A North Carolina attorney who spent years turning his front yard into a massive Halloween attraction nearly had his annual tradition derailed by a dispute with city officials. Jesse Jones, 63, has welcomed thousands of visitors to his elaborate decorations in Raleigh’s Historic Oakwood neighborhood, but this year’s celebration came with a much bigger price tag than he expected, according to People.
Jones goes all out for Halloween, apparently filling his property with lifelike skeletons, zombies, monsters, ghouls, and other frightening figures. The display has grown over the years and become a popular attraction for families across Raleigh. Jones estimates that around 6,000 children visited his home to trick-or-treat last year, based on the amount of candy he handed out.
He reportedly even has a family connection to the entertainment industry. “My first cousin is the executive producer of The Walking Dead,” Jones told the outlet. “I know how to decorate.” Despite the popularity of the display, he says he does not make money from it and pays for the decorations and event-related expenses himself.
That’s a costly permit
In previous years, he reportedly hired two off-duty police officers for at least three hours and paid the city approximately $50 for a block party permit. Raleigh would then close five blocks to traffic, allowing visitors to enjoy the attraction more safely. This year, however, Jones says the city informed him that he needed a special permit.
According to Jones, the new requirements included workers’ compensation coverage for the officers, estimated to cost around $1,000, and another $1,000 for an insurance policy. He also says officials told him to hire 10 off-duty police officers for five-hour shifts and complete a 14-page application.
Jones made his frustration clear in the paperwork, identifying himself as the “vice president of monster placement.” He also apparently wrote in the report that “the fact that the City of Raleigh does not help and assist me with this event is insane.”
He believes the stricter requirements followed complaints from some “Karens” about the number of people attending. However, the City offered a different explanation. A spokesperson told the outlet that officials were working with Jones to ensure a safe Halloween and pointed to a statement on the City of Raleigh’s website.
“The event draws more than 5,000 people and includes the closure of five blocks. For comparison, a full Fayetteville Street event closes four blocks plus City Plaza,” the statement mentioned. It further added that “based on the size of the event, how it’s publicly advertised, and the number of blocks being closed, it has grown beyond what would be considered a typical neighborhood block party.”
The disagreement was eventually resolved when the City confirmed that Jones had completed the requirements and received his permit. However, Jones says the permit filing fee and insurance-related expenses will bring his total costs to approximately $4,000.
Despite getting the approval he needed, Jones professes this Halloween could be the last time he decorates his home on such a large scale. “My house is not an event,” he claimed, adding that he makes no money from the attraction and actually loses money on the decorations. For someone who has spent years welcoming families to his property, the experience has left him questioning whether continuing the tradition is worth the expense.
According to the City of Raleigh, “festivals, performances, road races, walks, parades, marches, and similar events that use public rights-of-way require a Special Event Permit,” which is divided into multiple tiers with different application fees. Further, the Special Event Planning Guide specifies that special events that have a “greater impact on the community, which may involve the closure of multiple city blocks; closure that inconveniences numerous residents or establishments; excessive noise; 500 or more total attendees” fall into the General Event Tier I category.
Published: Nov 2, 2026 01:45 pm