Evansville, IN Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Section
- EMC 18.140.220(E)
- Above-sign fixture limit
- No taller than 6 in. above sign top
- Bare bulbs
- Never allowed to be visible to passersby
- Prohibited-sign backstop
- EMC 18.140.250(K)
Summary
Evansville requires all sign lighting to be shielded so it never spills glare onto neighboring property or the roadway.
The intent of the following provisions is to minimize the impacts from sign lighting for all types of sign illumination and to ensure that light trespass does not create a nuisance for nearby properties or a traffic safety hazard for motorists on the roadways due to glare or other intensive light emission. In addition, the following requirements are established for specific types of sign illumination:
(1) External Illumination. Lights used to illuminate a sign shall be shielded/directed away from adjacent properties to prevent glare across property lines or into any thoroughfare. When installed, the light source must be positioned so that light does not trespass onto any adjoining property or a public street or highway.
(a) Signs may be illuminated from above, provided the light fixture is no taller than six inches above the top of the sign and it is fully shielded.
(b) Signs less than six feet in height may be illuminated with ground-mounted lights that are fully shielded, designed, and positioned to shine directly on the sign with no light trespass.
(c) Ground-mounted light fixtures shall not be visible from the opposite side of the sign.
(d) Light fixture lamps that illuminate a sign externally shall not be visible from vehicular travel lanes, adjacent public rights-of-way, or adjoining properties. In no case shall sign lighting shine directly into the eyes of motorists or pedestrians, and bare bulbs shall never be visible to passersby.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-2026-12, passed June 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Evansville's sign illumination standard, EMC 18.140.220(E), states its purpose is to prevent light trespass from creating a nuisance for nearby properties or a safety hazard for motorists. External sign lighting must be shielded or directed away from adjacent properties so it does not cross a property line or shine into a thoroughfare, and light fixture lamps illuminating a sign may not be visible from travel lanes, adjacent rights-of-way, or adjoining properties -- bare bulbs may never be visible to passersby. A sign found to violate this is separately listed as a prohibited sign under EMC 18.140.250(K) if the glare creates a nuisance for an abutting owner or a traffic hazard.
Violations & Fines
A sign whose lighting sheds glare across a property line or into a thoroughfare is a prohibited sign under EMC 18.140.250(K), enforceable through the Planning Department's sign permit and code enforcement process; noncompliant fixtures must be corrected or the sign is subject to removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a business shine a floodlight on its sign toward the street in Evansville?
What happens if a sign's lighting glares onto a neighbor's property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Evansville
Compare Evansville to another location·View the Indiana outdoor lighting overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.