Articles & By-Laws of River Bend

• Comprehensive, searchable Word version of all documents below combined (unofficial)

• Restrictive Covenants (1952)

  • Searchable Word version (unofficial): Restrictive Covenants (1952)

• Modification to Restrictive Covenants (1997)

  • Searchable Word version (unofficial): Modification to Restrictive Covenants (1997)

• Modification to Restrictive Covenants (2007)

  • Searchable Word version (unofficial): Modification to Restrictive Covenants (2007)

• Architectural Guidelines

  • Searchable Word version (unofficial): Architectural Guidelines

• Planning Committee By-Laws

  • Searchable Word version (unofficial): Planning Committee By-Laws

• Plat

• Plat Amendment (1953)

  • Searchable Word version (unofficial): Plat Amendment (1953)

• Regulation of Solar Panels - Roof Shingles - Flags - Flag Poles - Religious Items and Rain Barrels

  • Searchable Word version (unofficial): Regulation of Solar Panels - Roof Shingles - Flags - Flag Poles - Religious Items and Rain Barrels

• Records Retention Policy

  • Searchable Word version (unofficial): Records Retention Policy

• Books and Records Production Policy

  • Searchable Word version (unofficial): Books and Records Production Policy

• Payment Plan Policy

  • Searchable Word version (unofficial): Payment Plan Policy

 Ordinances of Hunter's Creek, TX (which also apply to River Bend as a subdivision of Hunter's Creek)

 Frequently Asked Questions by Neighbors:

• How do I get to the neighborhood directory (secure site)?

• Q:  How do I send an email to everyone in River Bend or go back and review prior neighborhood emails?  A:  contact the River Bend president for this information

• Q:  An issue happened and I want to review the neighborhood ALPR cameras and ask neighbors to see if they might see something on their cameras.  How do I proceed?  A:  you can contact Memorial Villages Police Department (713-365-7000) and the can review our ALPR cameras.  You can contact the security committee leader for the HOA at the email address listed at the bottom of the page.

• What are the trash and recycling times and guidelines including big trash?  

• Q:  Is there backdoor service for trash and recycling or do I bring to the curb?  A:  Please remember that  our residents no longer bring trash and recycling to the front curb.  Please leave it for back door service.  For those that are bringing it to the curb due to security gate issues (e.g. wanting to keep them closed, keeping dogs in), the city indicates that a property owner may construct and maintain a see-through gated structure or enclosure designated for the sole purpose of storing yard and garden waste, recyclable materials, and all class I solid waste, except heavy trash and serving as a regular point of collection. The structure or enclosure must comply with the location requirements for points of collection, must be located entirely behind the front building line, and must provide convenient access for solid waste collection.  What this essentially means is that they understand not wanting to leave gates open for security or pet reasons, but the ordinance does not provide an exception for these circumstances. However, it does have a provision to accommodate these and other similar conditions (namely to construct a separate accessible area for trash and recycling).  In the meantime, please just bring the trash and recycling to the other side of the gate rather than all the way to the curb.  In fact, in an effort train their collection teams, they are instructing them NOT to take trash and recycling at the curb.   Note the specific city ordinance:

Sec. 32-22. Point of collection.

The owner or occupier of each single-family residential property in the city shall establish and maintain on their property a regular point of collection where all yard and garden waste, recyclable materials, and all other class I solid waste, except heavy trash, shall be placed for collection by the city or its contractor.

(1) The point of collection shall be located behind the front building setback line and within 50 feet of a driveway or other surface prepared for motor vehicle traffic, and shall be kept accessible to the city's solid waste disposal services contractor on the scheduled dates of collection. Provided however, that if there is no suitable location for a point of collection that is behind the front building set back line, the point of collection can be established at a location that is in front of, but immediately adjacent to, the front building setback line.

(2) The point of collection may be screened from view but may not be located inside a gated fenced or walled enclosure except as follows. A property owner may construct and maintain a see-through gated structure or enclosure designated for the sole purpose of storing yard and garden waste, recyclable materials, and all class I solid waste, except heavy trash and serving as a regular point of collection. The structure or enclosure must comply with the location requirements for points of collection, must be located entirely behind the front building line, and must provide convenient access for solid waste collection.

(3) Heavy trash shall be placed at the curb in front of the residence not more than 24 hours before the date designated by the city for heavy trash collection.

(Ord. No. 727, § 1, 10-21-2008)

• Q:  My garbage or recycling did not get picked up today per the schedule.  Who do I contact? 
  A:  Tom Fullen, Hunter's Creek City Administrator
  Mobile 713-409-7251

Office 713-465-2150

tfullen@cityofhunterscreek.com 

• What are the parking rules in River Bend for cars on the street for extended periods of time or construction worker vehicles?

• Q:  If I am having a lot of guests, how do I get temporary signage put up so people only park on one side of the street?  A:  You have likely seen the temporary signage to park on one side of the street when people are hosting a number of guests for a gathering/party.  Please remember to do this if you are going to have a significant number of guests.  All you need to do is call the Hunter’s Creek office (713-465-2150) and tell them you need parking signs.  They will ask you the time and how many guests you are expecting.  Best to give them a couple days’ notice and you also should recheck the morning of the event to confirm.  

• Can I park an RV at my house?

• Q:  When is the next annual meeting?  A:  Our annual meetings are held in January of each year.

• Q:  What are the rules for political signage?  A:  Per the Hunter's Creek statute:  One or more temporary signs used in connection with political campaigns may be displayed, provided such signs are removed within five days following the conclusion of such campaign. No sign face shall exceed 36 square feet in area and no sign shall exceed eight feet in height. 

• What are the rules about maintaining neatness of lots that may be vacant or will be under construction?

• Q:  Some of our street lamps are out again.  What do we do?  A:  Anybody can go on the Centerpoint site and report a light outage.  It takes 30 seconds – all you do is enter the pole number and your email address and you’ll receive confirmation and then notification when repaired.  Please go to the website:  https://www.centerpointenergy.com/en-us/residential/customer-service/electric-outage-center/report-streetlight-outages?sa=ho.  

• Q:  Is landscaping, or yardwork permitted on Sundays?   What are the permissible times?   A:  Some of these activities are already starting at early hours which is not permitted under Hunter’s Creek's ordinances when being conducted by a yard service, Sec. 18-138. Hours restricted for certain noise producing activities.  Per the ordinance:

a) Generally. In order to preserve the residential character of the city and to provide hours during which the city's residents can rest free from unnecessary and offensive noise levels, the following activities may be performed only during the allowable hours provided below:

1) The use of lawn mowers, edging machines, leaf blowers, chain saws, or any other gasoline, diesel, or electric powered lawn care or landscaping equipment; 

2) The use of power washers, air compressors, or any other gasoline, diesel, or electric powered equipment for home maintenance purposes. 

b) Allowable hours. The work hours during which the activities listed in subsection (a) above are allowed are:  

1) Between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weekdays; 

2) Between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays; 

3) No work is permitted on Sundays or on holidays on which the city's offices are closed.

c) Exceptions. The following exceptions apply: 

1) The restrictions on allowable hours do not apply when the activities are performed by the owner or occupant of the residence where the activities are being performed;

2) The restrictions on allowable hours do not apply in the case of an emergency where use of powered equipment is necessary to prevent a risk of injury to persons or immediate damage to property;

As issues arise, please first contact your neighbor who has hired the service company and request that they abide by the regulations.  If that does not immediately remedy the situation, feel free to give me or any other River Bend Planning Committee Board Member a call / send an email to discuss.

• Q:  What are the permitted hours for construction?  A:  Construction is permitted Monday thru Friday 8:00am thru 6:00pm, Saturdays 9:00am thru 6:00pm, and not permitted at all on Sundays and holidays.  For all those under construction, please review these guidelines and be sure that your general contractors are fully aware of them.   There are multiple regulations that drive this:

Per the River Bend ARC Architectural Guidelines, Section III covers General Construction Procedures.  For all those under construction, please review these guidelines and be sure that your general contractors are fully aware of them.  Per Section III.2.(e) Construction work may take place ONLY between the hours of 7:00 am and 6:00 pm , Monday through Saturday.

Further, per the City of Hunters Creek Village Code of Ordinances, Section 10 covers Buildings and Building Regulations.  For all those under construction, please review these guidelines and be sure that your general contractors are fully aware of them.  Section 10-3.(o) covers Work Hours and states that All construction work shall be performed between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, or between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays, except as provided below. No construction work shall be performed on Sundays or on holidays on which the city's offices are closed. On days on which construction work is permitted indoor work may continue until 9:00 p.m. provided that all such work is conducted in an enclosed structure, and is not visible or audible from surrounding properties. The city's building official may permit construction work to be performed at other times if necessary because of emergency conditions. The provisions of this subsection shall control over any contrary provision in any of the construction codes adopted by the city.

If a mistake occurs and construction goes outside these hours, an email to the residents would be very much appreciated to let us all know.  Some residents may be forgiving and not be concerned about one-off events.  But given the regulations, we cannot prevent residents from contacting MVPD and lodging a complaint leading to arrival of police and shutdown of activity occurring outside these hours.

• Q:  If we are part of Houston ISD, then why do we have to pay taxes to Spring Branch ISD since that is not where we are zoned?  A:  Each of us gets two property tax bills.  The bigger one comes from the Harris County Tax Assessor / Collector.  That’s the one covering Houston ISD, Harris County, the Port Authority and HCC.  The smaller, but still significant one, comes from Spring Branch ISD.  For 2019, the rate was 0.194 cents per taxable dollar of real property value.  The answer is that Spring Branch ISD is only the administrator for this collection.  They are actually collecting the monies on behalf of Hunter’s Creek.  In fact, they provide this service for each of the villages because the villages do not have the administrative capability to collect their own taxes.  The monies you pay to Spring Branch ISD go to Hunter’s Creek to pay for Hunter’s Creek Elementary, Hunter’s Creek City Hall, etc.

• Q:  Can I go ahead and remove a tree from my property?  A:  This is not actually a River Bend issue – it is a Hunter’s Creek issue.  Hunter’s Creek has regulations around removal of trees.  You need to contact the Hunter’s Creek City Clerk -- http://cityofhunterscreek.com/city-personnel/.  You can contact Brenda Campagna directly at brenda@cityofhunterscreek.org or call her at 713-465-2150.

Frequently Asked Questions by Realtors, Buyers, Developers:

• Q:  How do I get a current HOA statement or a resale certificate?  A:  we do not issue statements or certificates.  Please contact the Treasurer to ensure a property is current on dues which can be confirmed by email and then pay the applicable transfer fee (see next bullet).

• Q:  What are the HOA transfer fees?  A:  $50 payable to River Bend Planning Committee.  Mail to:
  River Bend Planning Committee
  7618 River Point Drive
  Houston, TX 77063

• Q: Where do I get an Architectural Planning Committee (ARC) application?  A:  There are no formal applications.  You need to abide by all the by-laws and submit plans to the River Bend ARC.  Note that if you are having plans reviewed by the River Bend ARC, there is a fee of $500 to be paid in advance for the review.  The fees are used to reimburse our architect to ensure plan compliance.  The fee should be paid to River Bend Planning Committee and you should send to the treasurer whose email is listed at the bottom of the page.

• Q:  What are the annual HOA dues?  A:  $650 (2025)

• What are the high school boundaries applicable to River Bend?

• What are the construction site guidelines in Hunter's Creek?

• Q:  What are the rules for installation of a generator?  A:  As long as it's to the side of or behind the house, the River Bend HOA should be fine.  Hunter's Creek has some restrictions on where/how they can be installed that can be found at https://library.municode.com/tx/hunters_creek_village/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH44ZO_ARTIIIDIRE_DIV2DIRSIMIREDI_S44-166EMELGE.  

Sec. 44-166. - Emergency electric generators.

(a) Generally. Electric generators may be installed and maintained in District R for the purpose of providing electric power during time periods when normal electric service is unavailable.  

(b) Location.

(1) Generators are not required to meet the building setback requirements applicable to accessory structures except as provided below.

(2) No generator shall be located in a front yard or in front of the front line of any residence.

(c) Operation. No generator shall be operated except:

(1) When necessary to provide electric power during time periods when normal electric service is unavailable; or

(2) When necessary for maintenance or repair.

(d) Manufacturer's recommendations. All generators must be installed and operated in compliance with the applicable manufacturer's recommendations.

(e) Enclosures. Any structure intended to enclose or screen a generator, other than a structure designed solely for sound attenuation, shall be considered an accessory structure and must comply with all requirements of this division applicable to accessory structures.

(f) Sound attenuation. All generators shall be installed, maintained, and operated in such manner as to reduce, to the greatest extent reasonably possible, the volume of sound produced by their operation.

• Are realtor signs / flags permitted in River Bend?

Contact River Bend Planning Committee members by sending email to the address listed below @riverbendtx.info:

• HOA President:  president@

• Treasurer:  treasurer@

• Legal questions:  secretary@

• Architectural questions / design submissions:  arc@

• Landscaping / mowing questions:  landscape@

• Security:  if an emergency, call 911 or call Memorial Villages Police Department (713-365-7000).  Emails to security@

• General questions for the HOA:  hoa@