Condo Holiday Lighting: A Manager's Planning Checklist

A condo holiday lighting plan needs five things settled before install: board approval of scope and budget, a defined area list (entry, lobby, porte-cochere, amenity deck), confirmed access windows and equipment, power sources with a control schedule, and agreed removal and storage.

Key takeaways

Get scope and budget approved in writing before scheduling anything.
Define areas precisely: entry drive, porte-cochere, lobby, amenity deck, exterior features.
Confirm access hours, elevator use, staging space and any loading restrictions.
Identify power at each area and set one control schedule for the whole property.
Agree removal dates and storage location at approval, not in January.

1. Board approval and documentation

Bring the board a written scope with areas listed individually, a palette decision, install and removal dates, and an itemized budget. A single total invites debate; itemized areas let the board adjust scope in one meeting.

Confirm that the display fits any existing rules covering common areas and exterior appearance. The board planning guide covers the approval sequence in more detail.

2. Define the areas precisely

Typical condo scope is the entry drive and signage, the porte-cochere or building entry, the lobby focal point, and one amenity area such as the pool deck or terrace. Write them down individually so three quotes can be compared on the same basis.

Where the pool deck is included, the requirements in the pool area guide apply directly.

3. Access, staging and equipment

Confirm working hours permitted by the association, where a crew may park and stage materials, whether the service elevator is available and reserved, and whether any lift or ladder equipment can be positioned safely. On tight coastal sites, staging is often the real constraint rather than the work itself.

Also verify insurance and vendor requirements the association imposes before scheduling, since those can delay a start date.

4. Power and controls

Identify exterior receptacles serving the entry and amenity areas, and the interior circuit for a lobby tree. Note whether circuits are switched, always on, or shared with landscape lighting. Then set one schedule — timers outside, a simple switched control inside — so the building lights up as a single display.

5. Removal, storage and next year

Book removal for the first half of January when the install is booked, and reserve the same access and elevator arrangements. Decide where association-owned materials will be stored and who inventories their condition.

Properties that repeat the plan annually spend far less time on this each year — see the annual program guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does a condo board have to approve holiday lighting?

In most associations, yes — the board approves scope and budget for common areas, and the manager coordinates access and scheduling. Governing documents may also apply to exterior appearance.

What usually delays a condo installation?

Access logistics: staging space, elevator reservations, permitted working hours and vendor documentation requirements. Confirming all four early prevents most schedule slips.

Can the lobby have a tree?

Commonly, yes, provided it does not obstruct exit doors, egress paths, fire equipment or sprinkler coverage. Placement is confirmed on site with management.

Who stores the materials after removal?

It depends on whether the association owns them. If it does, a dry, labeled storage location and a condition inventory should be assigned at approval.