Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Franklin County, OH Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)

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

Key Facts

Min copy display
7 seconds per change
Max rotation
8 revolutions per minute
Flashing/bare bulbs
Prohibited except message centers
Audio effects
Prohibited

Summary

Franklin County zoning bars flashing or bare-bulb billboard lighting, limits message-center copy changes to seven-second intervals, and caps any rotating sign element at eight revolutions per minute.

City-specific rules exist: Columbus has its own digital billboards rules that differ from Franklin County's county-level regulations. If you live in Columbus, check the city-specific page instead.

541.137 - Lights and Movement Limitations - The following limitations shall apply to all billboards that utilize special effects including a time and temperature device and/or message center, a three-dimensional display, and any display that utilizes movement or gives the appearance of movement: 1.) Flashing lights or bare bulb illumination shall not be permitted on any billboard except for a time and temperature device or a message center. 2.) All parts of a billboard special effect display shall be contained within the boundaries of the sign faces. 3.) Each advertising face utilizing a copy change procedure shall display each individual copy a minimum of seven (7) seconds. 4.) No part of a three-dimensional billboard display shall project perpendicularly more than thirty-six (36) inches from the plane of the sign face. 5.) A revolving or rotating billboard shall not be permitted, except that elements forming a sign face may rotate as part of a copy change procedure. Each permitted revolving element shall be limited to a maximum of eight (8) revolutions per minute. 6.) Auditory effects, including music, shall not be permitted as part of any billboard display.

Full Breakdown

Franklin County Zoning Resolution § 541.137 governs billboards with time-and-temperature devices, message centers, or moving displays in commercial and industrial zoned areas of unincorporated Franklin County. Flashing lights and bare-bulb illumination are barred except on a time-and-temperature device or message center. Each copy change must hold for at least seven seconds, and a revolving sign element is capped at eight revolutions per minute. Auditory effects, including music, are prohibited on any billboard display. Columbus and the county's cities regulate digital billboards separately.

Violations & Fines

Bare-bulb flashing, copy changes faster than seven seconds, rotating elements over eight RPM, or audio on a billboard display all violate § 541.137 and can void the sign's zoning certificate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a digital billboard flash in Franklin County?
No, § 541.137 bars flashing or bare-bulb lighting except on a time-and-temperature device or message center.
How fast can billboard copy change?
Each copy display must hold for a minimum of seven seconds before changing, per § 541.137.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Franklin County

All Franklin County rules

Compare Franklin County to another location·View the Ohio sign regulations overview

Get notified when Digital Billboards in Franklin County, OH changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Digital Billboards in Cities Across Franklin County