Does your town/city have official trick or treat hours (i.e. 6-8)? We've moved around a lot (military) and this is the first place we've lived in a long time that doesn't mandate it.
Also, if a house has it's front porch light out, do you take that to mean that they are not participating? DD goes to be at 7 and I don't plan on handing out candy past then since the dogs will go wonky every time someone comes to the door and keep her up. It seems most places follow the light on/light off rule, but last year we were all really sick, had all the lights off (in and out) and people still banged on the door.
Re: NBR: Trick or Treating
I think most people around here follow the lights on/off rule...to ensure no one rang our doorbell last year (ds was sleeping in the room right by the front door), we put a bowl of candy out with a sign that said "eeyore is sleeping...please don't ring the bell. Help yourself to 1-2 pieces of candy." (there was a picture of ds dressed as eeyore on the note).
We do have a set time-6-8 here.
No hours here! It's an all night thing really. We have Harrison Blvd. and EVERYONE on the block (which is HUGE) goes ALL OUT for Halloween... Completely crazy and I know they are out giving candy most of the night.
If you someone doesn't have a light on though, don't knock. I know here's it's the law that sex offenders have to keep their porch lights out so for that reason and just because some people don't want to participate, aren't home, or are sleeping, they may leave their light off.