26 October 2026 | Nicole Tavares
Halloween was never a South African tradition, but anyone living in a sectional title complex or estate has noticed some elements of trick-or-treating creeping in. Pumpkins appear at front doors, children in costumes knocking door-to-door, and someone books the clubhouse for a Halloween themed party.
For most schemes this is simply harmless fun. For trustees, it raises a few practical questions! But, with a little planning, Halloween can stay frightfully fun without turning into a nightmare for the trustees.
Are decorations allowed?
What an owner does within their section is largely their business, provided the decorations do not cause nuisance (within reason) to anyone else within the scheme. Decorations placed inside a window are rarely a problem, keeping in mind that some schemes do have rules which regulate the appearance of a section, when viewed from outside of the scheme.
The line is crossed once decorations move onto the common property. Cobwebs draped over shared stairwells, pumpkins lining passageways, fairy lights strung across communal gardens and smoke machines filling the lobby may add a spooky touch, but they all involve the use of common property and should be approached with care.
The Prescribed Management Rules (PMRs) of Annexure 1 to the Regulations of the Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act 8 of 2011 (“STSMA”) require the body corporate to take all reasonable steps to ensure that members and occupiers do not use the common property so as to unreasonably interfere with other people lawfully on the premises, and do not use a section or exclusive use area so as to cause a nuisance.
The guiding question for trustees is simple: Is the decoration reasonable, and does it unreasonably inconvenience, disturb or affect any other resident?
Trustees need not spoil the Halloween spirit by banning decorations altogether. A simple notice/disclaimer setting out what is welcome, will prevent most misunderstandings before they arise, such as
what is permitted in terms of decorations on owners’ own doors, in windows, and balconies;
what requires prior trustee approval, anything attached to or placed on common property, and
what is strictly off limits, including open flames, and anything obstructing fire escapes or passageways.
Trick-or-treating in complexes: Security and safety concerns
Complexes, townhouses, gated communities, estates, sectional titles, share blocks and homeowners’ associations have controlled access for a reason, and Halloween is the one night when children arrive in numbers. Trustees may wish to decide in advance whether trick-or-treating is open to outsiders (friends of residents and their children) at all, or limited to residents' children moving between units.
Whatever is decided, the managing agent, and the security company should know before the day, so the guard and/or person on duty is not left making the call after hours.
A few measures to consider
Set a time window: Consider allowing trick-or-treating between 17:00 and 19:30, or during another period more appropriate for the scheme.
Use outside lights as a signal: Invite residents who wish to participate to switch on their outside lights, while those who prefer not to participate can leave their light off.
Encourage parental supervision: Ensure that parents and guardians accompany younger children.
Remind drivers to take extra care: Children wearing costumes may be difficult to see, particularly in poorly lit roadways and parking areas.
Respect residents' privacy: Participation should be voluntary. Residents who do not wish to receive visitors should not be pressured or repeatedly disturbed.
REMEMBER: Sweet wrappers, broken pumpkins and tape on the walls of common property matters the next morning. It costs the body corporate, and therefore every owner through their contributions, when a cleaning contractor has to deal with it. Be sure to include this step in the list of do’s and don’t.
These simple prior arrangements can help prevent unnecessary complaints while allowing participating residents to enjoy the evening.
Regulations for Halloween parties
A Halloween party in your unit is subject to the same nuisance standards as any other night of the year. Loud music, excessive noise or disturbances beyond reasonable hours do not become acceptable simply because it is Halloween. The scheme’s conduct rules on noise continue to apply, and trustees should enforce them consistently and in the ordinary course.
A party in the clubhouse or in a communal braai area is different, because it is a use of common property. If your scheme has a booking system or a clubhouse policy, the usual rules apply: booking, a deposit, a responsible owner, and cleaning up afterwards.
A themed Halloween event should be managed in the same way as any other communal gathering, with appropriate arrangements for access, noise, safety and cleaning.
Halloween fireworks and fire safety
Some residents will want fireworks or sparklers. Fireworks are regulated by municipal by-laws, and those differ from city to city, so it becomes necessary to check which of these by-laws are applicable in your municipality before the event.
Even where permitted, setting them off on common property raises obvious safety and insurance concerns, as well as the effect on pets, older residents and people with sensitivities.
Trustees would be wise to ask the insurer where there is any doubt, and to state it plainly in the notice that open flames and fireworks are not allowed on the common property.
What about the pets and neighbours who don’t participate
Costumes, doorbells and unfamiliar noises are stressful for animals, and some residents simply do not wish to take part, for personal, cultural or religious reasons. A good scheme respects both groups. Fun for some should not mean harassment for others, and a resident who asks for the doorbell not to be rung is entitled to be left alone.
Conclusion | A checklist for trustees
✔️ Send a notice: Circulate a short notice about a week before 31 October, outlining what is permitted, what requires consent and what is prohibited.
✔️ Inform key parties: Notify the managing agent and security team of the arrangements.
✔️Set trick-or-treating hours: Establish a suitable time window for children to participate.
✔️ Remind residents of the rules: Reinforce the scheme’s existing noise rules and other relevant conduct rules.
✔️ Handle complaints appropriately: Address any complaints under the scheme’s existing conduct rules and nuisance provisions, rather than introducing new rules on the spot.
✔️ Consider recurring issues: If the same problems arise each year, members can consider amending the conduct rules at a general meeting, following the applicable procedures.
Need assistance with your community scheme's conduct rules, governance or resident communications? TVDM Consultants provides specialist legal advice to sectional title schemes and other community schemes. Reach out to us at info@tvdmconsultants.com or call 061 536 3138 TODAY.
About the Author:
Nicole Tavares is a Co-Founder and Director of TVDM Consultants.