Vanderburgh County, IN Outdoor Lighting: Billboard Lighting (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 17.26.220(E)
- Top-mounted fixture height
- Max 6 inches above sign
- EMS brightness rule
- Auto-dim or dark background at night
- Off-premises sign districts
- C-2, C-4, M-1, M-2, M-3
- Enforcing agency
- Area Plan Commission
Summary
Vanderburgh County requires every illuminated sign, including off-premises billboards, to be shielded so its light stays off neighboring properties and roadways. Section 17.26.220(E) bans glare across property lines, caps top-mounted fixtures at six inches above the sign face, and forces electronic billboards to auto-dim or switch to a dark background from sunset to sunrise.
E. Illumination. The intent of the following provisions is to minimize the impacts from sign lighting for all types of sign illumination and to ensure that light trespass does not create a nuisance for nearby properties or a traffic safety hazard for motorists on the roadways due to glare or other intensive light emission. In addition, the following requirements are established for specific types of sign illumination:
1. External illumination. Lights used to illuminate a sign shall be shielded/directed away from adjacent properties to prevent glare across property lines or into any thoroughfare. When installed, the light source must be positioned so that light does not trespass onto any adjoining property or a public street or highway.
2. EMS illumination.
a. All electronic message signs shall either utilize automatic dimming technology which electronically adjusts the day/night sign brightness levels in direct correlation with ambient light conditions, or from sunset to sunrise display only messages that have a dark colored background.
Full Breakdown
220(E), adopted as part of the county's 2024 sign ordinance rewrite (Ord. 05-24-005), applies the same illumination standard to every sign type the chapter regulates, on-premises and off-premises alike, so a billboard's lighting is governed by the same rule as a business's wall sign. The stated intent is to keep light trespass from creating a nuisance for nearby properties or a traffic safety hazard for motorists due to glare. ' Companion subsections cap top-mounted fixtures at no taller than six inches above the sign face and require them to be fully shielded, and require ground-mounted fixtures under six feet to be fully shielded and aimed only at the sign face, invisible from the opposite side.
220(E)(2) adds a brightness rule on top of the shielding requirement: every EMS must run automatic dimming technology tied to ambient light, or display only dark-background messages from sunset to sunrise. The county can also order an EMS turned off overnight if it is judged a nuisance or safety hazard from glare. Because off-premises signs are confined to the C-2, C-4, M-1, M-2, and M-3 districts, this lighting standard functions as the county's billboard-lighting rule in the unincorporated area; Evansville and Darmstadt apply their own codes within city limits.
Violations & Fines
An improperly shielded or glaring billboard light is enforced as a Title 17 zoning violation. The Area Plan Commission issues a Notice of Ordinance Violation under Section 1.14.040, and Section 17.36.150 sets a civil penalty of up to $500 for a first offense, rising to $1,000, $2,500, $5,000, and $7,500 for repeat violations within 12 months. The Commission can also hold new Improvement Location Permits on the property until the fixture is corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Vanderburgh County regulate how billboards are lit at night?
How high can a light fixture sit above a billboard face?
Can a neighbor complain if a billboard's lights shine into their yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Vanderburgh County
Compare Vanderburgh County to another location·View the Indiana outdoor lighting overview
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