There are many homes in Discovery Bay which are not governed by a homeowner’s association.  (Click here:  DBPOA JURISDICTION Map)  The first question you should ask yourself is if you think these homes are in “ghetto” condition.  This is the fear tactic most used by the DBPOA in justifying its existence…

A drive around Discovery Bay will show that this is an unfounded fear.  Actually, you will find that many of the homes which have been requiring some kind of attention for a very long time are within the association’s boundaries.  Relying on the DBPOA appears to be a hit and miss prospect.  If asked why a violation hasn’t been corrected, the association asks in return, how do you know it’s not already in the system?  How many times have you also heard that excuse when noticing that violations are selectively enforced?  With association-wide inspections regularly conducted, you would think there wouldn’t be any overlooked violations.  Or, how about the excuse that a violation was another board’s decision, so nothing can be done about it now?  Except that you can’t do it…  

So, if we didn’t have the DBPOA, one would naturally ask what could be done about protecting property values… 

We are governed by County codes and ordinances, which it has the authority to enforce.  These regulations address most issues which commonly cause concern.  We are including a website to research the codes for whatever subject you may be interested in, which is easy to use…  Just click on “search”, then type in the word or words (such as “weeds”; “fence height”; “public nuisance”; “noise”; “pets”; etc.), select “verbose report”, and clicking on search will then bring up all codes pertaining to the subject, by chapters, which you can then scroll through and click on.  (Click here: CONTRA COSTA COUNTY CODES)

As the DBPOA says, simply talking to your neighbor could solve the problem.  If deterioration is a matter of the offender's financial problems, perhaps you and other neighbors could even pitch in for a "cleanup" or “spruce up” day.

It should also be remembered that the CC&Rs governing our properties “run with the land”; and were extended until 2028.  These are legal “equitable servitudes” and as such could always be enforced by any homeowner through the Small Claims court (such as in the Betty Grace case).

Parking problems can be referred to the Sheriff’s Department, which is exactly what the DBPOA does (its largest number of violations).

So, it becomes obvious that the DBPOA doesn’t really do anything that we couldn’t or wouldn’t do for ourselves; except, of course, charge us for making any improvements to our properties and fine us for not enjoying our properties the way it dictates…

"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it."
            -Thomas Jefferson