Can My Christmas Decorations Get Me in Legal Trouble?

This holiday season, if you plan to decorate your house with Christmas garlands, wreaths, ornaments, candles, Santa Claus figures, wall décor, lights, and gnomes, you should be familiar with local laws regarding decorations. Families across Texas have similar plans, and we’re excited to watch local neighborhoods come to life!

However, your Christmas decorations can get you in legal trouble. In this article, we’ll discuss three scenarios that can make things difficult for you.

1. Homeowners Association (HOA)

The HOA is an organization in a community, subdivision, or condo complex that enforces certain rules. If you live in a neighborhood with a strict HOA, your Christmas decorations could get you in trouble at some point. Most HOAs will send you a notice outlining the violation and giving you the opportunity to either take it down or modify it into compliance. It’s when homeowners ignore or outright defy the notice that they get into trouble.

When you buy a home in such a neighborhood, you have to agree to rules regarding fencing, window treatments, paint colors, outdoor decorations, and a ton of other specifics. If you “break the rules,” you can be fined. Keep in mind, some HOAs are stricter than others, but it’s always good to be familiar with the rules of your HOA so you can avoid the hassle.

2. Your Christmas Décor Is Offensive

In 2016, a man was arrested for putting up offensive Christmas décor. If your décor isn’t appropriate for children, you can get into legal trouble. Again, in most cases, police will ask you first to take it down or modify it so that it’s not offensive. Take the opportunity to do the right thing. Make sure you set up child-appropriate décor, even if you don’t live in a family-friendly area. We also recommend getting approval from your neighbors beforehand to avoid any problems later on.

3. Your Christmas Décor Is Too Loud

 

Your neighbors can call the cops on you if your Christmas décor is too loud. In fact, this occasionally happens across the state during Christmastime. Noise complaints can result in fines and even misdemeanor charges.

Make sure your décor isn’t too flashy or noisy. While you want to make a statement, you don’t want to light up the entire street or cause excessive noise at night. Celebrate the holidays without disrespecting the rest of your community.

We also recommend avoiding any Christmas pranks. These have gone viral on social media and, while they may appear to be fun, they can be disastrous. Keep your neighborhood’s comfort in mind to avoid any legal trouble.

The rule of thumb is just to be a good neighbor. Be considerate of others and don’t be a jerk. Don’t blare Christmas music and set up spotlights in your front yard and annoy your neighbors.

However, if you find yourself in trouble and need a criminal defense lawyer in the Greater Houston area, attorney JL Carpenter can help.

As an experienced, sharp-sighted attorney, she builds a strong case for her clients in Friendswood, Clear Lake, Webster, Houston, and the surrounding areas with the goal of getting her clients’ cases dismissed.

JL’s practice areas include DWI, drug possession, family violence, and domestic violence, among others. Contact her today.