You can amend restrictive covenants by an instrument in writing properly recorded in the land records. You must be the individual who imposed the restrictive covenants.
Then, in fact, the covenants are more restrictive. When you purchased your property, you agreed to abide by the governing documents -- including the covenants. If you want to campaign to amend the covenants, you can read your governing documents and follow that process.
The statute of limitations for restrictive covenants varies from state to state. You would need to check your state laws for the limits in your jurisdiction.
You would need to negotiate with the entity that recorded the restrictive covenant. Until you do you are subject to the restrictive covenants.
Yes. Restrictions are enforceable and the time period during which they are enforceable depends on the type and the statute of limitations in your jurisdiction regarding restrictive covenants.In Massachusetts if you purchased land that is encumbered with restrictive covenants "that run with the land", the covenants can last for 30 years by law.Some documents that create restrictive covenants recite a termination date. You need to check the language of the instrument that created the restrictive covenants and your state statute of limitations to determine if they have expired. If they are not expired then they are indeed enforceable.Certain restrictive covenants may not be enforceable even if the term of effectiveness has not expired depending on the restriction. For example, a restriction that the property shall only be sold to members of a particular race or shall not be sold to members of a particular race. In SHELLEY V. KRAEMER , 334 U.S. 1 (1948), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that racially restricted covenants were non-enforceable. Laws such as the Fair Housing Act of 1968 additionally made such restrictions illegal to enforce.
Shelley v. Kraemer
Generally, restrictive covenants are addressed by state laws that provide a statute of limitations. In Masachusetts, restrictive subdivision covenants that are recorded after 1961 expire after 30 years. There are different types of covenants. You would need to check the specific type you have in mind under your particular state laws.
Covenants have to be legally documented. If it is not in writing with the legal proof necessary to support it, the covenant can not be legally applied to you. Check with your local courthouse to find out what covenants apply, so that you know how to respond.
Yes there is ! In Idaho, there is a school called Waterfreed Elementary! It has 625 acres of playground land!!! They must have to run a FEW miles at PE! I wish I went to that school!
There are two main types of covenant which can be recorded on the land register, namely personal and restrictive covenants. Once registered, restrictive covenants continue to bind the land/property indefinitely. As time passes or circumstances change the covenants may become outdated e.g. housing densities imposed in the early 1900's may not fit with current redevelopment plans. In many cases the land/property owner will try to get the covenants removed. For a restrictive covenant to be removed it must be clear that the whole of the land which has the benefit can be precisely identified and that all the persons having an interest in that benefitting land have joined in and agreed to the removal - this is a rare occurrence. Such an agreement would be reflected in a legal deed executed by each party. An application would then be made to either remove the restrictive covenant(s) or reflect the contents of the Deed. Restrictive covenants can also be extinguished by the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) where they have decided for example that the covenant is out of date/touch with modern times Personal covenants tend to fall or are removed as and when the ownership changes although there are circumstances where they can continue - the question however is routinely raised with restrictive covenants in mind so the answer is limited to that context as a result.
Johnston Valentine Best has written: 'The law governing restrictions and restrictive covenants' -- subject(s): Covenants, Deeds, Equity pleading and procedure, Real property
Restrictive covenants "run with the land", thereby making them binding on all who acquired property under the restrictive covenants. Sometimes the Declaration itself contains verbage as to how they may be amended. Usually it is a VERY high percentage, normally 100% have to agree to an amendment. Once approved the amendment should be filed in the land records of the jurisdiction. If the item to be changed violates federal law, the item may be moot anyway as courts give no credence to covenants that are discrimatory. I once saw a restrictive covenant from about 1920 that said "No chickens, hogs, tractors or Chinese may be kept upon a property". ==Clarification== The document that created the restrictive covenants should contain a provision that they may be amended when a certain number of the lots have been sold. If there is no such provision and all the owners wish to amend the restrictions you may be able to obtain a judicial decree. However, keep in mind that any owners who disagree have the right to any benefits made appurtenant to their land in the Declaration of Covenants. If you find they cannot be amended, the restrictions will expire after a statutory period that may be as long as thirty years. You would need to check your state laws for the period in your state. Also, In SHELLEY V. KRAEMER , 334 U.S. 1 (1948), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that racially restricted covenants were non-enforceable. Laws such as the Fair Housing Act of 1968 additionally made such restrictions illegal to enforce. No court would accept a suit to enforce them and they are no longer of any concern.