Halloween is Upon Us

It is officially fall and that means Halloween is right around the corner. Doorsteps will soon be adorned with pumpkins, autumn wreaths, and spooky figures, but what does your HOA actually allow? Since some people get really excited for the holidays, it’s important to establish rules around Halloween decorations and communicate them with plenty of notice.

Here are some Halloween guidelines that leave residents feeling like they still have control over their front yard decorations:

Establish timelines. A front porch spilling over with gorgeous pumpkins isn’t likely to bother anyone, but a yard full of noisy motion-activated zombies, gravestones, and flashing lights may bother some people due to the noise or lights. Establish what decorations are allowed all of October and maybe even into November (pumpkins are a Thanksgiving decoration too!), and what types of decorations are limited to Halloween week or night only.
How much is too much? Maybe one blow up ghost during Halloween week is OK, but five or six is too much. Be clear on how much noise, light, and décor is appropriate.
Get a timer. Ask people to put light shows on a timer so that everyone can enjoy them during reasonable hours.
Clean up. What goes up must come down. Give residents a reasonable time-frame during which all decorations need to be packed up. By giving residents a couple of days to pick up, you’re respecting their busy schedules while still protecting the value of the HOA. No one will consider Halloween decorations a problem a day or two after the holiday, but a week or two later, and it may impact the appeal of the community.

Halloween marks the first of several major holidays, so take the time to address the rules for decorations. First, you need to establish reasonable rules, communicate them, and then be consistent in enforcing them. This gives residents the chance to plan their decorations within the guidelines and your board will have fewer violations to deal with. Happy Halloween everyone!