The holiday season in Colorado is a truly magical time. Snow blankets the community, festive lights twinkle against the mountain backdrop, and there’s a palpable sense of warmth and celebration in the air. As an HOA board member or developer, you play a crucial role in fostering this community spirit.
However, with the festivities come unique risks. The combination of holiday travel, increased social gatherings, flammable decorations, and Colorado’s unpredictable winter weather can create a perfect storm of liability and safety concerns.
This is where proactive planning for holiday safety becomes one of the board’s most important seasonal responsibilities. It’s not just about protecting property; it’s about protecting your residents. Setting clear guidelines and working with your HOA management company to communicate them effectively is the key to a season that is both merry and safe.
Let’s explore the essential guidelines every Colorado HOA board should consider.
6 Essential Holiday Safety Tips for Your Community
We’ve broken down holiday safety into six key areas that every HOA board should address. A comprehensive plan involves resident communication, common area maintenance, and vendor coordination.
1. Fire Prevention | The Bright Lights of the Season
Holiday decorations are the number one cause of community fires this time of year. In a state as dry as Colorado, even a small spark can be devastating.
For Residents: We strongly advise sending out a community-wide e-blast with these critical holiday safety tips.
Inspect All Lights: Before decorating, check all string lights for frayed wires, cracked sockets, or loose connections.
Use UL-Rated Lights: This certification means the lights have been tested for safety.
Indoor vs. Outdoor: Never use lights intended for indoor use on the exterior of a home.
Live Trees: If residents have live trees, remind them to water them daily. A dry tree can be engulfed in flames in seconds.
Extinguish Flames: Never leave candles, fireplaces, or space heaters unattended.
For the HOA: All decorations in common areas (like a clubhouse, gatehouse, or park) are the HOA’s responsibility. We always recommend hiring a professional, insured company for installation. A qualified property management company can help you vet and hire a vendor that uses commercial-grade, UL-rated lights to minimize the community’s liability.
2. Parking and Traffic Management | Calming the Chaos
More parties and family gatherings mean more cars. In a Colorado winter, this can quickly turn into a significant holiday safety issue. Streets become congested, and more importantly, emergency vehicles can be blocked.
For Residents: Send a clear reminder of the community’s parking policies.
- Emphasize that parking in fire lanes, on sidewalks, or blocking mailboxes is prohibited and may result in towing.
- Encourage residents to use their driveways and garages first before guests take up street parking.
For the HOA: This is a crucial time to review your snow removal contract. Are your streets, guest parking lots, and sidewalks a top priority for your vendor? Clear roads are the first step in managing traffic. If your community has designated guest parking, make sure it’s clearly marked and plowed.
3. Neighborhood Watch & Security | Securing “Peace on Earth”
Unfortunately, the holidays are a prime season for theft. “Porch pirates” are on the lookout for package deliveries, and empty homes are targets for break-ins while families are traveling.
For Residents:
- Packages: Encourage residents to track their packages, schedule deliveries for when they are home, or use a secure lockbox or delivery service.
- Travel: Remind residents traveling for the holidays to stop their mail and newspapers, use light timers, and inform a trusted neighbor who can keep an eye on their property.
- Vigilance: This is a great time to re-energize your neighborhood watch program. Remind everyone: “If you see something, say something.”
For the HOA: We recommend conducting a “lighting audit” of the common areas. Are all streetlights functioning? Is the landscaping around mailboxes or walkways trimmed back to eliminate hiding spots? A well-lit community is a much safer community.
4. Pet Safety | Protecting Four-Legged Family Members
Holiday safety extends to our pets, who face their own set of seasonal hazards.
For Residents: A friendly newsletter reminder can go a long way.
- Toxic Plants: Poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly are beautiful but are toxic to most cats and dogs.
- Decorations: Tinsel, ribbons, and electrical cords are tempting but dangerous “toys.”
For Colorado HOAs: This is a critical one: ice melt. Many common rock salts are toxic to pets and can burn their paw pads. We advise the board to communicate a “pet-safe” ice melt policy. As part of your vendor management, your HOA management company should verify that your snow removal team is using only pet-safe products on common area sidewalks and walkways.
5. Community Guidelines | Noise, Gatherings, and Good Neighbors
Peace on earth starts with peace between neighbors. While everyone wants to celebrate, a clear reminder of community rules can prevent minor annoyances from escalating into major conflicts.
For Residents: Re-circulate the community’s policies on:
- Quiet Hours: A friendly reminder of when loud music or parties should be moved inside.
- Trash: Overflowing bins are a common holiday problem. Remind residents of the pickup schedule and to please break down the mountain of gift boxes.
For the HOA: If your community has a clubhouse, this is your busy season. Work with your HOA management company to streamline the reservation process. Make sure the rules are clear regarding guest capacity, cleanup responsibilities, and any security deposit requirements. This protects the community’s valuable asset from damage.
6. Emergency Preparedness | A Colorado Winter Requirement
The most important of all holiday safety tips is being prepared for the unexpected. A severe Colorado blizzard or ice storm can knock out power and make travel impossible.
For Residents: Encourage every household to have a winter emergency kit. This should include blankets, non-perishable food, water, flashlights, batteries, and a first-aid kit.
For the HOA: Your property management company should be on high alert.
- Contracts: Is your snow removal contract solid? Do you have a plan for fallen tree limbs?
- Communication: Do you have a mass communication system (e-blast, text alert) to inform residents if a community gate is frozen or if there’s a utility outage?
- Generators: If the community has a clubhouse, well house, or powered gates, are the backup generators fueled and tested?
Preparation is the only way to manage a true winter emergency effectively.
Keep The Holidays Safe In Your Community with Goodwin and Co.
Serving on an HOA board is a volunteer position, and managing all the moving parts of holiday safety — from vendor contracts to resident communication and policy enforcement — can feel like a full-time job. This is where a professional, experienced HOA management company becomes your most valuable partner.
A great property management company does more than just balance the books. We act as your proactive agent, helping you mitigate risk and protect the well-being of your community.
At Goodwin & Company, we partner with HOA boards across Colorado to build safer, more resilient, and more harmonious communities. We help you draft and distribute clear safety guidelines, manage the vendors who clear your snow and secure your common areas, and handle the day-to-day administrative tasks. This frees up the board to focus on what matters most: enjoying the holiday season with your friends, families, and neighbors.
Let Us Handle the Details This Holiday Season
Don’t let the stress of seasonal management dampen your holiday spirit. Let Goodwin & Company provide the expert guidance and support your community deserves.
Contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive HOA management services in Colorado. We’ll help you implement a holiday safety plan that protects your residents and your community, this season and all year round.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What are the most important holiday safety tips for an HOA?
The top three priorities are:
Fire Prevention: Communicating rules about safe decorations (especially lights and live trees) and managing common area decor.
Traffic & Parking: Enforcing parking rules to keep fire lanes and streets clear, especially with snow and guest vehicles.
Security: Taking steps to deter package theft (like good common area lighting) and encouraging residents to be vigilant.
Q. How can an HOA management company help with holiday safety?
A professional HOA management company like Goodwin & Company assists by:
- Communicating all holiday safety tips and community rules to residents.
- Managing vendor contracts (e.g., snow removal, holiday light installers, security patrols).
- Enforcing parking, noise, and common area guidelines.
- Streamlining processes like clubhouse reservations.
Q. What is the HOA’s liability regarding holiday decorations?
The HOA is generally responsible for the safety of all common areas. If the association installs decorations that are faulty or unsafe (e.g., non-UL-rated, improperly secured), and these decorations cause a fire or an injury, the HOA could be held liable. This is why we always recommend using insured, professional vendors for all common area installations.