Holiday Decorations and HOA Rules: What’s Allowed in Arizona?

By Anjali Patel

Every year, Arizona homeowners settle into the holiday season thinking about lights, inflatables, and a little extra cheer — and every year, someone is surprised by an HOA notice on their door. It almost always catches people off guard. The decorations feel harmless. Nothing about the holiday spirit seems like it should trigger a rule violation. But HOAs regulate exterior appearance more closely than most people realize, and the holidays are when those rules collide most often with everyday life.

The problem isn’t that HOAs dislike decorations. Most communities genuinely enjoy the way homes look during the holidays. The issue is much simpler: anything on the exterior of the home, anything visible from the street, or anything affecting common areas usually falls within the HOA’s authority. That includes timing, placement, lighting, sound, and anything that changes the exterior aesthetic of the neighborhood. Homeowners don’t think about the legal structure behind these rules, but HOAs operate under the Arizona Planned Community Act or the Condominium Act, plus the community’s CC&Rs and bylaws. Those documents give the board real enforcement power, even during the holidays.

The most common misunderstandings start with timing. Many HOAs have specific dates for when decorations can go up and when they must come down. A homeowner who puts lights up the weekend after Halloween might be perfectly reasonable in their own mind but still technically out of compliance. Timing rules don’t exist to be petty. They exist because HOAs want to avoid long stretches of “holiday clutter” and want the community to maintain a consistent appearance throughout the year. It becomes even more noticeable when one house keeps decor up well into January while everyone else has moved on.

Another friction point is size. Large inflatables, oversized yard displays, and decorations that extend into walkways or common areas can trigger violations quickly. HOAs worry about liability, obstruction, and whether a display changes the look of the neighborhood in a way that homeowners didn’t collectively agree to. Even when a decoration is fun and cheerful, the rule isn’t about taste — it’s about the community’s right to regulate the external aesthetic under the CC&Rs.

Lighting is another area where people find themselves surprised. Bright lights, flashing patterns, and displays that run late into the night can lead to complaints, especially when they shine into neighboring windows or create noise through automated features. Most HOAs have quiet hours or light restrictions built into community rules. Homeowners often think of these rules in the context of parties or loud music, not holiday decor, but the same principles apply. If a display disrupts a neighbor’s ability to sleep or enjoy their home, the HOA will step in.

Even placement matters. Decorations attached to exterior walls, roofs, stucco, or fencing are usually regulated because they involve altering common elements or creating potential damage. A homeowner might believe they’re attaching something lightly or temporarily, but the HOA doesn’t evaluate intent — it evaluates the impact. If the CC&Rs say exterior surfaces can’t be modified or penetrated, even a small hook or nail can lead to an enforcement letter.

People also underestimate how much authority HOAs have to regulate anything visible from the street. Even decorations inside a window, if they’re overly bright or animated, can draw attention. HOAs typically aren’t looking to micromanage holiday joy, but they are obligated to enforce the rules evenly. Selective enforcement opens them to legal challenges, so once a complaint is made, they’re expected to follow through.

The real frustration for homeowners isn’t usually the rule itself — it’s the surprise. Most people don’t read their CC&Rs closely enough to know what is and isn’t allowed, and many assume holiday decor falls into a harmless category that boards will overlook. But boards have a duty to apply the rules consistently. If your neighbor received a violation last year for a large inflatable Santa, the board can’t ignore your giant reindeer display today.

The easiest way to avoid all of this is simply to ask. A short email to the HOA manager or board before putting up anything large, bright, or unusual saves a lot of frustration. Most boards are perfectly happy to clarify what’s acceptable and what falls outside the rules. A quick check usually prevents a notice, a fine, or the awkwardness of being the one house asked to take something down mid-season.

Holiday decorations should be enjoyable, not a source of conflict. When homeowners understand the rules, and HOAs apply them consistently, the season feels lighter for everyone. A little awareness goes a long way toward keeping the peace and avoiding unnecessary headaches. The holidays bring enough stress on their own — no one needs to add an HOA dispute to the list.