Should You Let Owners Install Their Own Security Lighting?

The desire for security lighting by owners with security concerns can put associations and boards in a difficult position, especially when their CC&Rs prohibit exterior or high-intensity lighting.

What should your clients do when owners request permission to install lights that can be both protective and disruptive?

“Lighting is said to be a deterrent to criminal activity, so an association might want to allow it to let owners protect themselves and their property,” says Jeffrey Beaumont, a partner with Beaumont Tashjian in Woodland Hills, Calif.

He notes, though, that, while there aren’t many reasons to prohibit security lighting in a single-family residential neighborhood, that’s not necessarily the case in denser communities.

“When you have zero lot lines, bright lights can interfere with the neighbors’ ability to enjoy their own homes,” he says. “The association could get dragged into litigation over nuisance claims.”

High-intensity lighting also can cause physical damage. “In a condo community, bright security lighting more likely than not is going to penetrate the waterproofing membrane,” Beaumont says.

Nonetheless, the case for “no” isn’t clear cut. “There’s the fear of denying someone a request and then them becoming a victim of crime,” Beaumont says.

Learn more: Should You Let Owners Install Their Own Security Lighting?

Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President