Handling the Holidays: Texas HOA Lighting Rules, Decor, & More

For Texas homeowners association (HOA) board members, the holiday season brings both joy and logistical challenges. From preparing your community for colder months, brightening the neighborhood with festive lights and décor, to organizing holiday events, the responsibilities pile up quickly. Let this article be your guide with tips to help you enforce HOA lighting rules and décor policies, communicate holiday plans with residents, choose the best vendors, call on committees, budget for next holiday season, and ensure spirits stay bright in your community.


 

Why do you need HOA lighting rules and décor guidelines in the first place?

Putting up holiday lights and décor is a beloved tradition that truly brings out the season's festive spirit. But as a board member for your association, it's important to effectively communicate your HOA lighting rules and décor guidelines to residents. This plays an important role in keeping the community looking its best while also making sure everyone's safe from any potential fire hazards.
Communication with residents should make it clear that the goal isn't to take away from our festive traditions, but to find a balance between expressing holiday cheer and ensuring the community is safe and aesthetically cohesive.

HOA lighting rules in Texas – suggestions for your community

What would the holidays be without festive lights? It's one of the most important parts! Just because your association must adhere to your HOA lighting rules spelled out in your governing documents and Texas property codes, enforcing rules doesn’t have to throw a “grinch” in the works.
Here are a few ways to help residents follow the HOA lighting rules while keeping the community merry and bright this season. For extra guidance on setting these rules, look to your management company and HOA attorney.
 
Fewer lights, fewer fire hazards

Some associations set a limit on the number of holiday lights each homeowner can string up, often around 100 to 200 feet. This is because too many lights can become a fire hazard. If a fire ignites, it can quickly spread and cause major damage throughout the community. Did you know: According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 44% of Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical or lighting issues?
 
Timing the twinkles

Set time limits for holiday lights and décor. For example, some HOAs permit holiday decorations to be displayed starting 30 days before Christmas, requiring removal by mid-January.

A daily schedule, such as activating lights and sounds from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., can reduce disruption and neighbor complaints. You can also recommend that residents use automatic timers on their lights for the convenience and reduced energy costs, ensuring lighting displays aren’t running overnight.


 

Have a holiday display approval process

To keep everything merry, bright, and of course, orderly, consider tasking your Architectural Review Committee with the approval process of holiday displays. They can assess applications from homeowners eager to deck out their homes, ensuring their lighting installations meet safety standards and do not obstruct public walkways or roads. If anything seems too extravagant or unsafe, the committee can suggest changes so homeowners can still enjoy decorating while adhering to community standards.
 

Communicating your HOA lighting rules and decor policies to residents

Everyone observes the holidays differently. For many people, it’s the busiest time of year, so providing clear communication on multiple platforms is essential for getting the word out. Transparent communication with residents about holiday-related expectations, festive events, and other reminders helps prevent misunderstandings during this joyful yet hectic season!

Communication tips:

• Regularly send holiday newsletters and emails outlining key dates, rules, and event details well in advance and throughout the season.
• Use community boards, social media, and the HOA website to share updates, reminders, and fun photos.
• Provide a monitored email address and/or phone number for residents to reach out with any holiday-related questions.

Your management partner should also have the mass communication tools in place to create and send newsletters, support your HOA website, and help respond to resident requests.


 

Decorating common areas in your community

The communal area decorations play a vital role in enhancing the festive atmosphere among homeowners. While adhering to your own HOA lighting rules and décor policies, try these steps to strategize sprucing up your shared spaces this holiday season:

• Form a team: Create a decorating committee as soon as possible and enlist volunteers to assist in the transformation. Hold regular meetings to ensure alignment and assign action items.
• Map out what needs to be decorated: Plan to decorate common areas such as entrance gates, community centers, and parks. Factor in space constraints accordingly to optimize the layout.
• Use low-maintenance décor: Decorations like string lights, wreaths, and garlands to create inviting and festive environments, and can easily be stored and reused the next year.
• Prioritize safety and energy efficiency: Choose durable, low-energy decorations that are safer and more cost effective.
• Test lighting: Prevent last-minute scrambles by testing light displays before the holidays officially begin. Keep spare lights on-hand for any quick replacements.
• Be inclusive when decorating: Avoid decorating for one specific tradition. Keep the messaging universal. Holiday cheer is meant for everyone!

 

Choosing the best vendors for holiday events

Working with reliable vendors can make all the difference in your holiday preparations. From lighting installations to event catering, having the right vendor partners supporting your HOA, especially this time of year, feels like a gift!

Vendor selection tips:

• Request recommendations from your management partner who has already vetted vendors.
• Obtain multiple quotes to compare pricing and services.
• Ensure vendors are licensed and insured to protect your community.

 

Hosting HOA holiday events

The best part about “decking the halls” in your community with festive décor is the backdrop it provides for festive events!

Whether your HOA has an award-winning lifestyle program or leans on a stellar social committee, the holiday season is an ideal time to engage your community. Events like tree lighting ceremonies, caroling nights, holiday markets, and fun contests build lasting memories and strengthen the sense of belonging among residents.

Key pointers for planning holiday events:

• Establish event planning roles and responsibilities – who will do what and when?
• Communicate event details to residents on multiple platforms, and give them plenty of time to RSVP
• Avoid holding events on major holidays, like Christmas Day or New Year’s Day
• Consider hosting a variety of gatherings - some designed for families and children, others aimed at adults
• Keep it simple - make it easy to participate
• Ensure safety of the venue, compliance with your HOA lighting rules, etc.
• Ask your community manager for vendor recommendations
• Survey attendees afterward and ask for feedback on how to make it even better next time

Expressing gratitude for volunteers

Your holiday events wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of volunteers. Showing appreciation for their contributions is essential to maintaining their engagement and morale.

Ways to recognize volunteers:

• Host a volunteer appreciation event or dinner.
• Include personal thank-you notes with their holiday cards.
• Highlight their efforts in community newsletters or on social media.

Remember, the key to successful holiday management lies in planning, communication, and the collaboration of hard-working volunteers like you! See here how to rally more residents to volunteer year-round.

Plan ahead for next year

As you wrap up the holiday season this year, make note of everything your board would like to keep or leave out of next year’s holiday budget. from decorations to events and contests. Set up a detailed list covering all expenses, including any maintenance or repairs needed.
As you plan, consider asking questions like:

• What worked or didn’t work this time?

• Are there new ideas from other communities we’d like to try?

• What decorations need fixing or replacing?

• What events are on our wish list?

• What’s our holiday budget and are parts of it already allocated?

Conclusion

As you can see, the holidays are filled with a long list of responsibilities and to-dos for Texas HOA board members. Look to your management company for guidance on lifestyle event programming, vendor pricing, budget preparation, and other resources that can take the headache out of handling the holidays.

The season of joy is more “joyful” when you have a trusted partner taking care of the daily operations so you can focus on making meaningful connections with homeowners.