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Washington County, MN Outdoor Lighting: Billboard Lighting (2026)

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

Key Facts

Billboard status
Classified as an 'Outdoor Light Fixture'
Search lights
Banned between 11:00 PM and sunrise
Flashing lights
Prohibited outright, no billboard exception
Intensity limit
0.4 foot candle at adjacent property line
Enforcement
Misdemeanor; separate offense each day

Summary

Washington County treats billboard illumination as an 'outdoor light fixture' under its Development Code, meaning billboard lights are subject to the same shielding, intensity and prohibition rules as any other outdoor lighting. Search lights and flashing lights, including on illuminated billboards, are banned outright.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Washington County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Outdoor Light Fixture: Outdoor electrically powered illuminating devices, outdoor lighting or reflective surfaces, lamps and similar devices, permanently installed or portable, used for illumination or advertisement... Such devices include, but are not limited to search, spot, and flood lights for: buildings and structures; recreational areas; parking lot lighting; landscape lighting; billboards and other signs (advertising or other); street lighting; product display area lighting; building overhangs and open canopies. ... (5) Prohibitions. The following outdoor light fixtures are prohibited: (A) Search Lights used between 11:00 PM and sunrise. (B) Flashing Lights.

View official code

Full Breakdown

8's definitions section names 'billboards and other signs (advertising or other)' among the uses an 'Outdoor Light Fixture' can illuminate, alongside buildings, parking lots, and landscaping. 0 foot candle at a public street centerline), and bare bulbs visible from adjacent property or the right-of-way are prohibited. 8(5) then bars two specific fixture types outright, with no exception carved out for billboards: search lights used between 11:00 PM and sunrise, and flashing lights, defined as a light source that is not constant in intensity or color while in use. 8(5)'s flashing-light ban. 8(6) before installation.

Violations & Fines

Operating a billboard's search-light-style or flashing illumination, or a fixture that exceeds the 0.4 foot-candle property-line limit, violates Section 1.8(5) and Section 1.8(4)(A)2. As part of Chapter Two, the violation is a misdemeanor under Section 9.1, with each day of continued operation a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Washington County regulate billboard lighting differently from other outdoor lights?
No. The Development Code's definition of 'Outdoor Light Fixture' explicitly lists billboards and other advertising signs among the uses it covers, so billboard lighting must meet the same shielding and intensity standards, and the same prohibitions, that apply to any other outdoor fixture under Section 1.8.
Can a billboard use flashing or strobing lights in Washington County?
No. Section 1.8(5) bans flashing lights outright, defining them as a light source not constant in intensity or color while in use, and the code carves out no exception for billboards or other advertising signs.
Is there a curfew on search-light-style billboard illumination?
Yes. Section 1.8(5)(A) prohibits search lights, a fixture type sometimes used to draw attention to billboards or events, between 11:00 PM and sunrise, regardless of what structure the light is mounted on.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Washington County

Dark Sky RulesSome RestrictionsLight Trespass & ShieldingSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Neighbor Fence RulesLight Restrictions

All Washington County rules

Compare Washington County to another location·View the Minnesota outdoor lighting overview

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