Somerville allows seasonal holiday decorations and lights on private property with minimal restrictions. Displays cannot create traffic hazards, excessive light spill, or block sidewalks.
Holiday decorations and seasonal lighting displays on private residential property are broadly permitted in Somerville. There is no specific permit for personal holiday decorations. Displays must not encroach on public sidewalks, block pedestrian passage, or create safety hazards. Lighting that spills heavily into a neighbor's bedroom windows can become a nuisance complaint and inspectors may ask for modest aim adjustments. Inflatable decorations must be secured and must not extend into the public way. Extension cords crossing sidewalks must be covered with ramps to prevent tripping. The city does not regulate start or end dates for decorations. Amplified holiday music is subject to the noise ordinance and should be kept to reasonable volumes and limited hours. Commercial districts have additional sign rules.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Somerville, MA
Somerville restricts amplified music through its noise ordinance and entertainment licensing, with plainly-audible standards at property lines and stricter c...
Somerville, MA
Somerville limits construction noise to daytime and early-evening weekday hours with shorter Saturday windows and a full Sunday and holiday prohibition, refl...
Somerville, MA
Overnight street parking in Somerville requires a resident permit citywide. Snow emergencies trigger odd-even or posted-side bans.
Somerville, MA
Commercial vehicles over 2.5 tons cannot park overnight on Somerville residential streets. Loading zones are time-limited and signed by block.
Somerville, MA
Most Somerville streets are resident-permit zones. Non-residents are limited to 2 hours on posted blocks from 8 AM to 8 PM daily including weekends.
Somerville, MA
Somerville requires a building permit for most fence installations, with historic districts adding a Historic Preservation Commission review step for visible...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle holiday displays.
See how Somerville's holiday displays rules stack up against other locations.
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