Houston woman ticketed by apartment complex for decorating balcony on July 4th

HOUSTON – A Houston-area tenant found herself in a sticky situation after trying to be patriotic before the Fourth of July, a celebration that went awry.

Diana Zuniga contacted KPRC 2 after she said she received a “lease violation” from her apartment complex at 11101 West Airport Blvd. because she put up a flag and lights on her balcony.

According to the notice of violation, the Arc at the Grid apartment complex said Zuniga violated his lease by adding lights and a flag to the balcony, which is not allowed. The document stated that residents are only allowed to have patio furniture and plants on their balconies, per the lease agreement.

Chain of events, according to Zuniga:

Sunday night –Diane Zuniga put up a pennant in the colors of the American flag Sunday night, ahead of Independence Day. She used plastic zip ties to secure it to the railing next to lights she said she had been putting up for months.

Monday afternoon – Zuniga said her dog was chewing on something outside her door. It wasn’t until she went to get her dog that she realized she had been cited for the flag and lights.

Zuniga said she then made a homemade sign that read: “Keep fining me, RPM Living. I will not take down the American flag. Bill of Rights on rental terms. Home of the brave. Land of the free.”

She said the sign was hanging on her balcony.

Tuesday afternoon – KPRC2 Zuniga was interviewed at her home and shared that she felt she had been retaliated against after complaining about issues on the property. She shared that she had a nearly five-foot angel decoration up for months, but had never received a ticket.