El Paso, TX Outdoor Lighting: Billboard Lighting (2026)
Key Facts
- Max brightness above ambient
- 0.3 foot-candles
- Measurement distance (signs ≤100 sq ft)
- 100 ft from source
- Measurement distance (signs >650 sq ft)
- 250 ft from source
- Malfunction shutoff deadline
- 12 hours
- Required equipment
- Dimmer + automatic photocell
Summary
Digital billboards (CEVM signs) in El Paso can't shine brighter than 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light, measured at set distances that scale with sign size, under City Code § 20.18.280. Every CEVM display must also carry a dimmer, a photocell that adjusts brightness automatically, and a 'full black' shutoff for malfunctions.
A.Intensity:1.All CEVM displays shall be illuminated at a level no greater than 0.3 foot-candles over ambient light levels for the location and time and shall employ light cutoff devices such as, but not limited to, louvers in order to minimize light escaping above the horizontal plane. Foot-candle readings shall be measured at ground level at the following distances:a.Signs between zero to one hundred square feet shall be measured at one hundred feet from the source;b.Signs between one hundred one to three hundred square feet shall be measured at one hundred fifty feet from the source;c.Signs between three hundred one to six hundred fifty square feet shall be measured at two hundred feet from the source;d.Signs in excess of six hundred fifty-one square feet shall be measured at two hundred fifty from the source.2.As measured from the nearest residential property line, the maximum light emanation from an adjacent digital sign display shall be 0.3 foot-candles or less.3.A CEVM display shall be equipped with both a dimmer control and a photocell which automatically adjusts the display's intensity according to natural ambient light conditions.
Full Breakdown
3 foot-candles over ambient light levels, measured at ground level from a distance that scales with the sign's size: one hundred feet away for signs up to one hundred square feet, one hundred fifty feet for signs up to three hundred square feet, two hundred feet for signs up to six hundred fifty square feet, and two hundred fifty feet for anything larger. 3 foot-candle ceiling applies specifically as measured from the nearest residential property line, regardless of sign size. Every CEVM display must be equipped with light cutoff devices such as louvers to keep light from escaping above the horizontal plane, a dimmer control, and a photocell that automatically adjusts brightness to natural ambient conditions.
If a display malfunctions, the code requires either a default 'full black' image or a manual shutoff within twelve hours; the operator must also identify an emergency contact who can turn the sign off within that window. Existing CEVM displays that predate the February 19, 2013 ordinance had one year to come into compliance, though single-color, text-only signs such as time-and-temperature displays are excluded from the lighting standard. 230.
Violations & Fines
A CEVM billboard exceeding the 0.3 foot-candle limit, lacking a working dimmer or photocell, or left illuminated more than twelve hours after a reported malfunction is out of compliance with § 20.18.280, and the city can require the operator to correct the display or power it down. Enforcement responsibility falls on the owner or operator identified on the sign permit application, who must be reachable to shut the display off.
Frequently Asked Questions
How bright can a digital billboard be in El Paso?
What happens if a digital billboard malfunctions in El Paso?
Are older digital billboards required to meet the same lighting rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Paso
Texas rules heatmap·Compare El Paso to another location·View the Texas outdoor lighting overview
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