Placer County, CA Outdoor Lighting: Billboard Lighting (2026)
Key Facts
- Allowed light type
- Continuous, stationary only
- Flashing/intermittent
- Barred except time-temp displays
- External light aim
- Only sign face illuminated
- Internal light
- Visible only through translucent panels
- Applies to
- On-premises AND off-premises billboards
Summary
Any lighted sign in unincorporated Placer County, including an off-premises billboard, may only be illuminated by continuous, stationary light sources aimed so only the sign face is lit; flashing or intermittent lighting is barred except for narrow time-and-temperature displays, under County Code § 17.54.170(F).
Any lighted sign shall be illuminated only by continuous and stationary light sources. If the light sources are external to the sign or are otherwise physically detached from the sign, they shall be directed at the sign so that only the sign face is illuminated, except for neon tubing which may be installed so as to be viewed directly whether mounted externally or internally. All other internal light sources shall be installed so that they are visible only through translucent panels or letters. Flashing or intermittent lights are allowed only as provided in subsection (D)(2) of this section (Prohibited Signs and Sign Materials), for time and temperature signs.
Full Breakdown
170(F), Illumination of Signs, requires that any lighted sign be illuminated only by continuous and stationary light sources. Where the light source is external to or physically detached from the sign, it must be directed so that only the sign face itself is illuminated; internal light sources must be installed so they are visible only through translucent panels or letters, except for neon tubing, which may be viewed directly whether mounted externally or internally. Flashing or intermittent lights are allowed only where subsection (D)(2) permits them for time-and-temperature signs, tying illumination standards directly to the countywide ban on animated signs. 190. 170(D)(3).
Violations & Fines
A sign lit with flashing, intermittent, or improperly aimed light sources that is not a permitted time-and-temperature display violates § 17.54.170(F) and (D)(2), and if the glare interferes with driver sight distance it can also be cited as a hazardous sign under § 17.54.170(D)(3). Nonconforming illumination is enforceable through the sign ordinance's permit and design-review process, and can require the fixture to be re-aimed, shielded, or removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a billboard in Placer County use flashing lights?
How must an externally lit sign be aimed?
Is internally lit signage treated differently?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Placer County
California rules heatmap·Compare Placer County to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
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