Is It Ever Illegal to Have a Christmas Tree in your Own Home in Washington?

It's around that time of year when people are setting up their Christmas tree and using all those decorations on it.

Sometimes you even see Christmas trees at businesses like banks, grocery stores, school lobbies, and just about everywhere else, too.

But is there ever a time when having a Christmas tree is illegal?

Like, can simply having a Christmas tree be illegal if it's the wrong size or have too many lights and decorations?

When a Christmas Tree is Illegal

There are few things to consider when erecting a Christmas tree this year.

No, there are no size limited when you have a tree for your own house. If you want a 3-foot tree, a 6-foot tree, or can even accommodate a 20-foot tree, so long as it's inside your own place, there are no worries.

There are a few things you need to consider.

If you have a Christmas tree that's blocking a hallway or any exit, especially an emergency exit, it would be bad news. This falls under fire code for obsctruction in the interest of safety.

Check with your local landlord about Christmas tree rulings. Most won't mind you putting up a Christmas tree.

However there are some buildings where, via building code, you may have a maximum height you have to adhere to.
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Even if they do, it's usually 6-7 feet so shouldn't be a problem as it is.

Other apartment rules may say trees that are too large are not allowed for their own reasons

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Again, these are completely up to to buildings, themselves, not state laws.

Much like how many apartment rules say you can't have a tree bigger than 6-7 feet, commercial buildings sometimes have tree limits at 10-12 feet.

There's also a ruling about what types of spray they can use to treat the trees which falls under non-approved chemical sprays.
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There's also probably limited on decorations for electrical hazards for commercial buildings.

After a while, as with any commercial business which includes schools and churches, trees become a liability so all safety concerns need to play a roll in putting up a Christmas tree.

So, honestly, there's nothing really illegal about putting up a Christmas tree, especially in your own home. Just please do it safely.