HOA architectural review committees in SWFL operate on monthly cycles, require physical material samples, and can reject your submission for reasons that aren't documented anywhere. We've submitted to Bonita Bay, Pelican Bay, Pelican Sound, and Sandoval enough times to have a playbook.
Pre-submission
Pull two or three swatch sheets from Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore in colors that fit your community's approved palette. Walk the neighborhood and identify three homes painted in those colors — note addresses. Your submission needs photo references.
The submission
Most SWFL HOAs require: completed ARC application, color swatch (physical sample, not just a paint chip), photo of three nearby homes in similar colors, contractor license number + insurance certificate, project timeline. Submit 30+ days before your start date.
The review
The architectural review committee meets monthly. If your submission lands the day after a meeting, you wait 4 weeks for the next one. Resubmission after rejection adds another month. We track meeting calendars for the four big SWFL HOAs.
What we handle
For Pro GC painting clients, we handle the entire HOA submission as part of the job. Sample collection, ARC application, photo documentation, meeting representation, and resubmission if needed. Most of our clients never see the ARC paperwork.