In years past, when someone said "Holiday Decorations" we all thought of strings of lights outlining the form of homes and landscaping, and figures of Santa and reindeer gracing the lawn or the roof itself. Recent statistics find that Halloween is approaching the same magnitude of outdoor displays once reserved for Christmas. In addition, we are increasingly a multicultural society with holidays being celebrated we may not have been aware of previously, or in some instances, which have only recently been established.

How do common interest communities respond to the outdoor displays individuals may wish to have? Many communities have covenants which prohibit items of any type whatsoever to be placed exterior to the living units without prior board or architectural committee approval. In those communities, must the board or architectural committee require every person wishing to have an outdoor display apply for approval for each such holiday? Can certain holiday decorations be denied based on the type of holiday? Can approval of these displays include restrictions of size and a time limit at which time the displays must be removed?

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