Cluster Standards

• Trim capping shall not increase the overall trim measurements on any side of any window or door by more than a half inch (0.5").
• Trim capping must be custom brake-formed to match the existing casing profile cleanly without bulky over-sizing.
• Trim capping may be PVC, Vinyl, or Aluminum Coil Stock (smooth or low-luster factory finish).
• Trim capping must be Oxford Brown or match as closely as possible.
• Color matches must be submitted as physical samples and approved by the DRB.
• Capping must be approved by BWCA Board prior to installation.
• Unapproved capping, installations exceeding the 0.5-inch tolerance, or non-matching colors violate cluster covenants and are subject to mandatory removal or replacement at the owner's expense.

All exterior painting and staining on townhouses in Bentana Woods Cluster—including siding, trim, doors, mailboxes, and HVAC closet treatments—must strictly adhere to the official approved BWCA Color Palette as registered with the Reston Association Design Review Board (DRB).

Canonical Color Palette Specifications (Amended July 2025; Approved January 2026)

• Three-House Siding Separation Rule: Siding color shall be separated by three houses in any given attached row (e.g., if home #1 is a medium brown, the next house in the row that may use that color family is home #4). On a corner, the same rule applies. Front porch/entrance areas must be painted/stained the siding color.
• Trim & Capping: Dark Brown is the mandatory trim color across all homes: Benjamin Moore Bittersweet Chocolate (2114-10) exterior paint or Olympic Solid-Color Stain Oxford Brown. Applies to all window/door casings, soffits, fascia, rake boards, and horizontal base trim. Gutters must match trim; downspouts match trim or siding.
• Brick & Stucco Homes: Bricks shall never be painted. Brick homes must use Dark Brown (Oxford Brown) on entrance/porch, surrounding garage door, dormer, and bay window areas. Stucco homes must use Tan as the exclusive approved exterior stucco body color (voted unanimously April 2026 to align with historical standards).
• Approved Siding Colors: Brown (Winter Oak / Timber Bark), Gray Blue (Gray Area / Stonehedge), Gray-Green (Carriage Door / Monterey Taupe), Gray-Taupe (Cobble Stone), Light Gray (Knitting Needles / Light Mist), Blue (Nature Retreat / Boothbay Blue), Medium Brown (Cottage Walk / Khaki Brown), Medium Gray (Monterey Gray), Medium Green (Mountain Sage), and Tan (Wool Skein / Navajo Beige).
• Entrance & Utility Doors: Must be painted an approved accent color: any approved siding color (except Oxford Brown), plus Red (Sherwin-Williams Brick Dust / Ranchero Red), Dark Green (Olympic Range), or Dark Blue (Slate Tile).
• Garage Doors: Flush panel with no windows, painted either the accent color or the trim color.
• Decks & Fences: Wood decks may weather naturally, use clear preservative, Olympic Solid Oxford Brown, or Olympic Semi-transparent Pearl Gray. Composite decks must be a true brown matching Oxford Brown with black railings: Trex Coastal Bluff, Dekorator Khaya, Lumberock Chocolate Brown, or Fiberon Forest Brown. Fences may weather naturally, use clear preservative, or be stained Olympic Solid Oxford Brown.
• Mailboxes: Finished in black, bronze, painted the trim color (Oxford Brown), or painted the same color as the siding on which hung.
• No Grandfathered Colors & Palette Deviations: Under Reston Association DRB guidelines, there are no grandfathered colors. Any color alteration or deviation outside the approved BWCA Color Palette requires formal Design Review Board (DRB) application and approval prior to painting or staining.

Specifications for townhouse deck construction, materials, approved stains, and low-voltage lighting.

Structural & Railing Mandates

• Materials: Pressure-treated dimensional lumber or approved composite decking.
• Baluster Spacing: Clear distance between balusters shall not exceed 4.0 inches (mandatory building safety code requirement).
• Railing Height: Railing height must be a minimum of 36 inches for elevated decks per the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
• Lighting Cap: Maximum of 4 low-voltage fixtures per deck with opaque downward shielding.

Permits & Modifications

In-kind board or railing repairs require no DRB review. Any footprint expansion, stair addition, structural modification, or new deck build requires an RA DRB application and a Fairfax County building permit.

(revised 2023)

No DRB application is required.

Terms and Definitions

• Slab: One flat panel with no raised or recessed trim areas.
• Grain: the stratification of the wood fibers in a piece of wood
• Texture: the visual or tactile surface characteristics and appearance
• Privacy glass: glass that allow light to filter in while maintaining a high level of privacy for the home.

Standard

Configuration
Entrance doors shall be replaced in the same configuration as originally built which is slab (one flat panel) door with privacy glass on one side of the door or on two sides of the door, depending upon the original door design for the unit.
Utility doors shall be replaced in the same configuration as original built which is slab (one flat panel) door in the front, and slab (one flat panel door) in the rear depending upon the unit.
Storm doors shall be added or replaced with a single glass panel surrounded by a frame. Glass may not include decorative elements.
Garage doors shall be replaced in the same configuration as originally built which is flush panel with no windows.

Color
Doors shall be painted in accordance with the Color Palette standard

Design
Entrance and utility doors shall be slab type with smooth texture.
Garage doors shall be flush type with smooth texture.
Entrance door mail slots are optional.
Peep holes are optional.
Privacy glass shall be one continuous panel of glass for each side of the door as originally configured. Privacy glass may not be tinted, stained glass, or contain grids, and may not contain any other decorative features that separate the panel into sections.
Mailbox colors shall be black, bronze, painted the trim color or painted the same color as the siding on which it is hung.

Non-conformance

All doors not in conformance must be brought into compliance with cluster standards at the time the door is replaced, with the replacement recorded in the Reston Association Covenants property file by the Covenants Advisor.

For additional information regarding project requirements, applicants can also refer to the Design Guidelines for their specific projects.

Article VI Protective Covenants and Easements of the Reston Deed

Section VI.1.(d)(2) Limitations. (b) Any person or entity obtaining approval of the DRB shall not deviate from the plans and specifications approved without the prior written consent of the DRB. Such person or entity shall notify the DRB when the alterations or improvements are complete. Approval of any particular plans and specifications or design does not waive the right of the DRB to disapprove such plans and specifications, or any elements or features thereof, if such plans and specifications are subsequently submitted for use in any other instance or by any other person or entity. Applicants must ensure all necessary permits and approvals, if any, are obtained from Fairfax County (or other governmental agency) prior to commencing the project. Any changes to the project to satisfy governmental requirements may require review by the Design Review Board.

Guidelines for the installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) in compliance with Virginia Code § 55.1-1823.1.

Statutory Rights & Association Authority

• Under Virginia Code § 55.1-1823.1, the Association cannot prohibit an owner from installing an EVCS on deeded private property (inside private garages or on private lot exterior walls).
• The Association establishes reasonable architectural, electrical, and safety standards to protect community safety and visual aesthetics.

Electrical & Permitting Requirements

• All EVCS equipment must be installed by a certified, licensed Master Electrician.
• Homeowners must obtain required Fairfax County electrical and building permits prior to installation and activation.
• A copy of the final Fairfax County inspection certification must be filed with the BWCA Board.

Conduit Routing & Placement

• Conduit must be routed through interior walls or crawlspaces wherever feasible.
• Any exposed exterior conduit must run tightly along vertical trim, corners, or architectural indentations and be painted to match the adjacent trim or siding color.
• Surface conduit running horizontally or diagonally across open front facades is strictly prohibited.

Required height, style, materials, and placement for residential fencing in the cluster.

Style & Height Requirements

• Approved Style: Vertical board fences only (solid vertical board, board-on-board, or shadowbox).
• Height Limit: Maximum height of 6.0 feet along rear and side boundary lines.
• Prohibited Styles: Horizontal slat, chain-link, split-rail, barbed-wire, and ornamental iron or wire fences are strictly prohibited.

Materials & Property Boundaries

• Fencing must be constructed of pressure-treated wood or approved woodgrain composite lumber.
• Finish must be natural weathered wood or an approved cluster wood stain.
• All fences must be situated 100% within deeded private lot boundaries. Encroachment onto BWCA common ground is strictly prohibited.

HVAC Screening Enclosures

• Fences erected to screen front or back yard HVAC units must meet cluster fencing standards.
• The enclosure height must exceed the compressor height by at least 6 inches to fully conceal the mechanical unit from view.

Approval Process

Exact in-kind replacement of an existing conforming fence along identical property lines requires no DRB review. Any alteration of fence height, alignment, boundary line, or gate configuration requires an RA DRB application with BWCA Board affected-party signature.

Cluster architectural standard for townhouse address identification numbers.

Cluster Architectural Standard

• Material: House numbers must be made of wood or brass.
• Placement: Numbers must be placed on the trim or on the house.
• Emergency Visibility: Numbers should remain clearly visible and unobstructed by landscaping or fixtures to assist visitors and emergency services.

(revised 2025, approved January 2026)

Standard

The HVAC unit may be located in:

• The storage closet with proper venting to the outside;
• The front yard on a concrete slab or a slab provided by the HVAC contractor beside the storage closet with mature landscape or fence screening. Fencing must meet fence standards; or
• The back yard on a concrete slab or a slab provided by the HVAC contractor with mature landscape or fence screening. Fencing must meet fence standards.

When the HVAC unit is relocated to the front or back yard, the storage closet window opening shall be addressed by one of the following methods:

• The opening may be completely closed off and sided in conformance with the siding on the house; or
• The opening may remain but be blocked with Hardee, cedar siding, glass, or plywood. Siding may be the color of the house siding, or the trim color. Plywood shall be painted the trim color. Refer to the color palette.

(revised 2025, approved 2026)

Standard

All exterior light fixtures should be “hard wired,” that is, installed so that there is no visible wiring or conduit. According to the DRB Lighting Guidance, the design, wattage, lamp source and number of fixtures must not result in glare or excessive light levels when viewed from streets and neighboring properties. Color temperature must be warm white (≤ 3000K).

• Front Door Area: Employ ceiling mounted hemispheric light distribution fixture. If visible from the cluster, light fixtures must be black or dark brown. Hanging lighting fixtures or floor/spot lights are not permitted.
• Garage Door Area: Follow front door guidance for garage ceilings. Shielded directional lighting fixtures (including motion sensitive) may be attached to the ceiling or adjacent wall.
• Sliding Glass Door Areas: Shielded directional lighting fixtures (including motion sensitive) may be attached to the front/rear wall either above or to the side of the sliding glass door (maximum of two fixtures for each door).
• Landscape lighting: Low-voltage landscape fixtures, either a shielded directional type that are focused towards the house (one maximum), or a “mushroom” type (maximum eight per property) may be installed.
• Security Lighting: The use of motion detectors for security lights is strongly encouraged so that lights do not burn constantly. According to the DRB Lighting Guidance, backyard security lighting (floodlights) should be located so as to illuminate the subject property and minimize the impact of glare onto neighboring properties. There shall be no more than two single- or double-headed floodlight fixtures on any one elevation. Security lighting on the house should be as inconspicuous as possible, or the light fixture should be shielded and painted to blend with its surroundings.
• Deck Lighting: Refer to DRB Guidance or install low voltage deck lights with cut-off luminaire with a shield that directs light in a focused, limited, direction without causing excessive glare or light levels (maximum 4 per deck for cluster property).

Fixture Specifications & Quantity Caps by Location

Guidelines for retaining wall construction, materials, and DRB approval thresholds on private lots.

The 18-Inch Height Threshold

• 18 Inches or Less (≤ 18"): DRB Application Exempt. Retaining walls constructed on private lots that are 18 inches or less in height do not require a Reston Association DRB application, provided they utilize approved materials, remain strictly within private lot boundaries, and do not adversely alter drainage.
• Over 18 Inches (> 18"): Mandatory DRB Application. Requires a formal RA DRB application and BWCA Board affected-party signature prior to commencing construction.

Approved vs. Prohibited Materials

• Approved: Natural stone (fieldstone, stacked flagstone) or landscape timbers properly pinned.
• Strictly Prohibited: Manufactured modular concrete block systems of uniform color/dimension, and bare cinder blocks.

Property Boundaries

All retaining wall structures and associated grading must remain 100% within deeded lot boundaries. Survey pin verification is required prior to construction. Encroachments on BWCA common ground are strictly prohibited and subject to mandatory removal at the owner's expense.

Approved roofing materials, manufacturer profiles, colors, and venting specifications for all townhouse roofs.

Approved Roofing Systems

To preserve architectural harmony and woodland character across contiguous townhouse rooflines, all roofs in Bentana Woods Cluster must utilize one of two approved systems:

• DaVinci Composite Shake: Engineered synthetic shake composite roofing specifically in the Aged Cedar profile (unanimously ratified by BWCA membership on Feb 12, 2020). Replicates traditional hand-split cedar shakes with Class A fire resistance and long-term durability.
• Natural Cedar Shake: Natural wood shake meeting standard cluster exposure and fire-retardant requirements.

Note on Other Materials: To maintain visual uniformity across contiguous townhouse rooflines, other roofing materials (such as asphalt shingles, standing seam metal, or barrel tiles) are not permitted in Bentana Woods.

Venting & Flashing Details

• Ridge vents, plumbing stack boots, and drip edges must maintain uniform profiles across contiguous townhouse rooflines.
• Finished in dark brown or black to blend with the roof field.
• Visual coordination is required along party-wall step projections.

Governance & Anti-Circumvention

Individual DRB applications cannot circumvent democratically adopted cluster standards. The BWCA Board formally objects to and requests denial of non-conforming roofing submissions.

HardieSiding® and HardieTrim® Guidelines

• Homeowners shall choose from the following HardieSiding® products, or substitute comparable fiber-cement board products with DRB approval, provided those products are available in the specified dimensions and finishes, and are available (or can be painted/stained) in an approved color on the BWCA color palette:
  • Select Cedarmill© Lap Siding in 8.25” width (7” exposure after installation)
  • Cedarmill© Vertical Siding panels, when combined with HardieTrim® boards to create a board-and-batten effect
  • Sierra 8 Vertical Siding panels
• Homeowners shall use HardieTrim® products, or substitute comparable fiber-cement board products with DRB approval, provided those products are available in the dimensions and finishes specified in the BWCA Trim Standard, and are available (or can be painted/stained) in an approved color on the BWCA color palette.

2011 Trim Standard

IMPORTANT:
The following exterior trim standards shall not apply to original and approved trim already installed on townhouses prior to the date of adoption of these standards. These standards shall apply to any new or replacement trim installed after the date of adoption of these standards. All exterior trim on a townhouse does not have to be of the same material and of the same brand and manufacturer. However, there must be no discernable difference between materials once they are stained or painted.

Cluster standards for trim in Bentana Woods Cluster to include the following:

• Rough sawn cedar
• Pressure treated wood
• 5/4 HardieTrim® NT3TM Boards Smooth, or a comparable fiber-cement board product with DRB approval

with the following stipulations:

• That trim color be from the approved Bentana Woods Cluster color palette
• That trim have a uniform thickness with a minimum of 1” and a maximum of 2”
• That if only trim is being replaced the new trim dimensions must match the existing trim dimensions, and
• That if all siding and trim is being replaced the new trim dimensions must conform to the following chart that was submitted as part of the January, 2008 Trim Standard update:

*Please note that these dimensions vary between houses. Use the chart above as a guide and the owner may vary the width by +/- 2”

Standardized technical, architectural, and material definitions codified under BWCA Cluster Standards and Reston Association DRB guidelines.

• Slab: One flat panel construction featuring a continuous flat plane without raised moldings, recessed bevels, or decorative routings. Mandated for entrance and utility doors.
• Grain: The natural stratification, arrangement, and directional texture of wood fibers in natural lumber or simulated grain patterns embossed into composite materials.
• Texture: The tactile and visual surface quality of materials. Cluster rules mandate "smooth texture" for doors, garage, and trim, and "cedarmill" texture for siding.
• Privacy Glass: Obscured or patterned continuous glass panel that allows natural light while maintaining visual privacy. Must be one continuous panel without grids, grilles, tint, or stained glass.
• Capping (Trim Capping): Cladding exposed wooden window or door casings with custom-bent PVC, vinyl, or aluminum coil stock. Limited to ≤0.5" dimensional expansion and Oxford Brown color.
• Board-and-Batten: Exterior siding treatment consisting of alternating wide vertical panels and narrow vertical batten strips covering the joints.
• DRB (Design Review Board): The governing architectural review body of the Reston Association, established under Article VI of the Reston Deed of Dedication to administer protective covenants.
• Affected Party Signature: Procedural endorsement by an adjoining owner or cluster Board officer on an RA DRB application certifying notice receipt only. Does not constitute cluster approval or covenant waiver.
• DaVinci Composite Roofing: Synthetic shake roofing engineered to replicate hand-split cedar shakes with class-A fire resistance. Ratified unanimously by BWCA membership on Feb 12, 2020 in Aged Cedar.

This matrix maps cluster exterior projects to approval workflows, indicating whether an alteration is pre-approved, whether Board notification is necessary, whether an RA DRB application is required, and mandatory standard conditions.

*Note: Exact in-kind repairs conforming strictly to cluster standards require no DRB application. Any alteration, footprint expansion, or custom color requires RA DRB review and BWCA Board affected-party notification prior to work commencing.