Help! My Neighbor’s Holiday Decorations Are Out of Control

Getting festive and decorating for the holidays is a cherished tradition, but once in a while, there’s a neighbor that goes way too far. If one of your neighbor’s holiday decorations is too noisy late at night or making the block appear bright as day at all hours of the night, it may be time to do something about it.

So, what’s the best way to get the problem fixed promptly? Here are some steps you can try.

Confirm the Rules and Regulations

Just because your neighbor’s decorations are inconvenient doesn’t necessarily mean they’re against the rules or breaking any laws. Go to your city’s website and check out the rules and regulations regarding quiet hours and bright lighting late at night. If you are part of a homeowner’s association, you’ll also want to check its rules and regulations.

Confirm You Aren’t the Problem

Before you complain about your neighbor’s decor, confirm that your own holiday decorations aren’t causing issues.

• Make sure your lights and sounds turn off at or before city quiet hours.
• Ensure your decorations don’t creep onto the sidewalk or your neighbors’ yards.

If your decorations are also out of control, it’ll damper any requests you make. You can’t ask your neighbor to tone down their decorations if you’ve also gone over the top.

You should also take a beat and consider whether your request is reasonable. Sit with it for a moment, and then go to a trusted friend who you know will be honest with you. Holiday decorations aren’t generally up for more than a few weeks, so if your neighbor isn’t in violation of any ordinances and the people around you don’t share your opinion about the extent of the problem, you may want to consider letting your neighbor’s annoying decorations slide to avoid creating tensions that could last year-round.

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Have a Friendly Conversation

There’s no reason to rapidly escalate immediately, especially if your neighbor isn’t actually breaking any rules. They’re your neighbor, after all, and you don’t want to foster animosity that outlasts the holiday season.

Start by conversing with them without mentioning city rules or the HOA regulations. Explain that the lights are too bright late at night or their music is too loud, and it’s impacting your sleep schedule. If you’ve got a unique need (e.g., a new baby who isn’t sleeping well, a family member with epilepsy who can’t be near flashing lights, etc.), then gently explain that to your neighbor. If they see that your request is not a personal attack on them, they’re more likely to make the requested change.

Chances are, if your request is reasonable, your neighbor will be amenable to addressing it. This way, you’ve salvaged a decent, or at least amicable, relationship with them instead of starting an unpleasant conflict.

Inform Your Neighbor You’ll File a Complaint

If your neighbor is actually breaking the city or your HOA’s rules and they refuse to stop the violation, inform them of your intention to file a complaint. Just the threat of taking action may convince them to meet you in the middle.

File a Complaint

If all else fails, it’s time to take action. If you live in an HOA, the board will likely enforce decoration rules. Speak to them, and keep everything in writing so you have documentation just in case. Alternatively, you can call the city’s code enforcement to resolve the issue (find the number on your city’s official website).

Ideally, it won’t come to this, and you and your neighbor can find common ground in the holiday spirit!