MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Germantown resident who incorporated Halloween decorations into her Christmas display had no idea she would be in trouble with the city.
Alexis Luttrell put a skeleton and a skeleton dog in her yard in October and later dressed them up for the holidays. In December, she received a notice the decor was in violation of city code.
“I got something the other day that said I needed to appear in court,” said Luttrell. “The code they say I am violating is I have seasonal decorations up too long.”
According to ordinance 11-33, holiday and seasonal decorations shall not be installed or placed more than 45 days before the date of the holiday for which said decorations are intended and shall be removed within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 30 days, following the date of the holiday for which said decorations are intended.
Luttrell said she purchased the skeletons for yard displays throughout the year and believes it is open to interpretation what qualifies as a Christmas decoration.