How long do I have to finish the outside of a new build?

**One year.** The covenants require the outside finishing of all buildings to be completed within one year after construction has started.

The clock runs from when construction **starts**, not from when the permit is issued or when you hope to finish.

**Why the rule exists.** A half-finished exterior is both an eyesore and a building left exposed to weather. The one-year limit is what stops a project stalling indefinitely.

**The Township's rules run alongside.** Building materials may not be kept on a property for more than **15 days** unless there is an active building permit or they are in a completely enclosed building. And a structure left deteriorated or damaged past safe or usable condition for **90 days** without an active repair permit is a blight violation.

So an active building permit is what keeps a live project outside the blight rules. When the permit lapses, those time limits start to bite.

**Plan the finish, not just the build.** Siding, trim and exterior painting are often what gets deferred when a project runs long — and they are exactly what this covenant is about.

**If a project is going to overrun**, talk to the office rather than letting the date pass quietly.

*Source: Restrictive Covenants, Article VII, Section 2; Anti-Blight Ordinance No. 23, Section III.*