Maintenance and Improvements The Kiawah Way Final | Page 2
Maintenance and Improvements: The Kiawah Way
Kiawah Island is a classic barrier island
noted for a blend of unusual natural beauty
and well designed homes and amenities.
This is a collaborative effort of the Kiawah
Island Community Association (KICA),
KICA members, the Town of Kiawah
Island, the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, the
Kiawah Conservancy and Kiawah Partners,
the island’s master community developer.
Whether considering a minor renovation,
new construction or general maintenance,
every member has the opportunity and
responsibility to achieve the goal of “an
uncommon and visually pleasing blend of natural beauty and man-made improvement“
as contained in the Architectural Review Board’s Designing with Nature.
Three important documents outline the process and guidelines: Designing with Nature,
and KICA’s Landscape Management Guidelines for Association Members and Rules and
Regulations Handbook. Sometimes the process can seem complex or intimidating, especially
to those who have not been part of a community that places such a high value on blending
with nature. Each member can make an important difference by following the guidelines
outlined in this booklet. It includes focus areas, visual examples and a checklist to help you
enhance your property’s aesthetics and value.
Landscape Standards (see photos for examples)
1. Front Views - Maintain filtered vegetative views in front yards facing the street.
2. Side Privacy - Maintain vegetative privacy buffers along shared property lines.
3. Rear Views - Maintain filtered vegetative views that are integrated with unique conditions
in rear yards along marsh, lake or golf course edges.
4. Foundation Plantings - Maintain dense plantings adjacent to foundations to at least half
the height from grade to first floor.
5. Ground Cover - Maintain natural ground cover plantings in yard areas, minimize areas of
pine straw/mulch and ideally, use a variety of plant heights.
Structure Standards
1. Trim Color - Moderate the contrast and application of trim color on the body of the structure.
2. Clean Condition - Maintain a clean condition of exterior surfaces by removing mildew
and clearing roofs and gutters of debris.
3. Replace Materials - Replace trim and body materials that exhibit failure or are unsightly.
4. Paint or Stain - Maintain a proper coat of stain or paint on exposed surfaces.
5. Clear Debris - Frequently clear debris off exterior decks, walkway and driveway surfaces
to maintain a clean look.
Contacts and References
The following contacts are
great resources for answering
your questions. You and your
architect
and/or
landscape
architect are encouraged to meet
early in the process with the
ARB, in particular. You are not
alone – more than likely someone
else has had the same questions
or concerns as you: how to start,
what your options are, who can
help you, or other questions that
are important to advance your
ideas. Both major and minor
improvement processes require
slightly different submittals to
the ARB, each tailored to your
unique needs. Answers to your
questions will give you the
confidence to contribute, along
with other members, to a better
Kiawah Island.
• Kiawah Island Architectural Review Board (ARB) - kiawaharb.com, 843-768-3419
• Kiawah Island Community Association (KICA) - kica.us, 843-768-9194
• Town of Kiawah Island (TOKI) - kiawahisland.org, 843-768-9166
• Kiawah Conservancy (KINHC) - kiawahconservancy.org, 843-768-2029
• Charleston County Planning - charlestoncounty.org, 843-202-7200
• Charleston County Building Services - charlestoncounty.org, 843-202-6930
• Charleston County Register Mensne Conveyence (RMC) - charlestoncounty.org, 843-958-4800
• Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) - scdhec.gov, 843-747-4323
A Guide to Property Improvements on Kiawah
In addition to the references listed above, the Kiawah ARB, in conjunction with Charleston County,
the Town of Kiawah Island and KICA, published A Guide to Property Improvements on Kiawah. This
brochure includes a variety of useful information including a checklist of requirements for property
maintenance/construction. The document is available on the ARB’s website (kiawaharb.com) or
directly from the ARB or Charleston County.
We encourage you to use this guide once or twice a year to help assess or schedule preventive
maintenance. If you are interested in also providing wildlife habitat, the Kiawah Island Natural
Habitat Conservancy can help you with examples which will meet other island requirements.
Visit the conservancy on the web at www.kiawahconservancy.org.
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