Salem, OR Holiday Decorations: Holiday Light Rules (2026)

Salem Revised Code contains no specific provision regulating residential holiday lighting. Residents may install seasonal lights on private property within general electrical-safety and nuisance standards. The Oregon Electrical Specialty Code (ORS 479) and OAR 918 require outdoor-rated lighting cords and fixtures, weatherproof connections, and GFCI-protected outdoor receptacles; any permanent exterior wiring (new circuits, dedicated outlets, attic feeders) requires an electrical permit from Salem Community Development and a licensed electrician. Plug-in seasonal strings on existing exterior receptacles do not trigger permitting. Salem's historic-preservation rules under SRC Title X (UDC) Chapter 230 require Historic Landmarks Commission review for exterior modifications in the Court-Chemeketa, Gaiety Hill/Bush's Pasture Park, Grant Neighborhood, and other designated districts; the Commission's review focuses on permanent property modifications, so temporary seasonal lights typically do not require review. Excessive brightness, flashing displays, or laser projections that create a nuisance to neighbors may be cited by Salem Code Enforcement under SRC Chapter 98 (Public Nuisance), which prohibits 'unhealthful, offensive, or unsightly' conditions; remedies include abatement orders. SRC Chapter 93 (Noise) covers audible decorations (animatronic figures, music) under city noise standards. HOA and condo association CC&Rs (enforceable under ORS Chapter 94) frequently set display start and end dates and may restrict commercial-grade lighting; HOA rules apply on top of, not in place of, city standards. Oregon does not impose statewide dark-sky requirements on residential lighting (some Eastern Oregon counties have advisory dark-sky standards).