Opinion ID: 884430
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The District Court Ruling

Text: As applicable to this case, Paragraph 5 of the Declaration of Restrictions and Conditions provides as follows: No tent, trailer or other temporary shelter [missing words] for dwelling purposes nor shall any basement or garage be so used unless and until there is a completed private single family dwelling used in connection therewith. The work of constructing the dwelling and landscaping shall be prosecuted diligently from the commencement thereof until completion. No mobile homes or temporary dwellings may be used as the sole dwelling on any tract after July 1, 1977. [Emphasis added.] The District Court held that, due to the absence of critical words, the first sentence was ambiguous. As to the last sentence, it held: In reading the covenants as a whole, it is unclear whether that sentence restricts only mobile homes that are temporary dwellings or all mobile homes, including those placed on cement blocks, permanently hooked up to utilities and sanitary facilities, and exhibiting the proper siding. In light of this ambiguity, the court felt constrained to interpret the covenant in favor of free use of the property. Accordingly, it granted summary judgment in favor of Sayre/Sipes and the Sundseths. We address the issues separately as they pertain to the two homes in question.