The Boulevard Park on Taylor subdivision in Blenheim has rules in place that all front facing windows must be vertical.

High-end subdivisions ... where everyone has the best house on the street.

That's because they all look the same.

But are strict subdivision rules stifling creative homes? Or do they stop homeowners making a "dog's breakfast" of the development?

1 of 3 Supplied Front facade windows are to be profiled vertically rather than horizontally, and window and door frames must be simple and modern. 2 of 3 Supplied Garages in the Boulevard Park on Taylor subdivision must not be side by side. 3 of 3 Supplied External walls must be a light, earthy, natural colour palette, according to the covenant.

Some subdivisions have guidelines on everything from the colours you can paint your house to what kind of pet you can have.

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At Dry Hills in Marlborough, noisy and smelly pets are strictly forbidden, with pigs and roosters getting a special mention.

And if you thought you could rent out a spare room through Airbnb, think again. Homes cannot double up as a hostel or a B&B lodgings, according to the rules.

If you live in Marlborough Ridge Resort, between Blenheim and Renwick, you can't have your delicates on display.

Homeowners have to screen their washing line so they are not visible from roads or neighbouring houses. Yet some sections are banned from having a boundary fence - only hedges are permitted.

Developers behind Blenheim's Nottinghill subdivision have ruled all boundary fences must be made from timber and stained with an ebony finish.

At least 50 per cent of the front fence must be covered by plantings such as creeper or climbing roses. Alternatively, you can plants trees and shrubs directly in front of the fence.

Satellite dishes and solar panels cannot be visible from the road or give a reflection or glare that creates a nuisance to neighbours.

In Covent Gardens, all the homes in Evesham Lane and Stamford Lane have to be two-storey, giving an "exclusive look and feel".

Peter Ray Homes Blenheim co-owner Donna Lee said the rules, or covenants, were in place to keep standards up.

But some were too strict and sapped the creativity out of designing and building your own home, Lee said.

"There should be the option of more creativity balanced with what is reasonable."

In the Marlborough District Council's Boulevard Park on Taylor subdivision, windows have to be vertical if they face the street.

Decorative historical window and door frame styles are banned, along with "historical mock-up" elements.

The exterior of homes have to be painted with light, natural and earthy tones synonymous with the landscape.

Dictating the shape of windows was a "bit random", Lee said.

"Clients have asked 'whose house is it?'

"It's tough on people who want to create a house individual to them. We are the piggy in the middle and have to comply.

"If you buy a section, you have to adhere to the covenant."

But covenants also protected homeowners, Lee said.

"Personally I would be unhappy if I bought a section to build my forever home and someone built a grotty house next door that would lower the value of my house."

Omaka Landing project manager John Davis said developers Colonial Vineyard Ltd had taken the step of getting buyers to give input into the covenants.

"It's about being happy to buy into a dream. Covenants encourage similar type people who have the same vision.

"We don't want homes looking like a dog's breakfast."

Some had "quirky ideas" for their homes and wanted to break the rules.

"If someone is completely difficult, we'll buy the section back off them.

"Usually we nail out problems before it gets to the point of sale."

At Omaka Landing, letterboxes had to be of a similar design, colour and cladding consistent with the dwelling or fences.

At least one stand-alone tree had to be planted in the front yard and the olive trees outside sections along New Renwick Road had to be retained.

All boats, trailers, caravans, motorhomes and other vehicles must be kept in an enclosed garage, or completely screened from the view of any neighbours.

Colonial had set aside land for a communal compound in the subdivision for boats, trailers and caravans with a wash down area.

Davis said homeowners that wanted to use the space could lease it.

"In the small sections we don't want mobile homes or caravans exposed to the street being an eyesore to neighbours. You can't say to homeowners 'you can't have a caravan', so we gave them somewhere to park."

Three buyers had bought sections in the subdivision because there was room for boats and caravans, Davis said.

"It's never been done before to my knowledge, we like to do things differently."