Q: I live in a homeowners’ association, and I decorated my house and yard for the holidays. They made me take it down under threat of a fine. Are they allowed to do this? – Gunther

A: Living in a community association means following a set of rules and regulations you agreed to when you purchased your home. These rules often govern how you decorate your home and yard, even during the holidays.

While it is frustrating to be told to take down your holiday decorations, your association likely has the authority to enforce such rules, depending on your community’s governing documents.

Your first step is to review your association’s governing documents, which typically include the Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions, bylaws, and any rules or guidelines. These documents outline what is and is not allowed in your neighborhood, including rules on holiday decorations.

Some HOAs have specific restrictions on the type, size, or timing of decorations, while others may prohibit certain displays altogether.

If your decorations violate these rules, your association has the right to ask you to remove them and may impose fines if you fail to comply.

If you believe the HOA’s request is unreasonable or unsupported by the governing documents, you can take steps to address the issue.

Start by documenting everything. Keep a record of all communication from the HOA, including letters, emails, and notices. Take photos of your decorations to show how they looked and how they were displayed. This documentation will be helpful if you decide to challenge your community’s decision.

Next, contact the HOA board or management company to discuss the situation. Be polite but firm, and ask for clarification on the specific rule or guideline your decorations are allegedly violating.

If the rule is vague or inconsistently enforced, you may have grounds to push back. In some cases, a conversation with your HOA can lead to a resolution.

However, if management insists on enforcing the rule and you still disagree, you may be able to escalate the matter.

The best way to do this is to involve your neighbors. If enough of you agree that your community should allow this type of decoration, you may be able to get the rules changed. Petition the board of directors to add your concerns to the agenda for the next HOA meeting, then see if you can gather enough support to change the rules.

If this still doesn’t work, you may even consider running for the Board of Directors so you can shape the community in a way that suits you and your neighbors better than it does now.

Remember, living in an association means balancing your personal preferences with the community’s rules.

While this may feel restrictive at times, such as when you want to put up holiday decorations, it can also be beneficial to know that your neighbors won’t be able to put up decorations in a style you don’t care for.

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