“It's the hap-happiest season of all, with those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings, when friends come to call… It's the hap-happiest season of all!” As the great Andy Williams sang in his classic way, it’s that time of year again. In sunny Fort Myers, Florida, we may not have an obvious change of seasons with the glorious fall foliage, and the beautiful White Christmas’, but be thee Snowbird or full-time resident, that is one of the reasons we all came to this beautiful, sunny part of the country. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t know how to celebrate the season! We just do it in a warmer climate!
We still love our holidays, and decorating to show our love of the holidays, is just one of the things that bring that “Holiday Season” feeling to the residents of the south. There are just a few things you need to remember about decorating if you live in a Condominium Association or Homeowners’ Association, when it comes to decorating: Many associations have rules and regulations about how and what you can decorate.
If you live in an Association, one thing you should always do prior to decorating is give your governing documents a once-over. Some Associations have rules on the locations of holiday displays or the size of your displays. And for those of you that live in Associations that have policies about decorations being visible from the outside, it may also affect how you decorate the inside of your home. (If it is visible from the outside, it may not be acceptable.) These are just some of the regulations that may or may not be found in your Associations documents, but it is always better to double check before you get all those decorations up. It can be a real bother to have to take some of your decorations down before the end of the season, or in some drastic cases have to pay a fine to your Association.
Now this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t enjoy your holidays and decorate for the season, it just means that you need to keep in mind that you live in a community that may have limitations on how you can exhibit your holiday cheer. Remember, you chose your community because of how they keep the look of your community clean and aesthetically pleasing for all. It doesn’t take away the true meaning of the holidays. It’s how you feel inside and how you treat yourself, your friends, and your neighbors that express the true meaning of the holidays.
So, remember check with your covenants before you decorate and if you need copies of your rules and regulations contact your property manager. They will be able to provide your complete copies of all your associations documents. Have a Happy Holiday Season!J Brooks & Associates, Inc. is a Southwest Florida based Community Association Manager. Please check out our website for all our latest blogs and services. www.jbrooksai.com
