Several homeowners are installing Edison bulb string lights on the front of their homes or porches. If done well, it can be a beautiful addition to the aesthetics of your home. However, IHCA urges you to please comply with the following recommendations:
- String lights are not considered “safety lighting.”
- Please note that any changes to the exterior of your home, whether for safety lighting or decor, requires Architectural Review Committee (ARC) approval if they are to remain up for longer than the normal allowed holiday lighting time frame of Oct. 1 to Jan. 15.
- Multiple colored lights are not allowed to be installed outside of the home, unless during the Oct. 1 to Jan. 15 holidays.
- ARC-approved Edison bulbs hung in the eaves of the front porches of the home shall be installed in a professional manner, high, and every effort shall be used to conceal the wires from the front of the home. IHCA recommends installing them under eaves of the home, not stapling them to the front. Try to match the wire color to the porch eaves.
- No non-holiday lighting should be wrapped around columns, windows, doorways, banisters, or railings or landscaping.
- You are required to apply for ARC approval or be subject to a non-compliance action.
The IHCA Board of Directors and the ARC will be discussing the rules around exterior string lights in the coming months. Many HOA’s in the region are prohibiting exterior string lights in the front of homes altogether. While IHCA embraces one’s choice to beautify your home, please apply for ARC approval prior to installation.
Thank you in advance for your co-operation.
