Holiday Decorations - 'Tis The Season
As we approach the holiday season, many owners in community associations will be pulling the boxes of holiday decorations out of the attic and stringing lights. Every year, associations are faced with the task of responding to the outdoor displays many people wish to have. Here are some quick practice pointers to avoid controversy and discrimination issues at this time of year:
Do:
Be reasonable and uniform. For example, if your association wants to ban holiday displays (and it has the authority to do so in the governing documents), ban ALL displays, regardless of the holiday being celebrated.
Develop reasonable rules related to the size, illumination and timing of displays. For example, rules should address how long before and after the holiday exterior displays can be installed.
Don’t:
Base rules on the holiday being celebrated or create rules that discriminate based on the holiday.
Require prior approval for temporary holiday displays. Doing so puts your architectural review committee in the awkward position of determining good taste.
For more tips on keeping everyone in the holiday spirit, click here and here.