If you’re still enjoying your holiday decorations and you live in a neighborhood with a Home Owners Association, time is likely running out to get those lights put away.
Chances are the length of time you can keep your decorations up is limited.
Columbia attorney Kathleen M. McDaniel said HOAs can regulate outdoor displays, decorations, flags if the neighborhood’s restrictive covenants give them that authority.
“Most restrictive covenants I have reviewed have some authority for the HOA to regulate decorations to some extent,” she said.
HOAs have become increasingly popular to set community standards for such things as maintenance and upkeep. The uniformity can help keep property values up.
It’s estimated that about a quarter of homes in South Carolina are regulated by HOAs.
The Kansas City Star reported that an HOA accounting service said it is commonplace for HOAs to allow holiday lights 30 days before the holiday ending in the second week of the new year.
Fines may be imposed for not complying with the rules.