Wilmington, DE Outdoor Lighting: Billboard Lighting (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 41-10
- Requirement
- Light must stay on sign face
- Floodlights/spotlights over public property
- Banned (§ 41-11)
- Max fine
- $200.00 per day
Summary
Wilmington's sign code requires gooseneck reflectors and lights on ground signs, a category that by definition includes billboards, to be aimed so illumination stays on the sign face, not the street or neighbors.
Gooseneck reflectors and lights shall be permitted on ground signs, roof signs, projecting signs and wall signs; provided, however, that the reflectors are so constructed and arranged to concentrate the illumination upon the area of the sign so as to prevent glare upon the street or on adjacent property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 41-10, any gooseneck reflector or light fixture mounted on a ground sign (billboards, poster panels, and other ground-supported signs fall under this definition per § 41-1) must be built and positioned to concentrate its light on the sign face, preventing glare onto the street or adjacent property. A companion rule, § 41-11, separately bans floodlight or spotlight illumination of any sign that extends over public property. Sign erection and lighting work also requires a permit from the department of licenses and inspections under § 41-61.
Violations & Fines
Violating any sign-chapter provision, including the glare-prevention lighting rule, is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $200.00 or imprisonment up to one year, or both, under § 41-3: each day the violation continues is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a billboard in Wilmington use floodlights?
What counts as a billboard under this rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wilmington
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