The Palm Coast City Council appears on the verge of repealing most restrictions on house colors. As a consequence, homeowners would be allowed to paint houses in darker, less light-reflecting colors than allowed in the city’s 25-year history.
“I say we get rid of it. Get rid of it all together,” Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris said today during a discussion on paint-color rules in the city. “Paint your house whatever color you want.”
He had the full support of the four council members present. As with the council’s signal last week to reconsider the ban on commercial vehicles parked in residential driveways, the reconsideration of paint regulations is another example of the new council’s sharp break with its predecessors on regulations that affect individual and property rights.
“I fall more in the non-restricted category here,” Council member Ty Miller said. “I think it’s people’s personal property and their decisions to make, and what I think is great other people don’t, and vice versa. Also, what is popular today is not popular 30 years from now, so having to constantly revise color schemes based on popularity seems to me onerous.”
Miller cast doubt on the claim that paint colors can bring down property values. “I’ve never seen any data to support that. So if that is the case, I’d like to see that data,” he said. He’s seen “great looking very dark houses out there,” but also concedes that it’s subjective. He was willing to have a few prohibited colors–five or so as proposed by the city–but would lift all other restrictions. The standard measure used to define allowed and disallowed colors–the light reflective value, or LRV–would be scrapped.
But the move occurs in opposition to environmental trends that are encouraging lighter, whiter urban colors as a tool of fighting climate change, as darker colors absorb heat rather than reflect light and require homes to spend more energy on cooling, thus contributing more carbon emissions. The environmental part of the equation was not discussed at today’s meeting.
Council member ray Stevens initially favored regulations in place, as they are now. He then joined the rest of the council to go with no restrictions except for the banned colors.
“Some of the colors may be offensive, but I agree with some of the comments that were presented here,” Council member Charles Gambaro said calling the new approach the “Bunnell option,” since Bunnell has no such restrictions on its books.
The administration will draft an ordinance to that effect. It will have to be approved in two readings later this year.
It was good news for Mindy Melendez, who described herself as “the problem child.” It’s her navy-blue house that has been the catalyst for the city’s discussions since June about possibly changing the rules.
“It’s been navy blue for a year,” Melendez said. “Nothing has drastically happened. It hasn’t faded. I liked it blue. I called the city and said, Hey, what are the stipulations? Because I’m I’m a broker. I’m a real estate agent. I’ve sold houses. I’ve never dealt with this before. They told me earth tone. I looked up the earth tones. Blue is an earth tone. So we painted our house blue, and then somebody down the street, 10 houses down, asked how I got my house blue, and called the city. So that’s how this all began. I am asking you guys to, if nothing else, look at my house color and put it within the ordinance that it’s an okay color.”
Melendez added: “It doesn’t bother me that you paint your house whatever color you want. This is our money that we put into our house. We bought a foreclosed house. We added on, and that’s our life savings for our children. I painted it blue and white, and here we are today.”
The previous council starting last June looked to relax restrictions on house colors, but not to go nearly as far as the council proposed today, and not as far as Melendez was asking. The city uses the so-called “light reflectance value” scale to determine whether the color meets the city code. LRD is a measure of visible light reflected from a surface when illuminated by a light source. The LRV scale is measured on a percentage basis, with 0 percent (least reflective) being black, and 100 percent being white (most reflective). Purple, blue, orange, green and red are in the 75 and higher range. (See LRV examples here.)
Current city code requires light pastel colors and white paint to have an LRV of 80 or more, and earth tones–shades of brown, beige, terra-cotta, sage, the famous shades of gray, which may or may not reach 50–must have an LRV of 80 or more. The rules do not affect trim colors. For example, even garage doors may be painted black, or other colors that would be disallowed on walls.
Prohibited colors include fuchsia, magenta, purple and orange. Yellow might or might not be added to the banned colors.
Bunnell and Flagler Beach have no paint color restrictions, except in Flagler Beach’s downtown. Daytona Beach prefers certain colors but doesn’t require them. Ormond Beach requires earth tones and pastels. Subdivision such as Grand Haven, Park Place and Palm Coast Plantation regulate house colors through their homeowner associations.
The administration responded to the council’s proposal to expand allowable colors by developing a new category called “light bermuda.” Those would include varieties of peach, pink, lavender, blue and green as long as they each have an LRV of 65 of more. The city’s planning board supported the administration’s proposal. It also recommended adding yellow to prohibited colors, because board members think the color is too bright and too loud. (Paint on City Hall’s outside walls, incidentally, is considered terra-cotta.) But the administration’s gradual relaxation would still maintain LRV-based restrictions.
That’s the restrictions the council felt are no longer necessary.
“I just think orange and blue are great colors for houses, but what do I know?” Council member Charles Gambaro said.
“Goodness gracious,” the mayor said. “I have an orange house around the corner for me.”
In any case the city gets “minimal” complaints about house colors each year, Code Manager Barbara Grossman said. No one sits in judgment at the city, approving or rejecting a paint job before it’s done. If there are problems, they are complaint-driven. Some houses may be painted in outrageous colors and never get a complaint. Others may get complaints, and subsequent action by the city.
The proposal the council is requesting today may remove most paint-color related policing from code enforcement’s responsibilities, depending on the way the proposed ordinance is drafted–and whether it survives the workshops and readings ahead, or possible second thoughts on the city’s environmental blinders.
Billy says
The whole town is self destructing! First destroyed all the woodlands for low quality houses, bulldozer everything, allow signs, now paint colors! Welcome to Orlando! One piece of crap on asphalt! Hard to believe this was a official tree city usa town 6 years ago!
Deborah Coffey says
Is there anything Republican governance won’t destroy? Anything?
JimboXYZ says
I can’t imagine anyone voluntarily electing to paint their house darker and pay more to FPL to cool that house down. There are some colors that are hideous. If one has to do purple or similar, a softer lighter pastel instead of darker purple. In the winter that might be fine to go darker colors, but let’s face it running the HVAC constantly is not just environmentally whacked it’s financially too. Even the shingles on the roof need to be lighter for a cooler house in the summer.
JimboXYZ says
The Navy Blue house in the photo, was that a bit of an overreach ? Looks more like a Cape Cod/Nantucket solid color for a choice. FL Keys cottage themes vary as does European Village color pallette. Imagine that, Flagler Beach allows/builds a Margaritaville themed Hotel, yet Palm Coast is against the colors listed. I think officially the last or even original color of my own property is “Sensational Sand” “Touch of Sand” depending upon the bucket. They pretty much approved the color of grandmother’s bra, that neutral nude brown color ? Not the biggest fan, but what can you do ? Easier just to stick with it for future painting. nobody seems terribly offended by it.
https://hextoral.com/hex-color/BFA38D/sherwin-williams/
Maybe if everyone were on board with it, a street might become something like this ? I would expect that in Flagler Beach, a more tasteful FL Keys Cottage palette of colors house to house.
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Key+West+cottage&t=ffab&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images
Vlad says
Jimbo,
There’s a newly painted black house right around the corner from me. Drive through the neighborhoods. Better yet, walk through the neighborhoods. You’ll be surprised what you see.
Some people don’t have the intellectual wherewithal to understand that painting a house black or other very dark color is going to absorb heat from the sun and increase their A/C bills exponentially during the summer.
By the way, that’s what the city councilmen and woman should be doing . . . spending time walking through the neighborhoods in their respective districts. But they prefer to spout of things like, “I haven’t seen any studies” and that way they don’t have to put in any work.
Old Rumrunner says
Instead of focusing on house colors, which I think are just fine (I live in the Beachway Dr. neighborhood), the City Council need to focus on, in no particular order: traffic, development, wastewater management, drinking water, in-fill lot flooding, street flooding, and the neighborhood swales. Who wants to live next to a lime green house?
Jennifer says
Palm Coast needs to get rid of the blue that’s on the Section signs or update it completely. ITT still lingers.
Capt Bill Hanagan says
Can’t wait to paint my house black and park boats in the yard. As the founding FATHERS intended.
Jeff says
White house, with a black roof, garage door, front door, trim and windows. I love the look. It was built in 2023 and it was a nice way to get something more current looking and not some pastel color.
Done with Palm Coast says
Yay!!!
Holly Hill and South Daytona here we come!!
I’ve never lived in a town that was in such a hurry to destroy itself.
1. Yards never mowed or maintained. House down the street from me hasn’t mowed his yard for a YEAR. Runs car repair and car sales out of the house. Cars parked everywhere including up on jacks and on the front yard.
2. Big trucks parked in front yards . .. I’m not talking swales, I’m talking front yards under the front windows.. 4 of those on my street. Front yards are becoming parking lots. Code enforcement absent.
3. Junk piled up at the sides of houses.
4. Rental properties not maintained.
5. Rental properties with 6 to 8 cars or trucks parked in driveways and on the swales AND on the actual front yards. AND on the street at night.
6. People who rip out all landscaping so they can fit even more cars and trucks on the actual front yards.
7. Garbage / trash cans permanently lying in the street.
Seems as if the new city council is listening to the loud voices of the few AGAIN.
Once property values go down due to all the above, I doubt anyone will want to buy your house in Palm Coast.
Instead of striving for a high standard, the city council is racing to lower the bar until it gets to the floor.
Meanwhile, I’m in preparation to get the hell out of Palm Coast to a place where a good standard of living can be had and maintained.
It’s is very sad to see happen to what used to be a very nice place.
Maybe the city council should concentrate on the essentials: broken roads from all the heavy construction trucks, sanitation, water supply, more street lighting and CODE ENFORCEMENT.
I’m going to contact the media as well as a couple of “influencers” who operate in Florida to come and start publicizing Palm Coasts race to the bottom. Stay tuned. I’ll let you know when they’ve been contacted. One in particular has already done videos from Palm Coast blasting the AirBnB’s over in the “C” section.
Done with Palm Coast says
Palm Coast made international news yesterday in a story about decreasing property values in Florida. Check out Daily Mail US (not UK).
I’m going to forward this story to Daily Mail. I don’t know anyone who wants to live next-door to a psychedelic house.
Nephew Of Uncle Sam says
“Little pink houses, baby, for you and me”
Anonymous says
I always felt it was ridiculous for the city to dictate what color we can paint our house that we pay the mortgage on, not the city. The City of Palm Coast is not and HOA, so let the owners decide the color they want for their house.
Kendall says
We are going to look like Deltona soon.
Disgusted as usual says
WNZF currently has an audio clip running this morning (Wednesday, 1/15/24) wherein new Palm Coast City Councilman, Ty Vincent Miller states that he’s never come across any studies that maintain exterior house color affects resale value.
Ty, did you try doing a Google search? Takes 2 minutes. I’ll give you the instructions on how to do a Google search on this matter:
1. Go to Google.
2. In the search bar, type: “How exterior house color affects resale value”. OR, “How exterior house color DEVALUES a home”.
There Ty. Took the 2 minutes myself to do a Google search on the matter of exterior paint colors since you don’t have the energy or the inclination to do it yourself. Sorry, I thought you said you had an “MBA” (supposedly, though I’ve never seen any credentials backing up your “MBA”). So, I did the work for you.
If you Google, “How exterior house color affects resale value”. Or Google, “How exterior house color DEVALUES a home” you’ll be able to browse through many,many articles on how loud and garish exterior colors on a home devalue resale value. Neutrals are best.
Maybe Mike Norris should do the same. This comment should go to Mike Norris also.
Another city council who don’t have a clue.
Also, why did it take 6 months for the City of Palm Coast staff to create a presentation on this topic? I did the research in 2 minutes.
Disgusted as usual.
TR says
I would have to disagree with you. Palm Coast is nothing more than a large HOA without the certification with the state. All the rules make it one IMO. Been here since 1989 and have seen the drop in beauty appeal year after year. Going to start to look to leave when I retire in a year. They can have it.
JC says
Done with Palm Coast: Ok boomer
Laurel says
This boomer loves color.
Okay, bigot.
Vlad says
Actually NO. I’m a young professional. Not a “boomer”. And I do want to maintain property values . . . one’s house is one’s biggest investment in life. Why would anyone want to endanger a home’s resale value? Doesn’t make sense.
BoloMKXXVIII says
I am of two minds on this one. On one hand, I don’t like government telling me what I can and can’t do. On the other hand, I lived in Miami for years and saw every hideous color imaginable painted on houses. I definitely don’t want that next door.
Pogo says
@Winning till you’re sick of it…
Thomas Oelsner says
I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for a few decades. I moved there in 1981 and over that time I owned 3 houses. I can say with 100% certainty that a brightly colored house near mine has ever negatively impacted the value of any of them. As a matter of fact, one my houses, (CBS single story) was blue. As an FYI, you might be interested in taking a look at The Painted Ladies of San Francisco. Not too shabby for brightly colored houses.
Vlad says
This is not San Francisco. Different location. Different demographic. Different climate.
Perhaps if you came from California, and know nothing about Florida, you should take a trip to Orlando, Deltona, North Miami Beach, Hollywood, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Sunrise, and any other of the myriad of small towns off the Palmetto Expressway that runs from North Miami Beach all the way to Kendall. You’ll see how property values and neighborhoods have gone from beautifully maintained to slums. You’ll see all the brightly colored houses you want, but in slum land.
But you came from San Francisco, so you know everything right? The San Francisco area including the east bay neighborhoods such as San Leandro are in the silicone valley. Big paychecks and people willing to spend big bucks for very little. I know because I have friends in San Francisco Napa, Yountville, San Leandro, Santa Clara to name a few. Different demographic. Different climate.
Apples and oranges.
Take a good look says
Good grief! What’s next? Pretty soon they will be telling people what COLOR car they CAN’T drive and/or park in their driveway! People don’t we have BIGGER issues than this in our community to contend with????
Lydia Doyle says
Stop treating g this city like am HOA we hane city magr go live in a gated community if you care to order ppl what to do ..meh
Lydia Doyle says
Must be cutting the budget again .lol
JimboXYZ says
Where I think the Navy Blue house in the photo would be an easier accept is the connecting fence/wall. Had that gone with a white, that would pop for curb/street appeal. I guess what some folks don’t realize is that the lighting conditions change throughout the day. The softer & lighter pastel colors react to sunrise to sunsets for lighting conditions to pop for a “wow” factor.
The 2/1 condo I had in Country Walk, FL (2014-2016) was a pale yellow, white window & brown shutter trim with Sandlewood shingle roof. The HOA pretty much dictated that. I had no problem with that. Can’t imagine a 4-plex being a spectrum of different colors from each other being a tasteful visual of a look. When I bought the place and the colors inside were neutral browns, exception was 1 Bedroom went with dark red, blue & yellow (someone’s child freelanced that). It was awful to be in that room for more than a few seconds. I chose to repaint the entire interior Larger rooms in Nassau Blue, which is a mid-color of aqua/teal. The bathroom & kitchen was driftwood grey. That was done in early 2015, so it’s been that way for a decade now. Being 30 minutes from Homestead, 60 minutes from Key Largo & the FL Keys, the interior was Key West cottage like for theme. I went with that because the driftwood grey was representative of the mangroves or a weathered dock color, the Nassau Blue represented the water. Interior was like being in an air conditioned version of the FL Keys/Bahamas & on vacation every day after a day at work. At sunset, the setting sun thru any windows & glass sliding door was simply spectacular for rejuvenation. Kitchen appliances & cabinetry was all white, with marble counter top. I went completely opposite of what the industry was doing for square peg in a square whole kitchen & interior. Even the backsplash was tongue in groove all white panels instead of the usual Home Depot tiling that seems to be the push. It was even more economical. I tried to sit down with one of the women at the Home Depot remodeling and the appliances & counter top were easy,agreements, She just kept steering me towards the tiled backsplash that I knew was going to be less than what the kitchen needed to become. The lights, instead of the usual kitchen lighting, I went with exterior grade lights that one might have on their dock/boathouse. I knew which way I was going with that and it was easy to pick out When I sold that condo to become Dad’s caregiver, it was on the market for a weekend, had 2 showings on a Monday afternoon, offer by Tuesday AM. I think I would’ve gotten list price back then, but the bank wouldn’t finance that much. Had the bank financed the offer & list, we all make more money. But you can’t tell an expert at a bank anything about financing they obviously know more than I do. My sale I listed it and in 2 days it was sold, the 2022 sale was a 4 day listing. With the other interior theme/scheme, it was on the market 6 months with price drops. So figure it out, one interior was ugly, the other is immediate sales as more desirable. I made the realtors job so easy that they need to split their commissions with me.
The condo is pretty much as what you see in the Zillow, I think I’m going to do something similar in my 3/2, it’s contractor/developer white inside. And I really want to abort the exterior color theme too. Enjoy the photos, come up with something you can do tastefully for your own ideas.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/13719-SW-147th-Circle-Ln-21-Miami-FL-33186/44329890_zpid/
Cindy says
It looks like a freakin compound.
Laurel says
Too much! I’m glad I don’t live in Palm Coast! Y’all need to move to Tamarac, where the only color acceptable is white.
Years back, a real estate agent was showing us a house that was painted yellow, and he said “Yellow. It’s a happy freakin’ color.” Hilarious! He said that because it was a very popular color.
I would much prefer nice, kind neighbors over the color of their house.
John Weber says
The best one is Flagler County 40 years ago got a court order saying they don’t have to fix the roads in the contacts at the same time they put a special tax on them on tax residence of the poor people to fix the roads now what good old boy could have done that and Andy dance could care less about Vietnam vets in wheelchairs going from Citgo to the Dollar General I’ve told him many times the dollar store they need a sidewalk no guard rails no nothing narcissism really sucks
Not colorblind says
“Prohibited colors include fuchsia, magenta, purple and orange. Yellow might or might not be added to the banned colors.”
That’s relative. Are they going to stipulate exactly which shades (names) of fuchsia, magenta, purple or orange will be off limits?
I think going from one extreme to the other, will open up a can of worms.
JaceyJones says
Palm Coast should keep it’s restrictions on colors. Muted, pastels of yellow, blue, green, orange – ok. I love a light pastel yellow or tuquiose house – it gives good feelings and makes me think ‘Florida’! I absolutely detest the ‘gray’ everything inside (walls, floors, cabinets) that a lot of homes ruin their insides with – ugh. Gray is a depressing color, makes you more depressed, etc – not good for those who have ptsd, autism, bipolarism, depression, anxiety. That, to me, brings down a home’s worth. Gray outside is not so bad. People like what they like. But Palm Coast sold itself as a higher end retirement community, not a art show. Oh, and yes, bright outrageous, over-the-top colors like orange, pink, red, green, purple absolutely bring down a neighborhood’s value. Here’s a great study on exactly that: https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/experts-paint-colors-house-price/
Laurel says
How about the beloved “Rainbow Row” in Charleston, South Carolina?
Thomas Oelsner says
Vlad.
I lived in Miami for a number of years and my wife was raised there. The economics of SF vs Florida are irrelevant as it is the mindset of people themselves who determine what the value of the home is. Also, since you say you know Silicon Valley (no it is not a breast implant and so is not silicone), you should know San Leandro is not part of Silicon Valley. In the East Bay Fremont is the northern tip.
Russ says
I can’t wait till I can park my boat and camper and pick up trucks in the front yard and hopefully I will be able to work on my cars in the yard and pull out engines paint my house whatever color I want and have a couple dogs tied on chains!
Lydia Doyle says
Another distraction while they try to raise utilities again!