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Spokane Valley, WA Outdoor Lighting: Billboard Lighting (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Billboard-specific lighting rule
None; general sign rule applies
Governing section
SVMC § 22.110.060(A)
Standard
Lighting confined to sign, shielded
Glare limit
Cannot extend beyond the property line
New billboards
Prohibited outright, § 22.110.130(A)

Summary

Spokane Valley has no lighting standard written specifically for billboards; instead, the general sign-lighting rule in SVMC § 22.110.060(A) governs any illuminated sign, including a billboard, since the code defines a billboard as a type of sign. Exterior lighting must stay confined to the sign face and cannot throw glare past the property line.

A. All signs illuminated with exterior lighting shall have lighting confined to the sign, and positioned and shielded to minimize impacts to the surrounding area(s). Gooseneck reflectors and lights are permitted on permanent freestanding and wall signs; provided, that lighting or glare does not extend beyond the property line.

View official code

Full Breakdown

110 SVMC does not carve out a separate lighting standard for billboards. ' That subsection requires exterior lighting on any illuminated sign to be confined to the sign itself and positioned and shielded to minimize impacts on the surrounding area; gooseneck reflectors and lights are allowed on permanent freestanding and wall signs only if the lighting or glare does not extend beyond the property line. 130 already prohibits new billboards outright and allows only like-for-like replacement of an existing billboard, any lighting added to a replacement billboard has to meet this same confinement-and-shielding standard as every other sign in the City. 060(A).

Violations & Fines

Illuminating a sign, including a billboard, in a way that lets glare or light spill past the property line violates SVMC § 22.110.060(A) and is enforced as a Title 22 code violation through Chapter 17.100, starting with a $500 civil penalty for a first violation and increasing for repeat violations within three years, plus a possible order to bring the fixture into compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Spokane Valley regulate billboard lighting differently from other signs?
No. The code has no billboard-specific lighting section. SVMC § 22.110.060(A), titled 'General provisions applicable to all signs,' sets the exterior lighting standard for every illuminated sign in the City, and since a billboard is defined as a type of sign, that same rule governs it.
How far can light or glare from an illuminated sign extend?
It cannot extend past the property line. SVMC § 22.110.060(A) requires lighting to be confined to the sign and shielded to minimize impacts on the surrounding area, and it specifically bars gooseneck lighting or glare from extending beyond the property boundary.
Can a replacement billboard be electronically lit?
The code does not ban electronic billboard lighting outright, but any electronic message center used on a replacement billboard, since new billboards are otherwise prohibited under § 22.110.130, must have automatic dimming capability that adjusts to ambient light under § 22.110.060(B).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Spokane Valley

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All Spokane Valley rules

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