Davis, CA Outdoor Lighting: Billboard Lighting (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Davis Municipal Code Section 8.17.030(c)
- Requirement
- Top-mounted, downward-shielded fixtures
- Applies to
- Billboards, ad displays, building ID signs
- Exempt
- Translucent signs lit from within
- Enforced by
- Building official
- Penalty
- Up to $1,000 per day
Summary
Any externally illuminated sign, billboard, advertising display or building identification sign covered by Davis's Outdoor Lighting Control ordinance must use top-mounted fixtures that shine downward and are fully shielded, while signs built of translucent material and lit from within skip the shielding requirement entirely.
(c) Externally illuminated signs, advertising displays, billboards, and building identification shall use top mounted light fixtures which shine light downward and which are fully shielded.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4915048; v22 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
020. 030(c) sets the specific standard for illuminated signage: externally illuminated signs, advertising displays, billboards, and building identification must use top-mounted light fixtures that shine light downward and are fully shielded, meaning no light may disperse above the horizontal plane from the fixture's lowest light-emitting point. That requirement layers on top of the article's general rule that outdoor fixtures on commercial and industrial property be fully shielded and keep light trespass and glare at a reasonable level. 040(f), since there is no external fixture to shield.
050 by showing the alternate provides approximate equivalence to top-mounted, downward-shielded lighting or otherwise satisfies the article's intent. The building official administers and enforces the sign lighting standard for commercial, industrial, and multifamily development, and any request for a hardship exemption must be made in writing with supporting plans and a legal description of the property.
Violations & Fines
Operating a sign light in violation of Section 8.17.030(c) is a public nuisance and a misdemeanor under Section 8.17.100, punishable by up to one thousand dollars per day of violation, up to six months in jail, or both, with the city able to pursue summary or administrative abatement in addition to criminal penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
How must a billboard be lit in Davis?
Are internally lit signs exempt from Davis's lighting shielding rule?
What happens if a Davis sign's lighting violates the ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Davis
California rules heatmap·Compare Davis to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
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