HOA-Friendly Tree Care: Pass ARC Reviews Without Rewrites

HOAs aren’t trying to make your life hard—they just want proof that your trees will be safe, tidy, and maintained to a recognized standard. The fastest way to “approved” is to talk to ARC reviewers in their language: clear photos, specific clearances, and a short scope that mentions ANSI A300 (the tree-care rulebook).

This guide shows you exactly what to submit, how to write a one-page scope ARC boards love, and what we do on site so the after photos look as good as the before-and-afters in your application.

Want a one-and-done approval? Book Certified Arborist Services for the submission packet, and schedule Tree Trimming & Pruning for ANSI-standard work and the follow-up documentation.

What HOAs actually want (in plain English)

• Clarity in photos. “This limb over the roof; this hedge on the stucco; these palms over the pool cage.”

• Measurable clearances. Numbers the field inspector can verify without guessing (e.g., “6–10 ft over roof,” “24 in off walls,” “7–8 ft sidewalk headroom”).

• Standards in writing. The phrase “Work to ANSI A300 pruning standards—no topping.”

• Assurance of cleanup & access. Where equipment goes, how debris is handled, gates re-secured.

• Credentials & insurance. ISA Certified Arborist oversight and proof of insurance available on request.

When those five boxes are checked, ARC reviews move quickly.

The one-page ARC submission that gets to “yes”

Use this skeleton and paste in your details:

Owner/Address: Name, street, lot number if used by HOA

Contractor: All Your Way Tree Service — ISA Certified Arborist oversight; insured.

Scope (ANSI A300 – no topping):

• Oak at west roof: Reduce end-weight 8–10 ft over roof using reduction cuts to suitable laterals; remove dead/rubbing branches ≥1″; maintain natural, non-flat crown.

• Queen palms by pool cage: Remove brown fronds and fruit/flower stalks only; no hurricane cut; crown kept at/under 9–3 guideline.

• Hedge along rear wall: Trim to maintain 24″ air gap off stucco for drying/pest control; restore 7–8 ft headroom over sidewalk.

• Service clearances: Maintain 3′ x 3′ working space at electrical panel and A/C condenser.

  Access & Cleanup: Bucket/chipper in driveway; turf protection as needed; chip/haul all debris; blow off hard surfaces; close/lock gates.

  Photos: Labeled before-photos attached with arrows (see Pages 2–3).

  Schedule: Work to be completed within 14 days of approval; after-photos provided for HOA file.

The photo set ARC boards love (5 shots total)

1. Front elevation (wide) — shows the property context.

2. Target limb(s) over roof — arrows pointing to what will be reduced.

3. Wall/hedge conflict — tape measure or yardstick showing the current gap (usually 0″).

4. Sidewalk/drive headroom — person/ladder for scale.

5. Mechanical access — panel or condenser blocked by shrubs; show the fix area.

Add two after-photos of the same angles once we finish: that closes the loop for your HOA’s records.

Clearance targets that pass the field test

• Roof clearance (trees): target 6–10 ft vertical space above roof surfaces; remove tips that rub shingles/gutters.

• Wall/siding clearance (shrubs/small trees): keep 18–24 in of air gap so walls can dry and pest control works.

• Walkways: 7–8 ft of headroom.

• Driveways: 13 ft where possible for trucks/SUVs.

• Mechanical access: 3 ft clear rectangle in front of panels and condensers.

• Pool cages: never let fronds or branches touch the screen in wind.

• Palms: remove brown fronds and fruit/flowers; no hurricane cuts; crown at or under 9–3.

We mark these in your packet so ARC reviewers have zero guesswork.

Why the ANSI A300 line matters (and what it means on site)

“All work to ANSI A300 pruning standards” tells reviewers you’ll get reduction cuts (to real laterals), crown cleaning (dead/rubbing removal), and selective interior thinning (not lion-tailing) to improve airflow—without topping or leaving stubs. It’s the difference between “looks shorter” and actually safer, longer-lasting pruning.

On site, our crews:

• Cut outside the branch collar (no flush cuts, no bark rips).

• Favor strong laterals for reduction.

• Avoid lion-tailing that shoves weight to the tips.

• Sanitize tools between palms; no spikes on live palms unless removing.

• Keep crowns natural, slightly irregular—a “flat haircut” is a topping red flag.

Special section: palms & pool cages (the ARC hot button)

ARC reviewers see two extremes: messy palms raining fruit, or palms shaved into a “pineapple” (aka hurricane cut). Both get flagged. The pass-every-time approach is simple:

• Remove brown fronds and fruit/flower stalks.

• Keep green fronds at/above the 9–3 line.

• If yellowing exists but tissue is green, we correct nutrition (not over-prune).

• Maintain no-touch clearance to the pool cage screens.

We’ll write that into your scope and provide after-photos at the same angles.

Common reasons ARC submissions get bounced (and our fixes)

• No measurements. Fix: add target clearances (6–10 ft roof, 24″ walls, 7–8 ft walkway, 3′ panels).

• No standards. Fix: add the line “Work to ANSI A300—no topping.”

• Vague photos. Fix: arrows + labels; we’ll handle it.

• Palms hurricane-cut. Fix: rewrite scope to remove brown fronds/fruit only; crown at/under 9–3.

• No cleanup plan. Fix: one sentence on chip/haul, turf protection, and gate security.

What we deliver after approval (so re-inspections fly)

1. ANSI-A300 pruning to the exact scope ARC approved.

2. Before/after photo set matching your submission angles.

3. Completion note that mirrors ARC wording (e.g., “Reduced oak 8–10 ft over west roof via reduction cuts; restored 24″ wall clearance; raised sidewalk headroom to 8 ft; palm care per 9–3 rule.”).

4. Invoice with your property address, date, and work summary (great for HOA and insurance files).

5. Recurring schedule so you stay in compliance with lighter, faster visits.

Example: full submission for a typical Hillsborough HOA (copy/paste)

PROJECT: Tree Pruning & Palm Care – Lot 23, Cypress Ridge OWNER: Name, address CONTRACTOR: All Your Way Tree Service — ISA Certified Arborist oversight; insured. SCOPE (ANSI A300 – no topping): • Live oak – west roof: Reduce end-weight 8–10 ft over roof using reduction cuts to suitable laterals; crown clean dead/rubbing ≥1″; maintain natural crown. • Queen palms – pool cage: Remove brown fronds and fruit/flower stalks; maintain crown at/under 9–3; no hurricane cut. • Hedge – rear wall: Trim to restore 24″ air gap off stucco; maintain 7–8 ft sidewalk headroom. • Service clearances: Maintain 3′ x 3′ working space at electrical panel/A-C condenser. ACCESS & CLEANUP: Equipment in driveway; turf protection as needed; chip/haul all debris; blow off hardscapes; re-secure gates. PHOTOS: Labeled before-photos attached (5). After-photos supplied within 48 hours of completion. SCHEDULE: Work within 14 days of approval.

Attach your five labeled photos. Done.

Real local scenarios (how this plays out)

• Seffner: insurance + ARC overlap. Laurel oak tips over roof and palms touching the pool cage. We submitted the packet with 8–10 ft roof reduction and 9–3 palm care, got next-meeting approval, and passed re-inspection with after-photos attached to the invoice.

• Valrico: sidewalk clearance complaint. Headroom was 6 ft. We marked and raised to 8 ft, restored 24″ off stucco, and provided labeled after-photos. ARC closed the ticket the same day.

• Brandon: “vague scope” rejection. Homeowner had “trim trees” in the description. We rewrote it with ANSI A300 language and exact clearances, re-submitted with arrows on photos, and got a same-week approval.

FAQs (so your board doesn’t have to email back)

Do I need a permit as well as ARC approval?

Sometimes—city/county rules vary. We’ll check your address and handle any required permits or arborist letters, then include copies in your HOA file.

Can you keep the look natural and still pass?

Yes. Reduction cuts and selective thinning preserve shape while meeting measurable clearances. We avoid flat “haircuts.”

What if the ARC asks for minor changes?

We update the scope, re-label a photo if needed, and resend. Because your packet is already neat, revisions are quick.

How often should I re-submit?

Most HOAs don’t require re-approval for maintenance within the same scope. We’ll keep you compliant with a 12–24 month recurring trim schedule and photo updates on request.

Your zero-friction path to approval

• Step 1 — Certified Arborist packet: Book Certified Arborist Services. We take the photos, write the ANSI scope, and assemble the submission.

• Step 2 — ANSI trimming: Schedule Tree Trimming & Pruning. We complete the work exactly as approved.

• Step 3 — Documentation: We send matching after-photos and a completion note for the HOA file.

• Step 4 — Stay compliant: Put trims on a recurring schedule so approvals stay evergreen.