There are plenty of exciting things that you can finally do once you become a homeowner. You can choose whatever countertops you like for the kitchen, put a pool in the backyard if you so choose and go all out when decorating for the holidays.
While most homeowners tend to stick to Christmas lights, the occasional Easter egg or their nation's flag, some prefer to go all out for spooky season. Zombies in the yard, spider webs hanging from the trees and jack-o'-lanterns adorning the front door can make a house more inviting for trick-or-treaters. As long as their neighbors are fine with the decor, that is... One woman reached out to Reddit detailing how her neighbor threw a fit over her and her husband’s Halloween decorations. So below, you’ll find the full story, as well as some of the replies invested readers shared.
This woman was thrilled to go all out when decorating for Halloween
Image credits: rawpixel.com (not the actual image)
But a neighbor decided that her decor was way too scary to be on display
Image credits: koldunova_anna (not the actual image)
Image credits: freepik (not the actual image)
Image credits: PlsHelpmeThrowRA
Later, the author responded to several readers and provided more information about the situation
Homeowners typically have free-range when decorating for holidays
Just like when it comes to decorating for Christmas, homeowners are typically allowed to do whatever they like (within reason) to deck out their homes for Halloween. There’s no limit to how many pumpkins they’re allowed to carve, how many skeletons they can hang in the front yard or how many buckets of candy they can put out for trick-or-treaters.
But logic and reason have never stopped neighbors from getting upset about little things in the past. So Halloween decorations are certainly no exception. The specific rules will vary depending on where you live and whether or not you must adhere to the rules set by a homeowner’s association, but Kuester Management Group notes that there are a few decorations that might land residents in hot water.
First, they mention that any yard decor that makes noise might be considered a disturbance, and it might lead to some complaints from neighbors. Lights can also be disruptive if they’re shining into everyone’s windows all night long.
Depending on the neighborhood, “yard art” might be prohibited too, which some Halloween decorations might fall into the umbrella of. And if your HOA happens to find any of your decorations offensive or disturbing, they might request that you remove them immediately.
Apparently, scary Halloween decorations can sometimes even lead to homeowners being fined. Newsweek published an article discussing this, where they mentioned that some Halloween enthusiasts have even been fined thousands of dollars for their spooky decorations.
Image credits: chris robert (not the actual image)
But it's wise for neighborhoods to set some ground rules to prevent conflicts
"We had it all—a fog machine, an elaborate graveyard setup and eerie sound effects," one veterinarian told Newsweek. "We were fined for breaking the community rules, which was a bit disheartening, especially for the kids. It certainly put a damper on our Halloween festivities."
It’s also important to consider how your decorations might later impact the community. If you cover your front yard in hay, for example, it’s best to make sure that hay doesn’t end up all over the sidewalk until Thanksgiving. And, of course, any particularly dangerous or terrifying decorations might not be a good idea for a neighborhood full of children.
To avoid encountering any issues between neighbors, Mulcahy Law Firm suggests that HOAs set clear rules defining exactly how residents can decorate for holidays. It might be wise to set a reasonable time limit for Halloween decorations to be displayed. For example, they can go up on the first of October, and they must be taken down by November 30th.
It may also be helpful to set designated hours when holiday lights must be turned off, as well as a maximum decibel level for any spooky sound effects or decorations that make noise. And if the neighborhood has a designated area where residents can set up communal decorations, that might reduce how many people will go all out in their own front yards.
We would love to hear your thoughts on this story in the comments below, pandas. Would you be bothered if your neighbors put up fuzzy spiders and spooky decorations in their front yard? Feel free to weigh in. And then, you can find another Bored Panda article discussing Halloween decor right here!
Image credits: Nathan Anderson (not the actual image)
Some readers sided with the homeowner, noting that her decor sounds great
However, some thought she was being insensitive by refusing to accommodate her neighbor
