Condo Docs

Condominium Documents for Owners

Primary Condo Documents

All Harrogate Owners should have in their possession the following Condo Documents. Please review these frequently to become familiar with their content and owner obligations.  For your convenience, non-official text searchable electronic copies are provided below. Official documents are posted to the Harrogate Owner Portal.


State & Local Government Links

Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 703 Condominiums
Waukesha Municipal Code
Waukesha Assessor's Office

Guidance for Harrogate Owners

Architectural Control Guidance

In accordance with our Declaration and Rules, the external appearance of all condo units and buildings is controlled by the Association to maintain a pleasant and uniform appearance. This section provides guidance to owners who would like to change or update portions of their property that are visible from the common element. Please submit your request in writing to the Architectural Control Committee for a recommendation to the Board of Directors.

Harrogate Landscaping Guidelines Updated May 2021
The following provides guidance and rationale for the care and maintenance of Harrogate grounds.  Harrogate consists of 11 acres of which approximately 7 acres contain the roads, buildings and landscaped areas.  The remaining area is left natural and not maintained except for nature trail mowing and invasive plant eradication.  All Harrogate property is intended for the use and enjoyment of its owners and their guests.  Professional landscape companies and tree specialists are hired by the Association to properly care and maintain the grounds.  Landscaping is the largest expense for the Association and usually accounts for one third of the operating budget. 

The initial landscape design of Harrogate incorporated a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and perennials, intended to provide some individual characteristics but with an overall uniformity for the property.  As trees and plants need to be replaced due to age, disease or storm damage, replacements need to fit the overall character of the design.  All plantings are selected for their suitability to the location, their ease of care, and compatibility.  Whenever possible, native plants that support an ecological habitat for birds and pollinators are selected. Owners are usually consulted on replacement selections and frequently contribute to the replacement cost.

All outdoor areas of the condominium are part of the common element which is entirely the property of the Association.  No owner has authority to alter or modify the landscape without appropriate approval.  Refer to Harrogate Rules and Regulations March 2021 numbers 9 and 10 concerning decorations and plants:  

Harrogate R&R #9 -  No yard decorations, lawn ornaments, statues or the like (except potted plants, flowers and holiday decorations) may be placed on the General Common Element without written approval of the Board of Directors or its designee. No signs may be displayed on the Common Element except for realty signs which are allowed at the time of viewing.  Clarification: These types of additions generally require review by the Architectural Control Committee and the Landscape Committee who will then make a recommendation to the Board.  Potted plants should be placed on the limited common areas (front stoop, deck or patio) and shall not be of a size or location as to restrict safe passage.  Seasonal decorations should be removed within ten days of the end of the season or holiday.

Harrogate R&R #10 - Residents shall not plant anything in-ground without the approval of the Landscaping Committee and the Board of Directors. This includes but is not limited to trees, shrubs, vegetables and flowers. Outdoor planting is restricted to pots and similar containers of a size and location that does not create a hazard or restrict access on the property.  Clarification:  Anything planted in the ground becomes the property of the Association.  

Watering of Lawn and Plants - Under certain conditions, owners may be asked to voluntarily water plants or newly-seeded portions of the lawn.  However, no owners shall water the lawn without authorization from the Board or designee.  In all cases, including the community garden, outdoor watering shall conform to the City of Waukesha Water Utility Rules.

Landscape Committee - To help defray landscaping costs, Harrogate relies on owner volunteers to assist as needed with minor landscaping projects like weed removal, pruning, and transplanting on all areas of the Common Element.  If you would like to assist, please contact the Chair of the Harrogate Landscape Committee.  The Landscape Committee Chair is also the primary on-site interface with landscape contractors and tree specialists and is usually the Board designee in landscape matters

Introduction to Financial Responsibilities of Condominium Ownership
A condominium is a form of ownership.  You own your unit and your share of all the common property of the condominium.  When you purchased your unit, you became a member of Harrogate Owner's Association, Inc. and incurred financial responsibility for your unit and for your share of the common property.  All owners have an equal (1/27th) share of the common property, the cost of maintaining it and its operating costs.  The Association, governed by a Board of Directors, is responsible for administering the condominium, but does not own property.

Owners are primarily responsible for the care, maintenance, repair and replacement of all functional and structural elements of their units and to maintain in good and orderly condition their Limited Common Elements (e.g., patio, deck & front stoop).  Additionally, each owner is responsible for 1/27th of the the common expenses of the condominium including general operating costs (like insurance and administrative services) as well as all costs associated with the care, maintenance, repair and replacement of all common elements of the condominium (e.g., buildings, grounds, landscaping and roads).  The funds necessary to maintain the common property (reserve fund) and operate the condominium (operating fund) are paid to the Association by each owner through various assessments including:

To better understand what is included as part of your unit and the boundaries between it and the common property, please refer to the Harrogate Checklist of Maintenance Responsibility.  Also, please refer to Harrogate Declaration Article VII for a general description of unit owner and Association responsibilities.

The above is a simplified description summarized from: Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter 703 Condominiums, the Restated Declaration Of Condominium of Harrogate, a Village Of Brookshire Condominium, the By-Laws of Harrogate Owner's Association, Inc. And the Harrogate Owner's Association Rules & Regulations . It does not by itself constitute a condominium instrument.

Disclosure Documents for Selling Your Unit
Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 703 Condominiums requires sellers to provide the following information to purchasers before closing. Please refer to Sec. 703.33 for complete requirements.