DECORATIONS AND RELIGIOUS DISPLAYS
Decorations
Residents may display cultural and holiday decorations in and on their homes and yards subject to the Association’s right to regulate the time, place, and manner of displays that are visible from the street. Decorations, including lighting displays, are permitted inside windows, on the exteriors of homes, and on front yards (but may not block sidewalks), provided
(1) they are to scale or proportionate to the size and setback of the home,
(2) they do not create a noise, appearance, or light disturbance for neighbors,
(3) they are appropriate for the holiday, and
(4) they are installed no earlier than 30 days before the date of the holiday and are removed within 14 days after the date of the holiday, except that Christmas decorations may be maintained from November 1st until January 15 of each year.
Religious Displays
a) These Rules are applicable to religious displays with the objective of permitting them while also striving to maintain an aesthetically harmonious and peaceful neighborhood for all neighbors to enjoy.
b) An owner may display or affix on owner’s or resident’s property or dwelling one or more religious items the display of which is motivated by the owner’s or resident’s sincere religious belief. For purposes of these Rules, a sincere religious belief relates to the faithful devotion to a god or gods, the supernatural or belief that addresses fundamental and ultimate questions having to do with deep and imponderable matters. A religion is comprehensive in nature; it consists of a belief-system as opposed to an isolated teaching. Religious displays are different than signs or other figures related to a cause.
c) If displaying or affixing of a religious item on the owner’s or resident’s property or dwelling violates any of the following covenants, then the Association may remove or require the removal of the item(s) displayed that –
i. threaten the public health or safety;
ii. violate a law other than a law prohibiting the display of religious speech;
iii. contain language, graphics, or any display that is patently offensive to a passerby for reasons other than its religious content;
iv. is in a location other than the owner’s or resident’s property or dwelling, i.e., installed on property owned or maintained by the Association, or owned in common by two or more members of the Association;
v. is located in violation of any applicable building line, right-of-way, setback, or easement; or
vi. is attached to a traffic control device, street lamp, fire hydrant, or utility sign, pole, or fixture.
d) Display Parameters:
i. All religious displays must be located within 5’ of the dwelling’s frontmost building line (i.e., within 5’ of the front facade of the dwelling.)
ii. Displays may not be located within building setbacks.
iii. No portion of the display may extend above the lowest point of the dwelling’s front roof line.
iv. All displays must be kept in good repair.
v. Displays may not exceed 5’ in height x 3’ in width x 3’ in depth.
vi. The number of displays is limited to three (3).
vii. This paragraph d) shall not apply to seasonal religious holiday decorations as described in paragraph e).
viii. All religious item displays other than seasonal religious displays must receive prior approval from the MACC/VACC prior to installation, except for displays on any exterior door or door frame of the home that are 25 square inches or smaller. For example, and without limitation, no prior permission is required from the Association to place a cross, mezuzah, or other similar religious symbol smaller than 25 square inches on the dwelling’s front door or door frame.
e) Seasonal Religious Holiday Decorations. Seasonal religious holiday decorations are temporary decorations commonly associated with a seasonal holiday, such as Christmas or Diwali lighting, Christmas wreaths, and Hanukkah or Kwanzaa seasonal decorations. The Board of Directors has the sole discretion to determine what items qualify as seasonal religious holiday decorations.
Unless otherwise provided by the Declaration, seasonal religious holiday decorations may be displayed no more than 30 days before and no more than 21 days after the holiday in question.
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