Family Says They Received $50-A-Day Fine For Christmas Light Decorations

A Maryland family claims they have received $50-a-day fines because their Christmas decorations purportedly violate their homeowners’ association’s (HOA) nuisance rules.

Pahan Salgado told WJLA his family has been fined up to $650 and counting. The Salgado family’s decorations feature lights, nutcracker statues, and a Nativity scene. Salgado also told the outlet that Christmas is a time for his family to reflect on their Christian values. (RELATED: Cops Rescue ‘Tipsy Legend’ Stuck In Christmas Store Chair)

“It’s just a wonderful time of year for everyone. It’s reflecting back on our faith and our values — our Christian values, we believe in Christ. That’s why we decorate our house and do our lights. With our grandma, after she passed away, we placed two angels in front of our house,” Salgado explained.

He said his family’s decorations are not a “nuisance.”

“We’re not attracting anybody. Nobody is coming into the neighborhood disrupting. We’re not being a nuisance. Some lights on the bushes and a manger scene does not cause a nuisance to the whole community. We’re not waking anybody up. We’re not disturbing anybody. The lights are strictly within our boundaries of our land. It’s not going outside. It’s not touching anybody’s yard.”

“Other houses have decorated their homes for Christmas. Even down there, there’s a house that has a manger scene and some lights outside. Our front neighbors have a house outside, but it’s just us getting harassed,” Salgado added.

Despite Salgado’s claims that the decorations are not a “nuisance,” he and his family received a letter from a lawyer for the Middlebrook Manor South Homeowners Association indicating they have violated their HOA’s nuisance rules, WJLA reported. None of the family’s neighbors have received fines. Their neighbors also said they were not bothered by the decorations.

WJLA contacted the HOA’s lawyer, who wasn’t identified, who said the association is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment.

“Thank you for your inquiry. 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. The Association does not comment on specific homeowners or individual enforcement actions. Please direct all further communication regarding the Association to this office, rather than to individual Board members,” the lawyer told the outlet.

The Salgado family is known for creating holiday-themed displays to spread cheer to their neighbors.

In November 2024, the family hosted a free Christmas light display at their home and used the event as an opportunity to collect donations for a local food bank, according to My Montgomery Community Media. The family had also hosted a “haunted manor” event in October 2024 with Halloween decorations at their home, DC News Now reported.