Are Christmas Lights A "Nuisance?"

A family in Germantown, Maryland is facing hundreds of dollars in fines—not for unpaid dues or property neglect, but for Christmas decorations that their homeowners association (HOA) claims are a “nuisance.”

According to 7News, the Middlebrook Manor South HOA has fined the Salgado family $50 per day for their holiday display. But when reporters got their hands on the governing documents, they found no rule against Christmas lights or holiday decorations.

Under the HOA’s “Prohibited Uses and Nuisances” section, restrictions include things like loud or disruptive noises, certain decorative lawn ornaments, and lighting that is directed outside the boundaries of the homeowner’s property. 

The Salgado family says their display does none of those things.

“Some lights on the bushes and a manger scene does not cause a nuisance to the whole community,” said homeowner Pahan Salgado.

Other neighbors in the same community told reporters they have holiday lights and decorations—but have not been fined.

For now, the Salgado family says they’re standing their ground.

“This is our core values and our religion,” Salgado said. “We don’t want to step back from what we believe in.”

Good Company 

For better or worse, there is a Grinch stereotype about HOAs. Every holiday season, social media feeds are filled with Christmas lights in proud defiance of the HOA rules– or ridiculous decorations that are technically in compliance.  

Check out some of Dmitry’s favorite displays and his take on this trend in the video above.