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Around 87% of people decorate their home's exterior during the holiday season. These decorations consist of lawn ornaments, inflatables, and twinkly lights. Holiday decorating is a great way for your HOA to create a communal vibe while spreading cheer.
There are a few things neighborhoods should keep in mind when it comes to HOA holiday decorating. Many HOAs have regulations that monitor the lights and decorative displays allowed in a neighborhood. HOAs should also be mindful of their entire community when decorating so they don't exclude any group of people.
This guide will talk about some basic guidelines you should keep in mind when decorating for the holidays. These rules will prevent complaints from other residents while being welcoming of how each person chooses to celebrate the holidays.
Timing
Timing is one of the most important things to incorporate into your HOA decorating policy. Some people start shopping for holiday decorations in August. The decor and lights could start going up before Thanksgiving.
Your HOA decoration timeline should indicate the following:
- When they can start decorating
- When the decorations should get removed
Most HOAs permit decorations to start going up four weeks before the holiday. Owners are advised to take their decorations down around two weeks after the holiday.
It might seem odd to regulate the timing of holiday decorations. The goal is to maintain the neighborhood's aesthetics. Christmas decorations up in July should bring down the HOA home value.
Location
The location of decorations is another important thing to put in your holiday decorating guidelines. Most HOA communities state that decorations must be kept within a resident's property lines. Other regulations surrounding the placement of decorations include:
- Not allowing the decorating of common areas in condos
- Prohibiting property owners from modifying their home's exterior without permission from the HOA
- Preventing decorations from blowing in another person's yard
Anchored Decorations
As we mentioned above, many HOA decorating guidelines state that decorations need to stay in a resident's yard. All decorations in an HOA should be anchored. Anchoring decorations helps with the following problems:
- Avoiding personal injuries from getting hit by a decoration
- Preventing property damage
Nuisance
Many holiday decorations can be loud. They can also flash bright lights at all hours.
Most HOA communities have regulations surrounding noise levels. Noise rules can be extended to apply to holiday decorations. Any decoration that makes noise or is generally disruptive shouldn't be operated during odd hours.
Develop Guidelines for HOA Holiday Decorating
While you don't want to seem like a Scrooge when it comes to HOA holiday decorating, it's important to set some parameters for your residents to abide by. These guidelines are intended to make the holiday season more enjoyable for your entire neighborhood. An experienced property management company can help get these rules in place.
PMI Broward Sunrise works with HOAs and rentals in an HOA community. Should you need help with HOA evictions or HOA meetings, we're here to assist. Call our office to schedule a consultation to find out more.
