5 Tips for Creating Fair and Festive HOA Rules for Holiday Decorations
As the holiday season approaches, homeowners in HOA communities are eagerly getting ready to decorate their homes with festive lights and seasonal decor. While these decorations add a warm and welcoming touch to the neighborhood, it’s important for HOA boards to work with their HOA management company to create fair rules for holiday decorations, ensuring the safety and harmony of the community.
HOA rules for holiday decorations can be a sensitive topic, often causing tension and disputes among homeowners. However, with the right approach, HOA boards can create fair and reasonable rules that are appreciated by all. To get you started on the right path, here are five tips for creating fair and festive rules for HOA holiday decorations.
1. Create a Clear Timeline
The holiday season is short, and some homeowners want to make the most of it by putting up their decorations early or leaving them up late. However, this can lead to a cluttered and chaotic look in the neighborhood, causing displeasure among homeowners.
To avoid this, HOA boards should create a clear timeline for when holiday decorations can be put up and taken down. Consider starting the timeline from the day after Thanksgiving and ending on a specific date in January. This gives homeowners ample time to decorate their homes while keeping the neighborhood looking festive and cheerful for a sufficient period. Communicating this timeline with homeowners well in advance will set expectations and prevent any disputes.
2. Avoid Roof-Anchored Displays
Eye-catching roof displays like inflatable Santas and animatronic reindeer are incredibly popular during the holiday season, but they can be a significant safety hazard. Not only do they pose a risk to the homeowners putting up the decorations, but they also put other residents and their properties in danger if the displays were to fall.
To avoid any potential accidents, it’s best to prohibit any roof-anchored displays. Instead, encourage homeowners to opt for ground-level decorations or those that can be easily attached to the sides of the house. This will not only keep residents safe but also reduce the risk of property damage in the neighborhood.
3. Restrict Excessive Light & Noise
Holiday decorations, especially those involving lights and music, can be a source of disturbance for some homeowners. Bright and flashing lights, as well as loud holiday music, can be disruptive to those living near the decorated homes. Furthermore, excessive light and noise can also cause a strain on energy consumption, increasing utility bills for everyone in the community.
To ensure a fair and peaceful holiday season for all homeowners, HOA boards should restrict the use of excessive lights and loud music in holiday decorations. Consider setting a time limit for when the lights must be turned off, such as 10 PM, and specify the types of music that can be played — if you permit any musical decor at all. This will help in maintaining a peaceful environment in the neighborhood.
4. Provide Fire Safety Guidelines
Holiday decorations with lights and electrical components can pose a fire hazard if not handled carefully. It is the HOA board’s responsibility to ensure the safety of the community by providing fire safety guidelines for holiday decorations. Consider partnering with your local fire department to educate homeowners on fire safety and the proper use of electrical components.
Some guidelines to use include:
- Using only outdoor-rated lights for exterior decorations
- Checking all extension cords for wear and tear before use
- Not overloading electrical outlets with too many decorations
- Keeping decorations at least 10 feet away from any heat source
- Not leaving decorations on overnight or when not at home
By providing these guidelines, HOA boards can help homeowners decorate their homes safely and prevent any fire hazards in the community.
5. Encourage Light Timers
Holiday decorations can significantly add to energy consumption, leading to higher utility bills for homeowners. To avoid this, HOA boards should encourage homeowners to use light timers. Light timers can help homeowners save energy and reduce their utility bills by automatically turning off the lights at a predetermined time.
Encourage homeowners to invest in quality light timers and set them to turn off the decorations at a reasonable time, such as 10 PM or earlier. This will not only save energy but also help in limiting excessive light and noise in the neighborhood. If you have daily curfews for decorations with lights or noise, light timers can also help homeowners comply without hassle.
No HOA wants to ruin Christmas cheer, but maintaining the aesthetic integrity of the neighborhood through this time of year means that restrictions will likely be placed on holiday decor. If you’re an HOA board member seeking guidance on seasonal rules and regulations, a professional HOA management company like The Management Trust can help you through the holiday season and beyond. To learn more about our full range of community management services, contact us today and request a custom proposal for your HOA. We look forward to working with you!
