What To Know About HOA Holiday Decoration Rules

Homeowners associations (HOAs) are known for being sticklers, even during the holiday season. Not everyone likes their rules, but it's part of being a member of an HOA. That’s why it’s important to learn as much as possible about holiday decoration regulations in this type of housing arrangement. 

HOAs restrict when you can install holiday decorations and limit how long you can leave them up. They also restrict the size of your decorations and don't allow members to install noisy ornaments. You may face fines for putting up inappropriate decorations, such as gory Halloween figures. 

You can avoid a lot of unnecessary stress if you read the rules and regulations before decorating, since nobody likes fines and uncomfortable conversations. Follow along as we explore what to know about the rules governing HOA holiday decoration.

Everything To Know About HOA Holiday Decorations

1. Timing Matters

In non-HOA neighborhoods, there are no definable rules regarding when you can set up holiday decorations. HOAs are different; they don’t want you setting up decorations months before a holiday. And they won’t let you leave them up too long after a holiday passes. There is no universal code, so you must refer to your HOA’s bylaws and regulations.

Some HOAs let members display decorations 30 days before a holiday, while others say you can only set decorations up 15-20 days before a holiday. That said, they don’t vary much on when they want you to take everything down. Most require members to take their decorations down within 7-14 days after a holiday.

2. Size

We’ve all seen insane Halloween and Christmas decorations with 15-20-foot lawn inflatables. These decorations are amazing, but many HOAs prohibit them. Similarly, they don’t typically want members to put large decorations on their roof, even if they won’t be there too long. Many HOAs are quite specific and restrict homeowners from installing decorations that exceed 6-10 feet.

This gives you many options for fun decorations that won’t distract drivers or annoy your neighbors. If you’re used to going all out with towering decorations and huge inflatables, you may be disappointed. The best thing to do is refer to your HOA’s rules before buying and installing seasonal decorations. The last thing you want to do is waste money and effort.

3. Placement

Where you place your holiday decorations is just as important as their size. HOAs have strict rules regarding how your property looks compared to the rest of the community. For example, you will get in trouble if your Halloween decorations spill out onto the sidewalk and disrupt foot traffic. You also can’t block your neighbors’ driveways or any emergency vehicle access points.

Some HOAs even prohibit homeowners from putting holiday decorations in their own driveways. Refer to your HOA’s rules before installing Halloween and Christmas decorations this year. Nobody wants to get fined for their holiday spirit, but it’s happened before.

4. Distractions

Another factor to consider is how distracting your holiday decorations are. Festive lights are fun for any holiday, but your HOA board doesn’t want you distracting your neighbors and nearby drivers. Strobe land oscillating lights look cool, but they can also contribute to light pollution and annoy your neighbors. Some HOAs are more lenient, so it’s worth checking the rules or asking a board member.

That said, even the most lenient HOA boards restrict how long you can run decorative lights. For example, your HOA may require you to turn your decorative lights off by 10:00 PM. Look into the color, light pattern, and timing restrictions before decorating to avoid fines and disputes.

5. Content Restrictions

Most widely celebrated holidays are quite innocent, and your decorations must reflect that. Halloween is spooky, but that doesn’t mean you can install gruesome horror displays on your lawn. HOAs often limit the tone and content of your holiday decorations. Many HOAs prohibit members from creating displays featuring blood, gore, and realistic depictions of death and harm.

This is fair because children will pass by your home or even knock on the door for candy on Halloween. However, some people think their HOAs go too far with content restrictions. For example, some HOAs won’t allow members to display decorations depicting witchcraft, regardless of tone. That’s why you should review your HOA’s content restrictions to ensure you don’t step on anyone’s toes.

6. Noise

If you’ve lived in an HOA community long enough, you know how serious the board is about noise. Many HOAs have decibel-specific noise restrictions for members to follow. If that’s not the case, you should at least review the noise restrictions to avoid disturbing your neighbors.

Some HOAs don’t allow noisy Halloween and Christmas decorations as a blanket rule. Others allow them but say you must turn them off at a specific time. Municipal noise ordinances are even more serious than HOA rules. Violating a municipal noise ordinance can result in fines. Accumulating fines from your HOA and your municipality can take a heavy toll on your wallet.

7. You Can Observe All Religious Holidays

Everyone knows about Christmas and Easter, even if you don’t celebrate them for religious reasons. However, there are many holidays and holy days of obligation for all religions. Your HOA cannot legally ban decorations for specific religious holidays, even if they aren’t commonly observed in your community.

The Fair Housing Act protects all U.S. citizens’ rights to religious freedom in housing. This includes religious expressions, such as decorating for holidays. If your HOA tells you to take down your religious holiday decorations, you must invoke your Fair Housing Act rights. An HOA cannot allow nativity scenes for Christmas but ban Hanukkah decorations. Contact a lawyer if your HOA board discriminates against you for religious reasons.

Summing It Up

HOAs allow holiday decorations as long as you adhere to the timing, size, and placement guidelines. You must keep your decorations on your property and avoid putting super-sized figures or flashing lights on your roof. That said, you must stick to appropriate content, as gory Halloween decorations may result in fines.

Related Guides:

• What Makes A Good HOA Board Member?
• Do You Have To Pay An HOA Special Assessment?