Homeowners Association
San Antonio, Texas
Celebrating over 50 years as one of San Antonio's most admired and desired communities.
Community Covenants
Every property within Whispering Oaks is required by law to adhere to Restrictive Covenants (aka Community Covenants) which are common sense rules attached to the deed of every property. These neighborhood-specific rules were established by our community's original developers circa 1968 and automatically transfer to new homeowners in perpetuity. No property is exempt from these restrictions and WOHA membership status is not a factor. Said another way, the Covenants are not HOA rules.
The Covenants are a multi-party private contract intended to safeguard Whispering Oaks property values, maintain neighborhood integrity, and reduce conflict among residents. They are supplemental to CoSA Municipal Ordinances and take precedent unless prohibited by law. The Covenants help mitigate common hot-button issues such as:
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rental of property for less than 30 consecutive days (short term)
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new construction or alterations to existing structures
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fencing and sheds or outbuildings
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property upkeep
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yard signage (see box regarding political signs)
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animals allowed outdoors
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vehicle or trailer parking in driveways and yards
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nuisances undermining a neighbor's quality of life
The Covenants empower all property owners to insist nearby properties comply with the rules and to seek legal action if necessary. WOHA encourages property owners to resolve differences directly, however WOHA members may ask their Board to take action on their behalf. These requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Because there are surprisingly few Covenants, most concerns fall under city ordinances. WOHA generally defers to CoSA Code Enforcement staff and SAPD for enforcement of local laws. WOHA volunteers frequently monitor staff follow through to ensure the violation is resolved. To learn more, visit the Violations page.
Please note, the community's original developers sold homes over a period of nearly a decade and registered them with the county in 29 groupings known as 'Units'. The Covenants vary only slightly between some Units. To view a specific property deed and its Restrictive Covenants, please contact Bexar County.
Lastly, all current and prospective property owners should be aware that the Covenants can be amended at any time via majority approval among owners within the respective Unit. See below for more information.
Example
Covenants
(other Units
vary slightly)
Although the Covenants prohibit most types of yard signage, recent changes to state law surrounding political signs take precedent. Properties are now allowed the minimums specified under Texas Election Code Title 15, Chapter 259, including:
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Limit of one sign per candidate or specific ballot initiative. Other types of statements are not allowed.
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Signs may be posted up to 90 days prior to election day and must be removed within 10 days following.
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Signs must be ground mounted and no larger than 4x6 ft. Banners containing political wording that are attached to buildings, trees or vehicles are not allowed.
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Signs may not be enhanced which could cause motorists to become distracted.
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Content must not be offensive to an ordinary person.
Please be advised, state law allows the community to force immediate removal of politically-oriented signs that exceed the minimum standards allowed.
Political Sign Exceptions
Proposed Covenant Amendments
The world around Whispering Oaks has changed dramatically over the decades, but its Covenants have never been updated. Therefore, they don't address modern concerns such as Short Term Rental properties. For this reason, in 2022 the WOHA Board began soliciting feedback from the community on potential amendments and then consulted legal experts to prioritize and refine the input.
In September 2024 WOHA began distributing a ballot to all 752 residences which proposes 7 amendments on behalf of its members. Ballots were distributed in stages over a 6 week period and mailed to the property owner address on file with Bexar County. If you don't receive your ballot by January 1, 2025 please alert WOHA via this website. Click the box view the ballot.
The Covenants can be legally be amended via simple majority approval among the property owners within the respective Unit. The Covenants do not specify the process and because Whispering Oaks does not have a mandatory HOA many state laws which apply to those types of associations are not applicable. Nonetheless, WOHA's legal experts have ensured a fair and supervised process which satisfies any applicable regulations.
Each property owner appearing on a property deed was allocated one ballot, therefore some spouses may be entitled to a separate ballot. Businesses and trusts are allocated one ballot regardless of the number of administrators. Each proposed amendment may be voted upon individually. WOHA membership is not required to submit a ballot.
Completed ballots can be mailed to the address indicated. Households needing a duplicate or replacement ballot may send a request to WOHA here. Please provide your name, address, and allow up to 10 days for a reply.
Amendments which secure the legally required majority approval within a Unit take effect on the filing date with Bexar County. Evidence of the tally will be available for public review via the County records. Once filed, ratified amendments apply to ALL properties within the Unit. Because each Unit will be tallied individually, it's possible some Units will approve amendments which others do not. WOHA will publish the final community-wide results on this website in Summer 2025.
Click the boxes below for common questions and answers about the ballot process and the 7 proposed amendments. Or click here to read our President's recent editorial explaining one of the most important amendments: