Fresno, CA Holiday Decorations: Lawn Ornament Rules (2026)

Fresno's Property Maintenance regulations (FMC Chapter 10, including the nuisance abatement provisions) target genuine blight: junk, debris, abandoned appliances, dead vegetation, and structures in disrepair. Decorative items including statuary, lawn flamingos, garden gnomes, religious figures, and seasonal ornaments are not regulated by the City regardless of how long they remain in place. Front-yard fencing and structures over certain heights (typically 3-4 ft in front yards) are regulated under FMC Chapter 15 (Development Code) as accessory structures. Decorations placed in the public right-of-way (parkway strips, sidewalks) require permission from Public Works under FMC Chapter 13. HOA-governed neighborhoods typically have architectural review committees with authority to enforce CC&R restrictions on visible-from-street decorations; these private restrictions are enforced through the HOA's dispute-resolution process and ultimately through civil court, not the City. Religious displays on private property receive constitutional protection regardless of any local regulation.