CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — A Woodstock business is upset after city leaders told the owners they can’t display Christmas decorations.
Reliable Heating & Air co-owner Daniel Jape told Channel 2’s Linda Stouffer that the city warned them they have a code enforcement violation. Jape says they pulled the plug on his holiday spirit.
“To tell someone you can’t have Christmas decorations at Christmas time to me it’s just, I don’t really understand that. I don’t know what they thought when they came up with the ordinance,” Jape said.
The Christmas decorations, a snowman, candy cane and polar bear, are designed to draw attention to their Toys for Tots drop-off box.
Stouffer called the city of Woodstock to ask why the sign rule impacts an inflatable tucked behind the fence on Highway 92.
The city manager emailed Stouffer:
“All inflatables connected to local businesses are prohibited now and although they’re not happy about it either, for legal reasons, the city can’t exempt Christmas decorations. The rule has to be content neutral.”
“I would say, as of right now, unless they make a change to this rule they are definitely on the naughty list,” Jape said.
Jape said they’re looking at other options for the Toys for Tots promotion including finding a space just outside city limits or even on the rooftop.
“We’re definitely not defeated, we’re gonna figure (out) something to do to keep them blown up,” he said.
They city says the rule only applies to businesses.
People can still have Christmas inflatables in their own yards.
WSBTV
