Thank you for representing a buyer or seller in Avonlea at Smith Lake. This page collects the details agents most often ask about. Please share it with your clients.

Community Overview

  • Location: Marion County, Florida, adjacent to Smith Lake
  • Home sites: 38 platted lots on about 192 acres, each two to over eight acres and averaging five acres. The property map shows each lot and its acreage.
  • Lake access: Private lake access via a common area with a boat ramp, pier, and parking lot with room for boat trailers
  • Horses: Equestrian-friendly, as specified in the deed restrictions
  • Utilities: Underground electrical service throughout
  • Street lights: Street lights throughout the community, paid for by HOA dues
  • Hamlet designation: Avonlea is developed as a “Hamlet” under the Marion County Comprehensive Plan. No more than 40% of the gross land area may be developed, and at least 60% must remain permanent open space, including agricultural use. The recorded plats show the developable portion of each lot.

Homeowners Association

  • HOA name: Avonlea Homeowners Association
  • Annual dues: $1,000 per year
  • Dues cover: Common area maintenance, road maintenance, the front gate, street lights, and the entrance fountain. Trash service is not included.
  • Estoppel certificate requests: Email the HOA treasurer at avonleahoatreasurer@gmail.com. Include the property address, owner name, and closing date. The fee is $200, payable to Avonlea HOA, and certificates are delivered within 10 business days.

Governing Documents

Copies of the recorded Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions and all amendments, from the Official Records of Marion County, Florida. Recording dates, file numbers, and book/page references are shown so each document can be verified in the Marion County Clerk’s Official Records search. Searching for the Declaration by File No. 2007083743 (or on the Book/Page tab, OR Book 4822, Page 759) shows a “Linked Documents” list that connects it to each amendment. Buyers are responsible for reading and adhering to these documents.

Recorded Plats

Copies of the recorded subdivision plats, from the Official Records of Marion County, Florida. The plats show each lot’s dimensions, its developable area under the Hamlet designation, and the easements. To verify one in the Marion County Clerk’s Official Records search, use the Book/Page tab and choose PLAT as the book type. The property map is drawn from these plats.

Later recorded documents changed some of the conservation easements shown on the plats. The First Amendment (2008) added easements, and the Certificate of Fourth Amendment (recorded 2024) released Conservation Easement E on lot 24 and added an access easement. Both are listed under Governing Documents above.

Deed Restrictions

A short list of key restrictions for prospective buyers, with section references to the Declaration as amended.

  • Architectural review (§5.3): Yes. Any new construction, remodeling, structural addition, landscaping, roofing, exterior painting, fence, or driveway must be approved by the Avonlea Architectural Review Board (ARB) before work begins. Once it has all required documents and any fee, the ARB has 30 days to approve or reject the work. Work not approved within 30 days is deemed rejected. The approval form and how to submit it are on the Information for Residents page.
  • ARB variances (§5.3.8): The ARB may grant written variances only from architectural provisions and other items the Declaration makes subject to ARB approval.
  • Permitted use (§5.4): Residential and agricultural only. Commercial uses are prohibited except commercial breeding and raising of horses, and haying.
  • Livestock and animals (§5.4): Horses are permitted at one horse per two acres owned, with a maximum of two horses per lot regardless of lot size. Offspring under one year old do not count toward the limit. Commercial or noncommercial breeding or raising of dogs, cattle, goats, poultry, rabbits, or dairy animals is not permitted.
  • Minimum home size (§5.5.1): 2,300 square feet of heated and cooled living space, excluding garages, porches, decks, pools, basements, attics, and detached structures.
  • Construction standards (§5.5.1–5.5.3): Conventional construction built on site. Mobile homes, modular homes, and homes moved from another location are prohibited. Maximum two stories. Exterior walls at least 9 feet 4 inches high. Main roof pitch of at least 6/12, fascia at least 6 inches wide, and architectural shingles, tile, or metal shingles. Roof vents must be on the rear of the main ridge.
  • Garages (§5.5.4): Each home must have an attached or detached garage for at least two automobiles. The ARB may prohibit garage doors that face a road. Garage doors must be opaque and kept closed except when in use.
  • Vehicles, boats, and RVs (§5.8.7): Boats, trailers, campers, RVs, and motorcycles may be kept on a lot only inside an enclosed garage. Passenger cars must also be parked in the garage unless every garage space is already occupied. Commercial vehicles are not permitted on a lot unless owned by the lot owner and no larger than three-quarter ton, except for vendors providing temporary services. Overnight on-street parking is prohibited.
  • One dwelling per lot (§5.5.12): Only one dwelling may be built on each lot. A garage apartment, guest house, barn, or other outbuilding may be permitted with ARB approval. Lots may not be subdivided, except to transfer land to an adjoining owner’s property that will still hold no more than one dwelling.
  • Sheds and accessory structures (§5.6.1): No shed, storage building, portable or temporary structure, or tent may be placed on a lot without prior written ARB approval.
  • Fences (§5.6.2): All fences must be four-board fences painted black. The height, type, location, and surrounding landscaping of any fence, wall, or hedge must be approved by the ARB.
  • Construction timeline (§5.5.10): All construction must be completed within 12 months of the building permit. Exterior construction and landscaping must be finished before the home is occupied.
  • Tree removal (§5.8.17): No living tree larger than 8 inches in diameter (measured 2 feet above ground) may be removed without prior ARB approval.
  • Landscaping (§5.7.6): Lots must be fully landscaped and grassed per ARB-approved plans before occupancy. Decorative rock yards, paved yards, and artificial vegetation are prohibited.
  • Burning and fire pits (§5.8.3): No burning of rubbish, leaves, or trash without ARB approval. Wood may be burned in a decorative fire pit whose design and location the ARB has approved.
  • Conservation easements and docks (§2.9, §5.12): Portions of some lots are conservation easements held by the St. Johns River Water Management District. Owners of lots in the designated Dock Access Areas may build and maintain docks or piers there, subject to the limits in the Agreement Concerning Conservation Easements. The property map shows the easements, and the recorded plats govern.
  • Leasing (§5.9): Homes may be leased for residential use only, with a minimum lease term of three months, so short-term rentals are not allowed. Leases must be in writing, tenants are bound by the Declaration, and the Association may terminate a lease if the tenant violates the Declaration.

Roads, Gates, and Access

  • Roads: Private roads owned and maintained by the HOA, not Marion County.
  • Gate: Avonlea has a front gate maintained by the HOA. New lot buyers receive two remote controls at closing. For showings, ask the property owner for the gate code.
  • Mail delivery: USPS delivers to cluster mailboxes near the front gate. There is no door-to-door delivery.

Utilities and Services

  • Water: Private well on each lot. There is no community or municipal water service.
  • Sewer: Septic system on each lot. There is no community or municipal sewer service.
  • Electric: Duke Energy, with underground service throughout the community.
  • Internet: Spectrum serves the community. Other providers may be available; check availability for the specific lot.
  • Trash: Not included in HOA dues. Florida Express is the only trash service approved for the community. Homeowners contract with them individually.

Schools and Nearby

  • School zoning: Avonlea is served by Marion County Public Schools. Zoning is by address, so use the district’s Find Your Zoned School lookup for the specific lot.
  • Nearest town: Belleview. All addresses in the community use Belleview, FL as the city.

Contact

For questions not answered here, please contact the HOA at avonleahoainfo@gmail.com.

Note: The HOA does not interpret the covenants or deed restrictions for prospective buyers. The summary on this page is provided for convenience only, and the recorded Declaration and amendments govern. For questions about how the restrictions apply to a specific purchase, buyers should consult a Florida real estate attorney.