Can an HOA in SC make you take down your Christmas lights and decorations when it wants?

If you’re still enjoying your holiday decorations and you live in a neighborhood with a Home Owners Association, time is likely running out to get those lights put away.

Chances are the length of time you can keep your decorations up is limited.

Columbia attorney Kathleen M. McDaniel said HOAs can regulate outdoor displays, decorations, flags if the neighborhood’s restrictive covenants give them that authority.

“Most restrictive covenants I have reviewed have some authority for the HOA to regulate decorations to some extent,” she said.

HOAs have become increasingly popular to set community standards for such things as maintenance and upkeep. The uniformity can help keep property values up.

It’s estimated that about a quarter of homes in South Carolina are regulated by HOAs.

The Kansas City Star reported that an HOA accounting service said it is commonplace for HOAs to allow holiday lights 30 days before the holiday ending in the second week of the new year.

Fines may be imposed for not complying with the rules.

In South Carolina, the Department of Consumer Affairs has oversight over HOAs and is the arbiter of complaints that arise.

“When the Department of Consumer Affairs receives a complaint from a homeowner, they usually forward it to the HOA to see if the complaint can be worked out,” McDaniel said. “Rarely does that work. The Dept. of Consumer Affairs has no authority to enforce anything.”

The agency tracks the complaints, reports them to the General Assembly each year and maintains a database on its website.