Columbus, OH Outdoor Lighting: Billboard Lighting (2026)
Key Facts
- Hours within 500 ft of residential/institutional
- 6:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. only
- Beyond 500 ft
- no time restriction
- Digital brightness cap
- 0.3 foot-candles above ambient
- Rotating or revolving billboards
- prohibited citywide
- 3-D display projection
- max 36 inches from sign face
Summary
Columbus limits billboard illumination near homes and institutions to 6 a.m.-11 p.m., allows 24-hour lighting farther away, and caps automatic changeable copy brightness at 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light.
A. For billboards located no more than 500 feet from a residential use or institutional district, the following limitations shall apply: 1. Illumination of a billboard shall be limited to the hours between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. ... B. Where a billboard is located more than 500 feet from a residential use or institutional district, illumination and special effects in compliance with the provisions of this section may be utilized with no time restriction.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 | Form Based Code: ?).
Full Breakdown
Under Columbus City Codes § 3378.06, a billboard within 500 feet of a residential use or institutional district may only be illuminated between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.; farther than 500 feet, lighting and special effects may run around the clock. Any automatic changeable copy display is capped at 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light, measured with a light meter at a distance set by the display's face area, and must include a sensor that dims it as ambient light changes. Revolving or rotating billboards, auditory effects such as music, and three-dimensional elements projecting more than 36 inches from the sign face are all prohibited.
Violations & Fines
Violating any Zoning Code sign provision, including Chapter 3378's billboard lighting limits, is a first-degree misdemeanor under Columbus City Codes § 3305.99, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Columbus billboard be lit all night?
How bright can a digital billboard be in Columbus?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbus
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