Wayne County, NC Outdoor Lighting: Billboard Lighting (2026)

Section 58-23(9)b of the Wayne County sign ordinance sets the illumination rules for outdoor advertising signs in unincorporated Wayne County. Lighting must be directed onto the face of the sign and shielded so the light source itself is not visible, and it cannot create a hazard or nuisance for motorists or nearby residents. Flashing or intermittent illumination signs are prohibited entirely, and every illuminated sign must meet the requirements of the North Carolina Building Code, Volume 4, as amended. The rule sits inside the broader location, size and structural standards of section 58-23: signs are capped at 400 square feet of face area and 50 feet in height, and their structural requirements must meet section 2302 of the North Carolina Building Code, Volume 1, with all sign structures built of steel on a single pole.

Lighting is reviewed as part of the sign permit application the building inspections department issues under section 58-24: an applicant's submittal must include an evaluation drawing describing the sign's illumination along with its dimensions, colors and materials. The planning director administers and interprets the illumination standard, using section 58-19's roadside-appearance purpose clause as the guide whenever a conflict or ambiguous case arises, and the most restrictive reading controls. 5.