Omaha, NE Outdoor Lighting: Billboard Lighting (2026)
Key Facts
- Daytime brightness cap
- 5,200 NITS
- Dusk-to-dawn cap
- 500 NITS
- Auto-dimmer
- required
- Residential setback
- 150-250 ft
- Code section
- Omaha Muni. Code § 55-854
Summary
Electronic off-premises signs (digital billboards) in Omaha are capped at 5,200 nits by day and 500 nits from dusk to dawn, with mandatory auto-dimming.
The maximum brightness of the sign shall not exceed a luminance of 5,200 NITS (candelas per square meter) during daylight hours, or 0.3 foot-candles over ambient lighting, whichever is less. The maximum brightness of the sign shall not exceed a luminance of 500 NITS during the period from dusk to dawn... The sign shall have an automatic dimmer control or ambient light monitors to produce an illumination change from a higher illumination level to a lower one for the period of time from dusk to dawn.
Full Breakdown
Omaha's zoning code caps digital billboard brightness at 5,200 NITS during daylight and 500 NITS from dusk to dawn, or 0.3 foot-candles over ambient light, whichever is less. Every electronic off-premises sign must carry an automatic dimmer control or ambient-light monitor that steps brightness down for nighttime hours, and screen transitions can't flash from a light image to a dark one. These signs are also confined to GC, DS, CH, GI and HI zoning districts and must sit at least 150 to 250 feet from residential districts depending on brightness. The planning department enforces the standards through the sign permit process under Chapter 55.
Violations & Fines
Signs exceeding the nits cap or lacking auto-dimming are ordinance violations subject to code enforcement action, permit revocation and required correction under Chapter 55's sign provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How bright can an Omaha digital billboard be at night?
Do digital billboards need automatic dimming in Omaha?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Omaha
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