Christmas lights illegal in Naples (Holiday: HOA, house, neighborhood)

[imagardener]

So you want to live in a Naples HOA? Don't decorate for Christmas or you will get banned from the clubhouse and fined $1000. It's pretty sad for this young family that seems to be liked by all their neighbors.

P.S. Read the comments below the article. Naples News has some of the best letters to the editor I've ever read. Many times better than the paper itself.

Holiday cheer comes with a price in one North Naples neighborhood : Collier County : Naples Daily News

[faithfulFrank]

That is truly sad. A PR nightmare.
Thankfully, our HOA has been good...based on common sense with no problems.
And BTW, we have some nice Christmas Decorations in the neighborhood....

Frank D.

[FLBob]

I may be reading between the lines here, but it sounds like they chose to live in a maintenance free community. I.E. the lawn is the responsibility of the association and common property.
While emotionally I condemn the bah-hum-bug feel of the association I understand their need to enforce the rules for dealing with common property. The lawn crew probably want's additional pay for cutting around the decorations.
Again, maybe reading too much into this, but it seems that the association did attempt to deal with the issue at Halloween, in a more light handed fashion. The resident didn't get it then so now the fines.
If the homeowner had simply decorated the house I doubt if we'd be reading about this.

[Mrs. P]

This happens all over the place, not just Florida and not just Naples Florida.
There are several this way in NC. There are some so strict you can't even put "plants" out on your patio's...

Just depends what you want out of life. You want a froo froo high and mighty everything in it's place and picture perfect type place,,,,then that's what you get.

I'll never again live where there is an HOA (read misuse money grubbers) running the show. Waste of space they are.

[BornInFL]

Wow, truly sad. And sad to say, not suprised being that it's Naples. What a disgrace.

[TANaples]

I looked at this development when we were looking for a house last year. I live in a gated golf devleopment in Naples. I have lights and bells on my gararge. I have a snowman and a shovel on my lawn which says, "Let it Snow". I have lighted candles in my front and back (facing the golf course) windows.

My neighbors across the street have the full works: lighted blow up Santas and Snownmen, Reindeer, etc., etc. Nobody has told me or them to take them down, let alone be fined. If it weren't for some of us, it would be totally black here at night. Snowbirds aren't here to decorate for Christmas.

[BornInFL]

"There are several this way in NC. There are some so strict you can't even put "plants" out on your patio's..."


Really? Could you provide some proof that there are several places like that in NC?

[BornInFL]

I'd be interested to know what places do that, seems pretty ridiculous.

[FTLkid754]

Lmao. My parents live in South Naples in a gated community and lots of people have x-mas lights up and decorations. As a matter of fact the entrance to the community had a huge wreath on it and the palm trees had lights on them. I think it depends on which community you live in but don't judge all of Naples by this article.

[tallrick]

I wish it was 1958 when this stupidity did not exist. Typical nonsense when Florida is in real trouble in many ways.