Christmas lights for an apartment balcony or deck railing

Rules come from three places

Send the manager a short email before you hang anything: what you plan to hang, that it is LED, that it attaches with ties or removable hooks and that it comes down by a date. A yes in writing saves an argument in January.

• Your lease and building rules. Landlords commonly forbid drilling, adhesive or hanging items off a balcony. One landlord handbook we read requires lights to be UL-approved and bars holiday decorations on exterior windows; yours may differ, so ask the manager.
• Fire code. Local fire marshals decide on open flame and certain decorations on balconies. Use LED lights, not candles, and ask the manager if it is unclear.
• Association rules. If the building is a condo, the HOA rules apply as well; see the townhouse guide for what those usually cover.

Measure the rail, then buy

A balcony has less rail than it looks like. For a 10 ft by 5 ft balcony the rail runs 10 ft across the front and 5 ft down each side, 20 ft in total. A straight pass is the rail length, and weaving through the balusters uses roughly 1.5 ft of string per foot of rail, so three passes along the front are about 45 ft. That fits one 200-count mini set (66 ft); a 100-count set is about 33 ft and covers two woven passes. Check the box: the lit length is printed on it.

Plug-in, battery or solar

Plug-in sets give the brightest light and are fine if there is a balcony outlet. Use an outdoor-rated cord, keep it flat and never let a closed door pinch it. Eversource says to plug outdoor lights into a GFCI outlet and not to overload a circuit.

Battery sets are simple: a pack of three AA batteries usually lasts about 2 to 5 evenings on a 6-hour timer, depending on the set; D-cell packs last several times longer. Check the box. Buy a set with a timer so it turns on each evening on its own.

Solar sets need direct sun for most of the day, which a north-facing balcony or a December afternoon may not provide.

Staying safe on a small platform

• Use LED lights only. Mini LEDs run cool, which matters on a small, enclosed space.
• Do not hang anything on a railing that leans or is loose. A wet garland adds weight.
• Throw out any set with cracked sockets or bare wire; the CPSC lists that as the first check on every set.
• Bring battery packs inside or cover them in heavy rain.
• Use a timer so lights go off at night. The calculator helps you pick the number of sets.

Attaching without damage

• Zip ties or twist ties, cut off in January.
• Removable hooks rated for outdoor use, tested on a hidden spot first.
• A tension rod across the opening for curtain lights.
• No staples, nails or tape that pulls paint. See lights without damage.

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