Volusia County, FL Outdoor Lighting: Billboard Lighting (2026)
Key Facts
- Shielding rule
- No direct beam onto streets/dwellings
- Applies to
- All signs, incl. off-premises billboards
- Billboard zoning
- B-6, I-1, I-2 only, Sec. 72-298(9)
- Flashing/moving lights
- Prohibited, Sec. 72-298(2)h
- Message center dimming
- Max 0.3 foot-candle swing
- Enforcement
- Zoning enforcement official
Summary
Any illuminated sign in unincorporated Volusia County, including the off-premises billboards permitted under Sec. 72-298(9), must have its light source shielded so it never casts a direct beam onto a street or a nearby home, under Sec. 72-298(12).
(12)Shielding: The source of illumination from any sign shall be shielded in order to prevent a direct beam of light from shining onto a street or a residential single-family, two-family, or multifamily dwelling. ||| (9)Off-premises signs: Off-premises signs may only be erected in the B-6, I-1, or I-2 zoning classifications established in division 7, along federal-aid primary or interstate highways.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 108 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 72-298(12), titled "Shielding," applies county-wide to every sign covered by the article: "the source of illumination from any sign shall be shielded in order to prevent a direct beam of light from shining onto a street or a residential single-family, two-family, or multifamily dwelling." Because off-premises signs (billboards) permitted under Sec. 72-298(9) are themselves signs regulated by this article, their lighting has to meet the same shielding standard as any on-premises ground or wall sign. The county backs this with a related ban on distracting illumination: Sec. 72-298(2)h separately prohibits any sign that "utilize[s] intermittent or flashing illuminating devices ... which result in changing light intensity, brightness, or color, or move or appear to move," and electronic message centers get their own dimming standard capping the swing between an off and a lit display at 0.3 foot-candles under Sec. 72-298(8)b.6.
Violations & Fines
A sign, billboard or otherwise, whose light source isn't shielded from streets or homes is a code violation the zoning enforcement official can act on, and a nonconforming sign found out of compliance can be required to correct the fixture before its next biennial permit renewal under Sec. 72-298(14). Flashing, moving, or unshielded electronic message center lighting is enforced separately and, for message centers that can't be brought into compliance, can result in the sign being deemed unlawful and subject to removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Volusia County regulate billboard lighting?
Can an illuminated sign's light shine directly onto my house?
Are flashing billboard displays allowed?
What happens if a sign's lighting isn't shielded?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Volusia County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Volusia County to another location·View the Florida outdoor lighting overview
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