frequently asked questions
Heritage Square Homes Association
Established 1972 ~ Burke, Virginia
When is the trash collected?
Trash is collected on Tuesdays and Fridays. Recyclables are collected on Wednesdays. From late Spring until early Fall, yard waste is collected on Fridays. Please note that trash will not be collected on the following holidays:
- New Year's Day (January 1)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday of November)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
For the holidays listed above, trash service will resume on the next regularly scheduled collection day (i.e., the following Monday or Thursday).
Trash should be set out no earlier than the evening before collection day. To help prevent birds and rodents from getting into the trash, homeowners and residents are encouraged to place their trash into large black trash bags.
The trash company (currently Patriot Disposal) may choose not to accept certain items if they are large or considered to be hazardous waste. Homeowners and residents are encouraged to directly contact the trash company with any questions regarding what will and will not be accepted. Those items refused by the trash company can typically be taken by the homeowner or resident to a Fairfax County Waste Transfer Station for proper disposal.
Where can I park my vehicle?
Each townhome has two (2) parking spaces allotted to the unit. These spaces are typically located in front of, or reasonably near to, the unit. There are also a limited number of Visitor parking spaces available throughout the community that are clearly marked with signs and "VISITOR" curb markings. The use of a Visitor parking space requires a hangtag, which must be hung from the rearview mirror of the vehicle. Each homeowner is issued one (1) hangtag for temporary (not to exceed 72 hours) use of a Visitor parking space. Homeowners and residents are not permitted to use Visitor spaces for their own vehicles.
Homeowners and residents are not permitted to use parking spaces allotted to other units without the express permission of those homeowners or residents. Failure to comply with this policy may result in the offending vehicle being towed at the vehicle owner's expense. In addition, parking is prohibited in the following areas:
- Along curbs that will interfere with the flow of traffic or impede the access of emergency or snow removal vehicles.
- Within 15 feet of any fire hydrant or along any curb where parking has been prohibited by the Association as indicated by the yellow-painted curb.
- On any portion of the Common Area other than those specifically designated for parking.
- Along the access road leading from Liberty Bell Court to the playground.
- In the travel portion of any Association road behind legally parked vehicles.
Homeowners who are three or more months behind on their Association dues may have their parking privileges revoked until such time as dues are brought current.
Accurate Towing is the authorized towing agent for the community. If your, or your guest's, vehicle is towed due to a violation of the Association's parking regulations, you may contact the company at (703) 934-1460.
For more information regarding parking, refer to HSHA Policy Resolution 07-13, "Relating to Motor Vehicles and Parking".
What are my responsibilities as a homeowner?
Owning a townhome in Heritage Square is just like owning a single-family home, at least in terms of the homeowner's responsibilities. Each homeowner is responsible for the maintenance of their unit, both inside and outside. This includes the home itself, the yard, the fence, the sidewalk leading up to the front door, and any other structures (e.g., decks or storage sheds) located on the unit property.
The Association is responsible for the maintenance of the Common Area, which is the property owned by the Association itself rather than by any individual homeowner. The Association is responsible for the lawn care and landscaping of the Common Area and for the mowing of the front yards of the units. The Association is also responsible for the maintenance of the streets and common sidewalks.
In the winter months, the Association is responsible for plowing the streets. However, homeowners are responsible for shoveling their sidewalks.
Once or twice per year, the management company conducts exterior inspections of the units to ensure compliance with the Association's "Architectural and Environmental Guidelines and Regulations" policy. Homeowners are then notified of any violations via letter. Homeowners receiving violation letters are required to remedy the violation(s) within a set period of time -- usually 30 to 60 days.
Some additional items to note:
- Fairfax County requires that all pet owners pick up after their pets. Leash laws apply when your pet is outside.
- Noise levels need to be kept down during quiet hours. This includes barking dogs in the very early hours when people are still sleeping. Respect your neighbors and give them the peace and quiet that you would like to receive.
Do I need to obtain permission before making a change to the exterior of my home?
YES! Any changes to the exterior of your home -- for example, a new roof, new siding, new windows and doors, a new deck, or simply a color change -- must be approved in advance by the Board of Directors. You will need to file an Architectural Change Application, blank copies of which are available from the management company.
When filling out the application, be sure to provide complete specifications, pictures, sketches, color samples, etc. so that the Board can fully understand what change you are proposing to make. Applications submitted by residents must include the approval of the homeowner. The completed application is then to be submitted to the Community Manager, who will include it in the Board of Directors package for review at the next scheduled meeting. Incomplete applications will be returned to the requestor.
Once a properly completed application is submitted, the Board has 30 days to review and approve or deny it. The Community Manager will inform the requestor whether the application has been approved or denied. If the application is denied, the requestor has the right to appeal the decision to the Board within 30 days of receipt of the denial.
For more information regarding the Architectural Change process, refer to HSHA Policy Resolution 17-01, "Architectural and Environmental Guidelines and Regulations".