The holiday season is upon us. While it’s a special time of year, it can also be a time for more violations and neighborhood disputes. The good news is, HOAs can get ahead of some of these issues by making sure rules and regulations are clearly stated.
Homeowners should have an easy way to find out about any rules regarding holiday decorations (before violations start popping up left and right). Share this information through a homeowner portal, in an e-newsletter, in a private social media group, or send a mailing out. If you can, provide this information to homeowners through more than one avenue to ensure that everyone knows what’s expected.
In the information you provide to homeowners, you should go over all of the specifics, not letting anything up to interpretation. Here are a few things to consider.
What lighting is allowed?
One of the things you need to let homeowners know is if your regulations limit any type of lighting. For example, flashing lights can be dangerous, not only for those who are seizure-prone but also for those driving by as they can lead to people looking away from the road. Neighboring homeowners may not appreciate these flashing through their windows either. So, if the HOA has any rules regarding lighting, including prohibiting flashing lights, be sure to let the community know.
What decorations are prohibited?
Your HOA may have rules regarding what decorations are prohibited, such as large and obtrusive ones. Inflatables are a great example of this. If there are decorations that aren’t allowed, make sure that all homeowners are aware.
Are there rules on how and where decorations are placed?
Does your HOA have rules regarding where decorations are placed or if they need to be anchored down? If so, make sure this is included in the information sent out to homeowners. Your HOA may not allow certain decorations to be placed on roofs or they may even have rules about where lighting can be hung. In addition, they probably have a rule against homeowners decorating common spaces.
Do you have rules regarding decorations that make noise?
Your HOA undoubtedly has some rules regarding excessive noise and possibly quiet hours. So, there are most likely rules applicable to holiday decorations. Whether you prohibit noisy decorations altogether or only allow them during a certain timeframe, be sure that homeowners know this.
Are there timelines you need to advise homeowners on?
Everyone seems to decorate differently. Some people like to put up their holiday decorations right after Halloween, while others prefer to wait until after Thanksgiving. There are those who prefer to keep their holiday decorations up for as long as possible while some take them down right after the big day. However, HOAs tend to like a little more uniform approach, so there’s probably a set timeline that should be abided by. If your HOA regulations include rules about the start and stop time of holiday decorations, definitely make this clear.
What will happen if homeowners violate these rules?
Not only do HOAs need to make sure that homeowners understand the rules regarding holiday decorations, but they also need to enforce the rules equally across the board. That means making sure that homeowners know what the violations are and then sticking to those rules when things happen. You may choose to first provide a warning and then move on to a fine, for example. Some HOAs give out a fine for an offense and then the violations escalate as there are more offenses, while others just have a set fine that homeowners pay per day until they abide by the rules. Let homeowners know what your rules are and how violations are handled.
Overall, it’s important for HOAs to have a clear understanding of what the rules and regulations are regarding holiday decorations. Then, they need to share this with homeowners. It’s best to send out reminders as many homeowners may not ask questions or look to see what the rules are unless they’re easy to access.
One thing to encourage neighbors to do is to think carefully about their decorations and how they affect their neighbors. They want to avoid putting up decorations that could offend their neighbors or be a nuisance to them. This can help reduce neighborhood conflict. If there is a dispute between neighbors, encourage them to speak with one another in a respectful manner to try and resolve the issue before the HOA has to get involved. Avoid making the assumption that violators are fully aware of the rules when proceeding to handle an issue. Homeowners may simply be unaware that they’re breaking a rule. However, remember to handle all violations equally so that no one feels as those there is any favoritism taking place.
If you’d like help managing your HOA, keeping homeowners informed, enforcing rules, and more, please reach out to us at PMI. You can check out our website here: .
