Norman, OK Outdoor Lighting: Billboard Lighting (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- NCC 28-601, off-premises sign standards
- Glare rule
- No beams directed at travel lanes
- Night brightness cap
- 300 NITs, up to 500 near lit sites
- Day brightness cap
- 5,000 NITs
- Message dwell time
- At least 8 seconds per message
- Required equipment
- Ambient light monitor or photocell
Summary
Norman's off-premises sign standards, NCC 28-601, ban billboard lighting that glares into traffic or obscures a traffic signal. Digital billboards face their own brightness ceiling: no more than 300 NITs after dark, rising to 500 NITs if the site abuts a lit commercial or industrial property, and up to 5,000 NITs during the day, with each message held at least eight seconds.
Flashing, intermittent or moving light or lights are prohibited except for time, temperature and date signs, and electronic digital signs as regulated by this chapter. An off-premises sign shall not be illuminated so that it interferes with the effectiveness or obscures an official traffic sign, device or signal; neither shall it be permitted to have beams or rays directed at any portion of the traveled ways and be of such intensity or brilliance to cause glare or impair the vision of the driver of any motor vehicle. ... Digital outdoor advertising signs which display more than one static message shall do so sequentially, with each static message having a dwell time of no less than eight seconds... shall not display an illuminative brightness exceeding 300 NITs at any time between one-half hour before sunset... until sunrise or 5,000 NITs between sunrise until one-half hour before sunset. The night-time level may be increased to 500 NITS when the sign's location abuts other commercial or industrial property... that is developed and brightly illuminated.
Full Breakdown
" Digital billboards along the I-35 corridor carry their own numeric brightness schedule layered on top of that glare ban. Each static message must run for "no less than eight seconds" before changing, and brightness may not exceed "300 NITs" between a half hour before sunset and sunrise, or "5,000 NITs" during daylight hours. " Every digital billboard must run automatic ambient light monitors or photocells that adjust brightness to the applicable cap and default to freezing the display if the sign malfunctions.
Violations & Fines
A billboard that glares into traffic, obscures a signal, or exceeds the 300/5,000-NIT brightness schedule violates NCC 28-601 and is subject to citation by the Code Compliance Officer under chapter 28's enforcement provisions, with each 24-hour period of a continuing violation a separate offense. Chapter 28 sets no specific dollar fine for this section, so the Code's general penalty in NCC 1-114 applies: up to $750.00 or 60 days imprisonment, or both, and the City may also seek a court order to abate the violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How bright can a digital billboard be at night in Norman?
Does Norman require billboards to dim automatically as it gets dark?
How long must a digital billboard message stay on screen?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Norman
Compare Norman to another location·View the Oklahoma outdoor lighting overview
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