Does Turning On Holiday Lights Early Make You a Bad Neighbor?

Every neighborhood has at least one: the house that goes full festive mode while Halloween candy is still on store shelves. No one can be mad at Christmas lights and other holiday cheer in late December, but sometimes you’ll see decorations—chock full of bright lights, wild colors, and even animatronic Santas and reindeer—as soon as the first leaf falls.  

As holiday decorating creeps earlier each year, a question comes to the minds of many: Does flipping the switch early on your holiday lights make you a bad neighbor?

The answer, it turns out, probably depends less on the calendar and more on how you handle the lumens.

What does ‘early’ mean to you?

The definition of "too early" varies depending on whom you ask. Traditionally, after Thanksgiving is the beginning of the December holiday season, but we’re seeing lights and decorations go up well before that in many communities. 

"Before Halloween is definitely too early for me. After Halloween is 'on the early side,' but you can probably get away with it,” says Nick Leighton, an etiquette expert and co-host of the podcast “Were You Raised by Wolves?” 

“After Thanksgiving is definitely the traditional start date for many communities in the United States. And anytime in December is definitely in the zone," he says.

The trend toward earlier decorating isn't just in your head. Between work schedules, better weather for safe installation, and the desire to maximize joy-per-dollar on those expensive LED strands, homeowners are increasingly getting their Christmas trees and lighting up before the traditional post-Thanksgiving kickoff.

What does it mean to have good etiquette?

Here's the thing: Etiquette isn't really about the date on the calendar. 

"Etiquette is all about being mindful of other people," Leighton says. "So the question is: What sort of impact do your holiday lights have on your neighbors?"

That effect has less to do with timing than you might think. When asked whether a tasteful Nov. 1 display might be less offensive than an over-the-top spectacular in December, Leighton was clear: "Lumens matter. Given the choice, I'd much rather have a tasteful, moderately sized display on Nov. 1 rather than the Disney Main Street Electrical Parade in mid-December."

Leighton recommends simply asking your neighbors what's typical in your community. But what if they say no to your plans? 

"You certainly don't have to honor a neighbor's reasonable request to dial back your holiday extravaganza. But should you? Maybe!” he says. “Etiquette decisions have etiquette consequences, so don't be surprised if the relationship turns chilly … or worse."

When neighbors disagree, Leighton suggests trying to minimize inconvenience where you can: "This might mean not having so many lights on the side of the house closest to that neighbor, limiting the hours they're in use, not using lights that blink, or some other creative compromise."

The real estate value perspective

From a property value perspective, early lights might actually work in your favor. Mara Benson, a real estate agent with Bliss Realty, sees festive displays as an asset. 

"Holiday lights boost curb appeal, brighten up the neighborhood, and create a warm, festive atmosphere,” says Benson. “Buyers enjoy seeing cheerful, well-maintained homes. Festive decor adds charm, not conflict."

Beyond aesthetics, Benson argues that holiday displays signal ownership pride and community safety to potential buyers. Her caveats? Consider whether your display will increase traffic, and avoid decorations that are "overwhelmingly bright, flash all night long, or stay up until spring."

And if you're worried about grumpy neighbors? Eric Teusink, founding partner of the Atlanta-based real estate law firm Williams Teusink, offers a blunt perspective: "If people turning on their holiday lights too early bothers you enough to make an issue of it, then you should look in the mirror. Because you are most likely the bad neighbor in this scenario."

How your neighbors, and HOA, might respond

If you live in a homeowners association, the rules might make the decision for you. 

"Many HOAs will have rules about how long before holiday decorations can go up and how long after they are allowed to remain," Teusink says.

What happens if you break those rules? 

“If you live in an HOA whose board is comprised of reasonable people, then you will likely get a warning letter, and, so long as you work diligently to come into compliance, then that will be the end of it,” says Teusink. “Unfortunately, some HOA boards are run by individuals who value strict adherence to rules over common sense; in this instance they might impose a fine for each day in which you are out of compliance with the rules.”

You might be tempted to point out that your neighbor down the street has their lights up too. That's a legal concept called "waiver"—if the HOA doesn't enforce rules against someone else, it's arguably waived its right to enforce them against you. But Teusink cautions against counting on this defense: "I would certainly not rely on it when making decisions."

The bottom line: Check your HOA covenants before you start stringing lights.

When to take things down: Definitely before February

Interestingly, there's more social tolerance for putting lights up early than leaving them up late.

"As a society, the Christmas-Industrial-Complex has trained us to start celebrating early," Leighton observes, "so it's far easier to get away with putting up lights in October than letting them hang around into the spring."

His timeline: "You certainly have until the 12th Day of Christmas to have the lights on. Further into January, it's starting to feel a little long. And by February, many people are going to interpret the lingering lights more as careless than festive."

It’s about how, not when, you put up your lights 

So does turning on your holiday lights early make you a bad neighbor? Not necessarily. What matters more is how you do it: the brightness and scale of your display, whether you're considerate about hours and positioning, and whether you're willing to communicate with the people around you.

Check your HOA rules if you have them. Consider using timers so your lights aren't blazing at 3 a.m. If your display is elaborate, think about traffic and parking. And if a neighbor expresses genuine concern, look for a compromise.

At the end of the day, holiday lights are about spreading joy. If you can do that while being mindful of the people around you—whether you flip the switch in October or wait until December—you're probably doing just fine. As Benson puts it: "If turning on your lights early makes you happy, go ahead and light it up!"