Sunnyvale, CA Holiday Decorations: Inflatable Display Rules (2026)

The Sunnyvale Municipal Code does not address inflatable yard decorations - giant Santas, snowmen, pumpkins, or other inflatable displays - on private residential property. SMC Title 19 sign regulations exempt temporary holiday and seasonal displays. For Sunnyvale's many condo and townhome HOAs, the Davis-Stirling Act applies and CC&Rs typically regulate inflatable decorations. Typical HOA rules cap inflatable height (often 8-10 feet), require removal within 30 days, prohibit illumination after 10 PM, limit count per yard, and may ban specific types. California Civil Code 4710 protects 'noncommercial signs, posters, flags, or banners' but EXPRESSLY excludes 'inflatable objects' from protected status, so HOAs may regulate inflatables more strictly than flags. Civil Code 4715 protects religious displays only on doors and frames, not inflatable yard art. Inflatables in the public right-of-way violate SMC Title 12 (Streets and Sidewalks), which requires a continuous ADA-compliant clear path (4 feet minimum per ADA standards). Continuous fan noise from inflatables can be cited under Sunnyvale's noise ordinance enforced by the Department of Public Safety, which establishes residential quiet hours of 10 PM to 7 AM with residential limits typically in the 55-65 dBA range. Wiring and electrical safety falls under the California Electrical Code as adopted in SMC Title 16; outdoor-rated cords and GFCI protection are required.