Rancho Santa Fe Association

Regulations

The Foundations of Authority
Organization of the Association

The Foundations of Authority
Articles of Incorporation - View HERE
The Rancho Santa Fe Association is a homeowners association, incorporated as a mutual benefit corporation under the laws of the State of California in accordance with Articles of Incorporation adopted on July 14, 1927. Although it is a common interest development as defined by State law, the Rancho Santa Fe Association bears little resemblance to any condominium or cooperative development with which most people are familiar. It owns and operates a variety of community facilities and administers a Protective Covenant of land use regulations on about 1930 private properties. The corporation takes a number of its basic authorities from its Articles of Incorporation which, among other powers, provide for:

• Acquisition and management of property
• Review of construction and grading on private property
• Approval or disapproval of subdivisions
• Collection and disbursement of assessments
• Appointment of boards and commissions

Bylaws - View HERE
The Rancho Santa Fe Association Bylaws were originally adopted in August 1927. This document, which has been amended from time to time, provides the basic operating design for the organization. It establishes membership criteria, the conduct of meetings, the duties of Association directors and officers, and the general procedures for hearings. The Protective Covenant and the Bylaws provide for the appointment of a professional Manager and staff.

The Rancho Santa Fe Protective Covenant This is the document which establishes much of the Association's legal authority to regulate development and operate as an organization. View HERE

Organization of the Association
The Board of Directors
The Rancho Santa Fe Association is a member-driven organization. Annual membership elections are held to fill a portion of the seats of the seven-member Association Board of Directors. Directors serve three-year terms. The Association Board of Directors meets on the first and third Thursday of every month, in sessions open to the membership, to provide constant policy direction to the diverse operations of the Association.

The Art Jury
The Art Jury is an appointed design review authority composed of five Association members. The Art Jury has binding decision-making authority on new construction, alterations and site preparation, pursuant to the authority of the Association's Governing Documents.

Association Committees
Road and Traffic, Trails, Planning, Park and Recreation, Finance, Osuna and Historic Preservation Committees. From time to time, ad hoc committees are established to carry out specific functions.

Association Staff
As provided for by the Protective Covenant and the Association's Bylaws, the Rancho Santa Fe Association has operated with a professional Manager since its earliest days. The Manager is responsible for the submittal of an annual operating budget and for carrying out the policy direction from the Board of Directors. The Manager also serves as the non-voting Secretary to the Board.

The Association currently employs a staff of nearly 130, divided among eight departments:

Administration, which includes the Manager and provides immediate support to the Board of Directors;

Golf, which includes the maintenance and member services for the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Course and the clubhouse;

Tennis, which includes the operation of the tennis facility;

Patrol, which provides private security service to the membership;

Park and Recreation, which is responsible for the maintenance of Association grounds, roadsides and facilities;

Member Services, which handles assessments, accounting and contract management;

Planning, which includes land use processing, special projects and general planning functions; and,

Building, which administers the Art Jury process including the issuance of building and grading permits.