Are “Extreme” Halloween Decorations Legal in Montana?

Halloween is right around the corner and decorations are already going up around our community. For some people, this is THE holiday to decorate and some are willing to go a lot further than others.

But, what happens if you take your Halloween decorations too far? Are you in danger of breaking the law for pushing the envelope with your Halloween decorations?

It's All Fun And Halloween Until Someone Gets Offended

If you're like me, you love horror movies and all of the movie magic that comes with a scary film. Some folks like to put forth that same Hollywood effort into their decorations; and while fans of horror films like myself might appreciate decorations that some consider "too realistic", there are others who might take offense to that.

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And we're not here to judge folks for feeling any type of way, some people don't want their little ones to see a fake "murder scene" across the street every day. Others might feel like the decorations celebrate gore more than they celebrate the holiday of Halloween.

But what happens if an offended party decides to call the cops on you for your Halloween decorations? Would they have a case?

What Does Montana Law Say About "Offensive" Halloween Decorations?

Luckily for true Halloween fans, there is no specific law limiting how graphic your Halloween decorations as a majority of your decorations are protected under free speech.

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With that being said, you can't have a free-for-all when decorating. For example, you can't have any decorations that violate any city noise ordinances. Also, your decorations can't be pornographic, threatening/defamation of any individual, or anything that would be considered "too obscene" according to Montana law.

Apart from that, you can pretty much get away with whatever your Halloween heart desires. It should also be said that if your neighbors take offense to your decorations, having a cordial conversation about a solution is always better than getting officials involved.

Play nice, everyone!