Lake Arrowhead POA & HOA Fees Decoded

The Mandatory Base POA Dues

POA membership — and its associated dues — is mandatory for all property owners at Lake Arrowhead. This is not an optional amenity fee or a voluntary community contribution. When you purchase a home or homesite in the Lake Arrowhead community, you automatically become a member of the Lake Arrowhead Property Owners Association (LAPOA) and are obligated to pay dues under the recorded covenants. The dues run with the land — there is no mechanism for opting out, and failure to pay results in enforcement action under the POA's governing documents.

Confirmed annual dues rates from official LAPOA sources:

• Home: $1,560 per year ($130/month)
• Homesite (undeveloped lot): $1,080 per year ($90/month)

Note: Other sources including the Lake Arrowhead official FAQ cite $178/month for houses and $105/month for homesites, billed on the 2nd of every month. These figures ($2,136/year for a house, $1,260/year for a homesite) may represent a more recent or updated rate structure. Before closing, confirm the current dues directly with LAPOA Membership Relations at 770-721-7912 — dues rates are subject to change through the LAPOA board process and the figure applicable to your closing may differ from what was current when research for this page was conducted.

What the Base Dues Cover

The base POA dues fund the community's shared infrastructure and services. Specifically included in the dues:

• 24-hour guard-gated security at community entrances
• Common area maintenance throughout the 8,000-acre community
• Access to the 540-acre lake for boating and fishing (with community boat registered under LAPOA rules)
• Junior Olympic-size community swimming pool
• Highlands Grill & Clubhouse access for dining and events (non-golf use)
• 16+ miles of hiking and mountain biking trails throughout the community
• Marina access and Lakeside Park picnic area
• Tennis courts
• Community chapel access
• Community events program managed by LAPOA

Not included in base dues: golf course access (separate membership), boat storage on the lot (dry storage available for separate rental fee), and any per-use fees for premium facilities or special events.

Golf Membership: Separate and Optional

The Highlands Course — an 18-hole championship layout measuring 6,998 yards operated by HMS Golf of Atlanta — is not included in the base POA dues. Golf membership is a separate optional subscription:

• Individual golf membership: $119/month ($1,428/year)
• Family golf membership: $159/month ($1,908/year)

Golf membership includes unlimited complimentary green fees (cart fee only), access to the full-service PGA pro shop, use of the practice facilities (all-turf driving range, practice bunker, chipping green, separate putting green), locker rooms, and the formal and casual dining rooms and outdoor porch at the clubhouse. The Highlands Course has been consistently recognized as one of the best golf courses in Cherokee County. For golfers, the monthly membership represents essentially unlimited golf at a private course 40 minutes from Atlanta — a meaningful value proposition for serious golfers. For non-golfers, it is a $0 cost line item.

How Dues Are Billed and Enforced

LAPOA bills dues monthly, on the 2nd of each month, to the address of record. When you purchase a property in the community, you schedule a membership orientation with LAPOA Membership Relations (770-721-7912) to set up your billing account, receive your ID cards, and get the welcome package with community information. The membership orientation is where you receive access passes, vehicle decals for the gate, and the detailed documentation of community rules and amenities.

Failure to pay dues gives LAPOA the authority to restrict access to community amenities, including lake access, pool access, and ultimately the gate. Dues delinquency can result in liens against the property under LAPOA's governing documents, enforceable under Georgia law. HOA liens in Georgia have legal priority over most other liens except mortgage and certain tax liens — meaning that a delinquent LAPOA lien can complicate any future sale of the property. Before purchasing an existing Arrowhead home, confirm with the title company that no outstanding LAPOA dues liens exist on the property.

Sub-Associations and Additional Covenants

Lake Arrowhead has sub-associations in certain neighborhoods — specifically The Ridge and some of the Golf Villas sections — that may have additional covenants, design guidelines, or dues on top of the master LAPOA dues. LAPOA's website provides the Covenant Declarations and Sub-Association documents for download. Before purchasing in any specific neighborhood within Lake Arrowhead, review both the master LAPOA governing documents and any applicable sub-association covenants and fees. The Woodlands neighborhood (single-family ranch homes in the mid-$300s) and The Ridge (6 estate-sized waterfront sites with private dock opportunities and the highest price points in the community) have very different covenant structures, and buyers should understand which apply to their specific parcel.

POA Dues in the Context of Total Cost of Ownership

At approximately $1,560 to $2,136 per year (depending on which current rate figure applies), the base POA dues represent a meaningful but manageable ownership cost. In the context of a $500,000 property with annual property taxes of approximately $5,119 (at 26.251 mills), insurance of approximately $1,500, and optional golf membership of $1,908, the POA dues are roughly 16 to 25 percent of total annual carrying costs excluding mortgage. They buy access to 24-hour gated security, a clean spring-fed lake, championship golf availability, and the full amenity package of an 8,000-acre resort community — a different value equation from the TVA mountain lakes where no dues exist but also no management infrastructure. Whether the dues represent good value depends entirely on what you intend to use.