A recent YouGov survey found that of the many holidays celebrated in the U.S., 36% of polled Americans rank Christmas as their favorite day. Thanksgiving is another, with 23% citing it as their favorite, followed by Halloween (15%), Easter, and New Year's Day (12% each).
Given how festive people are during the holidays, homeowners associations (HOAs) in Spring Branch, TX, should expect residents to want to decorate their homes. Boards should never prohibit HOA holiday decorating, but they must at least enforce rules.
In this guide, PMI Bluebonnet Realty has put together HOA decoration guidelines boards should consider implementing, so please read on.
Prioritize Safety
Christmas trees, candles, and lights are among the most popular holiday decorations in the United States.
Unfortunately, as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports, they're among the top fire risks. Between 2018 and 2022, an annual average of 155 home Christmas tree fires occurred. There was also a yearly average of 835 structure fires that started with decorations like candles and lights.
So, the most crucial rule for HOA holiday decor compliance is to use safe decorations. Boards must require residents to:
- Use only Underwriting Laboratories- (UL) certified lights
- Avoid the use of candles, especially near Christmas trees
- Use only fresh trees, never dry ones
Boards must explain the dangers of non-compliance with these Spring Branch festive rules in HOAs. It can help residents be more mindful when decorating their homes.
Establish a Timeline
To maintain the community's cohesiveness, residents must follow the rules set by HOA boards regarding:
- What decorations they can put up
- When to put them up
- How long they can stay up
For instance, your board may allow homeowners to decorate a month before Christmas. They must then remove the decorations two weeks after Christmas.
Require Inspections
Requiring post-decorating inspections is also one of the most crucial Spring Branch, Texas, HOA decorating tips for boards. Board members can even use these inspections to conduct scheduled HOA property maintenance, which can help them save time.
The goal of the inspections should be to confirm that homeowners have decorated their properties in compliance with the HOA's guidelines and rules.
Enforce Penalties for Non-Compliance
Holidays are a time for fun and festivities, but because decorating for these days poses safety hazards, HOA residents must do everything they can to minimize such risks. If they don't, they should be ready to face the consequences and penalties of non-compliance.
For example, board members or HOA property managers should send initial warnings. Residents who ignore the warnings must pay a mandatory fine and remove the unsafe or non-compliant decorations.
HOA Holiday Decorating Rules for Everyone's Safety
HOA holiday decorating rules shouldn't restrict residents' rights to make their homes festive. Instead, they must exist to keep communities beautiful, cohesive, and safe from incidents like fires.
If your HOA struggles to implement decorating rules or its covenants in general, PMI Bluebonnet Realty can help.
We're a full-service association management firm serving HOAs in Comal (including Spring Branch), Hays, Blanco, and Kendall Counties. Our owner/general manager, Steven Poer, and operations manager, Tara Devine, are both Navy vets and Certified Managers of Community Associations (CMCA®). We'll use our years of industry expertise, proven proprietary processes, and innovative software solutions to help make your HOA thrive.
Connect with us today to request a bid and schedule a consultation!
