Frequently Asked Questions

Surf Pines Association Questions

How Many homes are in Surf Pines?

As of January, 2026, there are 358 homes in Surf Pines. Through our current database, we were able to generate a report that showed how many homes existed in Surf Pines on specific years. The results are shown below. It's interesting to see how the community has grown since its inception. At this time, there are roughly 50 vacant lots in Surf Pines.

The information below shows the total number of homes built in 1969, the year Surf Pines Association was incorporated, and for each decade since.

Year……Total homes Located in SP
2026.............358
2021……………353
2011……………304
2001……………230
1991……………177
1981……………136
1971…………….66
1969…………...53

Today, more than half of the homes in Surf Pines are used as full-time residences. That percentage has grown over the years, from a time when the majority of homes in the community were second homes for owners that had their primary residence elsewhere.

Are homeowners allowed to ask questions during board meetings?

Answer: The board of directors wants to know what owners think about issues facing the community, and welcome your input. However, a board meeting isn't always the best venue for making your opinion known or getting your questions answered. In most cases, you would be better served by sending an email or making a call to a director to share your thoughts or ask if something could be put on the agenda for an upcoming meeting. The reason is that board meetings are held only once per quarter, which usually means there are multiple important issues to discuss and and vote on during each meeting. The directors, who are elected and obligated to make decisions on behalf of the association, can make those decisions only during board meetings due to open-meeting laws that apply to HOAs. This makes the meeting time very valuable and means that meetings need to be run efficiently and be focused on the business of the directors discussing, voting, and resolving the issues on the agenda. To ensure an orderly and productive meeting, the chairperson (usually the president) will typically call for questions or comments only after all agenda items are completed. In certain situations, the chairperson may make an exception and ask for input from owners during the discussion portion of a specific agenda item. The main point to remember is that the purpose of a Board of Directors Meeting is for the board to conduct association business. Other owners are welcome, but are there primarily as observers, not as participants.

The Annual Association Meeting, on the other hand, is an association meeting and not a board of directors meeting. The difference is that in an association meeting, it is the members of the association, as opposed to just the members of the board of directors, that make the decisions and are given the floor.

--Answer provided by Surf Pines Administrator - February, 2026

Are modular homes or manufactured homes permitted in Surf Pines?

Full Question:

We absolutely love the Surf Pines neighborhood and are looking to purchase a parcel. Our questions relates to whether a pre-manufactured, or partially manufactured home is permitted to be built on a parcel. We're conscientious of the environment and would like to build a home that is manufactured in modules offsite, then assembled and partially built onsite. Could you advise on whether something like this would be acceptable and if so, what the approval process involves.

Answer:

The CC&Rs (Article 9.1) state "All residential structures shall be constructed on sited (pre-cut, on-site assembled homes are permitted). All trailers, mobile homes and modularly-built homes pre-constructed off-site for movement over highways are prohibited." Thank you for your question.

--Answer provided by Association Administrator - February, 2026

Filling drain channel? Full question below.

To the Board and Roads and Grounds,

My wife and I live on Ocean Drive and are very concerned about what is happening on a nearby property. The owners of a property on Manion have filled the wetland at the bottom of their property, along Ocean Drive, and including Surf Pines property, with several feet of sand and now dirt. They have filled the drainage channel, which is a wetland and the drainage culvert for the lake and for all the water that accumulates when this area gets a lot of rain. We are concerned about possible flooding of the road and the disruption of the wetlands. Even with the pump, when we get a lot of rain, there can be water standing on Ocean Drive. My wife and I have seen this several times. We're wondering why they have been allowed to fill this? I would like to hear back from you on this matter and I thank you in advance.

Answer:

I think specifically, you are referring to the remnants of the drainage ditch that was installed over 20 years ago on the east side of Ocean Drive from High Surf Lane to where Ocean turns up the hill to Manion Drive. In the 1990’s, Ocean Drive experienced severe flooding on numerous occasions that actually blocked it at times. The cause of the flooding was the road construction Pinehurst did at its north end adjacent to Ocean. That blocked the infiltration of water originating from rain fall, the aquifer and lakes (or ponds) that flowed through SP. The solution was to add four submersible pumps in strategically located sumps to transfer excessive water to filter beds. Most residents would never know these pumps are operating. Ken keeps a close eye on the sump water level and when they approach a concerning level he activates the pumps that automatically cycle to keep the water from flooding Ocean. Since they were installed there have been no problems.

The owner filling that area has identified the property line and is not materially infringing on Surf Pine's right-of-way. It appears that any remnant of the culvert was on their property. Their only intention is to create a better conditions for beach grass to grow and be periodically mowed. The remnants of the old drainage ditch, which may have been located on their property, are not visible. The association has few regulations, and the ones we have don’t significantly restrict what a person can or cannot do with their property.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Surf Pines?

Answer:

The governing documents of the association, including its Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs), don't prohibit Surf Pines owners from using their homes as short-term or long-term rentals. Currently, Clatsop County allows for a certain number of homes within the area to be permitted for short-term rental ("STR") use. Based on information provided over the years by legal counsel, the board's understanding is that an HOA isn't allowed to prohibit rentals of any type, unless a specific prohibition is included in the CC&Rs. Since there is no such prohibition in the Surf Pines CC&Rs, the CC&Rs would need to be amended in order to create a ban on STRs. Amendments to the CC&Rs require a vote of the owners, and in order for the amendment to be approved, owners of at least 75% of the lots must vote in favor of it. The board has not seen any indication that a ban on STRs is something the majority of owners want to see in Surf Pines.

In an effort to foster cooperation between STR owners in Surf Pines and owners that don't want STRs in the community, the board of directors of Surf Pines Association has adopted a short-term rental policy and established a vacation-rental committee to assist the board with issues that may arise in relation to short-term rentals. The board is committed to significant but fair enforcement measures when violations occur, and is also committed to careful investigation into the validity of any complaints brought to them. The policy was adopted ten months ago, and since that time, the board has not received any specific reports of violations.

A copy of the Short Term Rental Policy can be found here: https://www.surfpines.org/spa/page/governing-documents-policies-budget-financial-other-information

--Answer provided by Association Administrator - February, 2026