Opinion ID: 1152718
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Set Back From the Property Line

Text: Article VII, Section 12 of the building restrictions provides: Garages and carports may be attached to the main dwelling, but must not be nearer to the side or rear property line than fifteen (15) feet. Attached garages and carports shall not open to any street on which the residence faces, unless located wholly at least one hundred (100) feet from the front property line. The association maintains that this provision should be interpreted to mean that garages must be set back at least one hundred feet from any street on which the residence has an elevation or entrance. According to the association, the intent of the provision is to preserve the appearance of the property on all streets, and the close proximity of garage doors to a facing street is a detriment to the property values of the subdivision. Restrictive covenants are to be construed strictly. Clark v. Manuel, 463 So.2d 1276 (La.1985). Furthermore, the words of a contract are to be understood, like those of a law, in the common and usual signification, without attending so much to grammatical rules, as to general and popular use. La.Civ.Code art. 1946 (current version at La.Civ.Code art. 2047). The language of Article VII, Section 12 of the building restrictions requires that all garages and carports be at least fifteen feet from the rear and side property line; however, only those garages and carports which open onto the street which the residence faces must be one hundred feet from the property line. The Sonniers' garage is fifteen feet from the rear and side property lines. Since their house faces Oakbrook Drive and the garage opens onto Oak Shadow Avenue, the garage need not be one hundred feet from the property line on Oak Shadow Avenue. We conclude, therefore, that the court of appeal did not err in finding that the committee acted incorrectly in applying Article VII, Section 12 in the instant case.