writing with the HOA. The recorded CC&Rs control.
- Exterior shell and roof: For attached products such as townhomes, the association often maintains exterior shell items. For single family homes, owners commonly handle exterior paint and roofing unless the CC&Rs say otherwise. Confirm by lot and product type.
- Front yard and parkway: Trilogy materials indicate association funded landscaping in certain cost centers, including front lawns and parkway strips in some phases. Verify whether your parcel is in a front yard maintenance program.
- Rear yard and private landscaping: Rear yards, private irrigation, and plantings are commonly an owner responsibility unless designated otherwise in the CC&Rs as exclusive use common area with HOA maintenance.
- Fences: Fences fully inside your lot are often yours to maintain. Shared or mapped common fences may be HOA maintained. Check the recorded tract map and CC&Rs.
- Driveways and private walks: For most single family lots these are yours to maintain. In townhome areas, these may be common or exclusive use common areas that the association maintains.
- Utilities and laterals: Responsibility can depend on where the issue occurs and what the declaration says. Civil Code and case guidance often place common area line repairs on the association. Confirm your sewer lateral and water line boundaries in the CC&Rs.
- Solar systems: Owners usually maintain the solar equipment they own. If the association maintains the roof, coordinate roof penetrations and approvals through architectural review.
- Community amenities: Pools, spa, and lifestyle amenities within the Monarch Club are CCMA operated. Private pools or spas on your lot, if allowed, are your responsibility.
Always verify for your lot or unit. Ask management for the maintenance chart or a written statement for your address.
The buffer issue and why documents matter
Some homes back to buffer strips or the vineyard edge. Local homeowner discussions and meeting notes highlight that easements, cost centers, and developer transfers can shift maintenance costs over time. This is a practical example of why you must confirm who owns the buffer and who funds its upkeep if your lot sits on the edge. You can read a summary of the buffer topic at a resident advisory page on buffer issues.
Developer HOA agreements can also affect future costs and amenities. Local reporting has covered negotiations tied to later phases and amenity funding. These agreements can change cost centers or lead to assessments, so review recent board minutes for any updates.
Buyers and sellers: your documents checklist
Ask the HOA or management office for the following. If you cannot obtain a document, request the county recorder reference for the recorded declaration.
- Recorded CC&Rs or Declaration for your tract or phase
- CCMA, WMA, and MRTA Articles and Bylaws
- Current Rules and Regulations for CCMA and WMA
- Latest annual budget, most recent reserve study, and financials
- Board meeting minutes and agendas for the last 12 to 24 months
- Any maintenance matrix or who maintains what schedule. If none exists, request a written maintenance boundary statement for your property
- Master insurance certificates and policies, plus guidance on owner policy gaps
- Any pending notices to owners about violations, special assessments, or capital projects
Smart questions to ask the HOA
Get answers in writing and save them with your disclosures.
- Which associations apply to this parcel or unit. Please include the recorded declaration reference
- Who maintains roof, exterior paint and stucco, gutters, driveway, front yard and parkway, rear yard and fences, sewer lateral, and any solar related roof work
- When was the last reserve study, what is the funding level, and are special assessments planned
- Are there any developer agreements or land transfers that affect maintenance cost centers, such as buffers or vineyard edges
- For townhomes, what are the MRTA rules on shared walls, roof, and exterior structure
Key rules that can affect costs
- Architectural changes: Most exterior changes require written approval through the design review process. Refer to CCMA and WMA rules for procedures.
- Rentals: CCMA materials indicate minimum 30 day lease terms and renter registration. Review the current rental rules on the HOA’s renter registration page.
How to protect your budget and timeline
- Confirm responsibilities before you waive contingencies. Ask for the maintenance chart and reserve study early in escrow.
- Walk the lot lines and edges. Look for buffer strips, maintenance easements, and fence locations that may shift duties.
- Align insurance with maintenance boundaries. Understand where the master policy stops and your policy should start.
- Plan projects with approvals in mind. Coordinate solar, roofing, and exterior work with the HOA to avoid delays.
When you want local context and a steady hand on Trilogy disclosures, reach out to Deborah Brooks. As a Central Coast specialist with deep experience in Nipomo and the surrounding communities, Deborah helps you interpret the documents, ask the right questions, and close with confidence. Start the conversation with Deborah Brooks.
FAQs
How are HOAs structured at Trilogy at Monarch Dunes
- Trilogy has three associations with distinct roles: CCMA for the Monarch Club and some front yard programs, WMA for shared common areas, and MRTA for townhomes. See the HOA’s overview on the Association page for Trilogy at Monarch Dunes.
What does California law say about HOA vs owner maintenance
- The Davis Stirling Act generally assigns common area maintenance to the association and separate interest or exclusive use areas to the owner, unless the recorded declaration says otherwise. Review the common area maintenance overview for details.
Who maintains front lawns and parkways in Trilogy
- Community materials indicate association funded front lawn and parkway care in certain cost centers, but coverage varies by phase and lot. Verify your parcel’s inclusion on the HOA’s Association page and in the recorded CC&Rs.
For townhomes in Monarch Ridge, who handles exterior and roof
- Townhome exterior and structural components are often association maintained under MRTA, while owners handle interiors and exclusive use areas. Confirm in MRTA’s rules and the recorded declaration for your building.
What is the Trilogy buffer or vineyard edge issue
- Some lots back to buffer strips where easements and cost centers can shift maintenance costs. Review the resident advisory summary on buffer issues and ask the HOA for written confirmation about ownership and funding for any buffer behind your lot.
Are short term rentals allowed in Trilogy at Monarch Dunes
- CCMA materials reference a minimum 30 day lease term and renter registration. Check current requirements on the HOA’s renter registration page.
Who fixes sewer laterals and water lines that serve my home
- Responsibility can depend on the location of the failure and the declaration’s allocation. Civil Code guidance often places common area line repairs on the association, but you should verify the exact boundaries in your CC&Rs and any easements.
Do I need HOA approval to add solar or a pergola
- Yes, most exterior changes require architectural review and written approval. Coordinate solar roof penetrations with the HOA, especially if the association maintains the roof.
