A Raleigh homeowner known for his elaborate Halloween displays is facing a scary proposition this year: a mountain of red tape.
Jesse Jones has lived at the corner of Oakwood Avenue and East Street in Raleigh for years and is known for his lavish Halloween displays.
“I think it’s amazing,” said Durham resident Ana Tieghi. “I never saw so many things from Halloween in one place.”
Jones, who has decorated his home for Halloween for 15 years, is frustrated with the city’s requirements, arguing that the celebration is simply neighborhood trick-or-treating rather than an organized event.
City officials have raised concerns about the size of the Halloween spectacle. Jones said his home drew nearly 6,000 trick-or-treaters in 2025.
The city already closes five streets for the celebration, but officials are now requiring Jones to obtain a special-event permit. The city’s goal is to prioritize safety since the house attracts so many people.
“It’s not an event. It’s trick-or-treating. It’s Halloween,” Jones said.
Jones already hires off-duty police officers to provide security. However, he said the new requirements could push his costs above $6,000 this year.
“What I’m having to deal with now, it’s not worth it,” Jones said. “It’s not really the costs that are the issue. The issue is the principle, the bureaucracy, the red tape that I’m having to jump through.”
Raleigh resident Andy Macedo, who visits the Halloween display every year, worries that requiring a special-event permit could take away from the neighborhood tradition.
“It’s like a block party and getting that old feeling of back in the day when all like parties were in the neighborhoods,” Macedo said.
Council member Corey Branch said city officials are working to make this a treat rather than a trick for Jones and the neighborhood.
“The chief of staff and police chief are meeting with him to work through things we can to move this forward,” Branch said. “We want to see a very safe and successful Halloween weekend.”
Jones says negotiations with the city are going “very good” and they will continue discussions on how to make sure the event continues as safely as possible.