In addition to the Association’s more specific Policies and Procedures, found here, the following Good Neighbor Policies were first adopted years ago, and have been updated as of April 8, 2026. They address matters that are not specifically addressed in the covenants, but are binding and legal rules by which your Association operates. The intent is to create a "good neighbor" atmosphere in the community where owners take important steps to minimize their impact to the community and their immediate neighbors.

The general procedure for approval on any action that falls under the Association’s Architecture Control Authority (starting in Section 18 of the Association’s Covenants found here) is to show plans, drawings, and any pertinent information to all bordering and possibly affected (sightline, etc.) neighbors for their comments. You may wish to confer with the Association’s Manager for guidance before you begin.

The Architectural Guidelines address structures, fences, irrigation, and landscaping. This initial procedure needs to be completed first before the complete application is brought to the Board. This does not mean a neighbor has authority regarding your work. It creates the opportunity for affected parties to have a voice in the developments that possibly affect them in their community before the Board manages the request under the Guidelines and Covenants. The complete Architectural Guidelines may be found here.

The Association holds legal water rights in two ditches that serve the Capitol Creek Valley – the Little Elk Creek Ditch and the Boram and White Ditch. These ditches serve not only our neighborhood, but also other ranchers above and below our community. We are legally obligated to protect these water courses, both by caring for our ditches, and by protecting the water quality. Further, the water from these ditches acts as a recharge source for the groundwater that supplies our domestic water wells located near the pump house on Little Elk Creek Avenue.

Irrigation water is supplied by these ditches within the community. Around the beginning of May (weather dependent) the irrigation ditches are loaded (the ditch diversion structures are opened from Capitol Creek). Then, sometime in October (also weather dependent), the ditches are turned off.

Under the legal documents that govern our water rights and domestic wells, landscape irrigation watering from domestic house water is strictly not permitted. It is NOT OKAY to attach a hose or irrigation system to your house for irrigation. It could, potentially, put the whole community water system at risk. It is okay to water indoor and small outdoor potted plants from domestic water, assuming it does not require excessive domestic water use. Further, if you burn your ditches, you are allowed to use hoses attached to your households spigots to ensure fire safety.

Before they are loaded, during their flow, and after they are turned off, all owners are expected to maintain the portion of the ditches on their property. The Association’s full Ditch Policy may be found here.

In early May, before the ditches are turned on, an owner’s portion of a ditch should be burned, dug out, or otherwise maintained and/or improved to handle the necessary water volume.

Owners are required to have a functioning irrigation system to water any irrigated area. Irrigation water should come from an Association-approved retention pond or from the ditch that runs across a property. Although Pitkin County used to allow homeowners to line their ponds, this is no longer allowed. Ponds that have not been previously approved for lining should drain within 72 hours of the end of irrigation season.

Because the water supply is pumped from the ground water in your neighborhood and along the Capitol Creek Valley, we ask that you minimize the use of chemical agents on your property. All chemicals must be used and disposed of within regulatory guidelines.

For more information, feel free to reach out to the Association’s Water Systems manager at utility@hcusmgmt.com, or click here to email the Board and Management.

Our community is part of the Snowmass-Capitol Creek Caucus of Pitkin County. The Caucus, working with the County Commissioners, has been recognized as a Dark Skies Community by Dark Sky International. This designation means that lighting on our homes and properties should be designed, updated, and maintained in accordance with Pitkin County’s Dark Skies lighting codes. Click here for more information on Dark Skies.

Short term rentals within Little Elk Creek Village must be licensed and comply with Pitkin County short term rental regulations.

Little Elk Creek Village is in Pitkin County, which has recognized the lack of productivity of our natural plant systems due to numerous nonnative, invasive, noxious weeds. Without a major integrated weed management program, these aggressive, non-native plants will continue to infest and degrade the lands we value so highly.

In an effort to address this issue, the "Colorado Noxious Weed Act" was passed, creating the legal requirement for all Owners and the Association to continuously eradicate noxious weeds on each entire parcel. The Association maintains weed control on the common space, and can give you information about contractors who may help with this task.

For more information on weed management click here for Pitkin County Land Management, or contact your Association Management.

Trash and recycle is picked up every Tuesday by Waste Management, and should be curbside by 7:00 AM. When a holiday falls within the week, trash may be picked up the following day. The holiday schedule is at https://www.wm.com/us/en/holiday-schedule.

Under the Association’s bulk agreement, each homeowner is supplied with one 34-gallon trash container, and one 96-gallon recycling container. Larger trash containers may be requested at an additional charge. For more information, click here to contact Association Management.

Little Elk Creek benefits from Waste Management’s single stream recycling. For more information on recycling, see their website here.

Non-trash items, such as household goods (mattresses, appliances, tires, etc.), construction debris, electronics, compost and large landscaping debris may not be left out with the trash/recycling. They should be taken to the Pitkin County Landfill. Your residency gets you a yearly credit available there. For more information, contact the landfill or see their website.

From August until the snow flies, it is common to find hungry bears in the area. To prevent domestication and other predator issues, please remember to latch your bear proof containers. If you experience a break in, contact the Association Manager.

Then, in the Winter, to allow for snow removal and traffic flow, trash cans should be left at the corner of your driveway and fully off the road.

Pets must always be under an owner’s control – preferably on leash – or contained on a homeowner’s property. Please pick up after your dog while walking in the subdivision, and feel free to use the many poo bag disposal stations around the community. Contain animals at night to prevent late night barking. Improperly managed pets are subject to being picked up by Pitkin County animal control.

Upon being approved through the Association and as regulated by Section 3 of your Association’s Covenants, homeowners are allowed two horses per acre. Among other regulations, they must be well kept and provided for, must not become a health hazard or nuisance, nor excessively destroy the surface vegetation. Proper fencing, irrigation and shelter should be provided in accordance with the Architectural Guidelines. Manure management is a requirement at all times of year. Please click here to contact Management for the horse application process.

The speed limit within the subdivision is 15 mph. Please respect this. Lots of us like to walk along our roads with elders, children and dogs.

Our roads are owned and maintained in cooperation with Pitkin County under a cooperative agreement. This means that Pitkin County road regulations apply, and there are setbacks for utilities.

Thus, parking on the side of subdivision roads is discouraged, particularly in the winter. Any vehicle parked on the road does so at the owners’ risk. Snow removal operations are hindered by on-street parking. As a courtesy to all homeowners, please properly manage anyone parking at your home, and avoid parking on roads in the winter.

Pursuant to Colorado law, our Association allows you to display on your property one political sign per candidate or issue, with a maximum size of the smaller of Pitkin County rules, or 36 by 48 inches. Political signs must be on the owners’ property and not in the public right of way.

The increasingly popular use of drones has triggered concerns about noise and privacy. Please minimize the use of drones in the neighborhood. If you choose to operate a drone, please only do so over your own property. Be considerate of your neighbors’ peace and privacy; if neighbors express concern about use or make a request that you forgo any visual oversight of their property, please make every effort to accommodate. This request also applies if you plan to sell your house or use drones for another purpose; please inform your realtor or contractor of this policy.

Thanks to everyone for using these helpful policies to be a good neighbor, and continue the amazing quality of life we have in our little community.

I certify that the foregoing updates to these Good Neighbor Policies were duly adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Little Elk Creek Home Owners Association at a meeting properly noticed for and held on April 8, 2026.