Family speaks out after getting fined by HOA for Christmas lights display
A Maryland family is speaking out after they were fined by their homeowner's association for the Christmas light display at their home.
"The lights are strictly within our boundaries of our land. It's not going outside, it's not touching anybody's yard," Pahan Salgado told ABC News.
The Salgado family said this is the second year in a row they've faced fines for wanting to keep their holiday lights glowing outside their Germantown home, a tradition they say they look forward to all year long.
"Each year we have big displays, called the Salgado Family Christmas Display," Supuli Salgado said.
However, the Salgados' homeowner's association threatened to fine them $50 a day if they didn't take their lights down or scale them back.
According to the homeowner's association's rules, “no decorative lawn ornament …shall be erected, used or maintained on any lot at any time.”
The association's rules also state that “no exterior lighting … shall be directed outside the boundaries of the lot, without the prior written approval of the Covenant Committee.”
"It's definitely, like, jaw-dropping, seeing how … why are we getting fined for Christmas lights?" Supuli Salgado said.
The association fined the Salgado family last year, too, when the family conceded their display then was much larger.
"We thought we weren't gonna get fined this year because we did tone it down by a lot," said Supuli Salgado.
"And this year, we only had, like, the basic decorations," Pahan Salgado added.
There are other holiday light displays in the Salgado's neighborhood, including homes with lawn ornaments and lights. One of the Salgado family's neighbors told ABC News affiliate WJLA they have never been fined for their decorations.
"Never been fined and when we first got here 20, 25 years ago, we used to have lights across the whole front of the house," said Jim Novitzki.
Despite the Salgados downsizing their Christmas lights this year, the lawyers for the homeowner's association told them “…you were repeatedly informed that your decorative lawn ornaments and decorative light installations were in violation of the Association’s governing documents and were an annoyance and nuisance to the neighborhood."
"What they're trying to spread is just negativity and hate and darkness, but all we're trying to do is just spread some light this season," Pahan Salgado said.
In a statement, a lawyer for the homeowners association said, "The Association’s goal is to support a safe, respectful, and well-maintained community while ensuring the Association’s governing documents are enforced uniformly and in accordance with Maryland law."
ABC News reached out to the homeowners association for comment, asking if others have been fined, and did not immediately receive a response.
