Omaha, NE Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)
Key Facts
- Allowed zones
- GC, DS, CH, GI, HI districts only
- Daytime brightness cap
- 5,200 nits maximum
- Night brightness cap
- 500 nits maximum
- Sign spacing
- 5,000 feet apart minimum
- Takedown ratio
- 3-5 old signs removed per new
Summary
Omaha permits digital billboards only in GC, DS, CH, GI and HI zones, caps brightness at 5,200 nits by day and 500 nits at night, and requires taking down several existing billboards for each new digital one installed.
The maximum brightness of the sign shall not exceed a luminance of 5,200 NITS (candelas per square meter) during daylight hours, or 0.3 foot-candles over ambient lighting, whichever is less. The maximum brightness of the sign shall not exceed a luminance of 500 NITS during the period from dusk to dawn, or 0.3 foot-candles over ambient lighting, whichever is less.
Full Breakdown
Omaha's zoning code (Ch. 55, Div. 2) allows electronic off-premises advertising signs -- digital or LED billboards -- only in GC, DS, CH, GI and HI districts. New digital billboards must be spaced at least 5,000 feet apart, set back 150 to 250 feet from residential districts depending on brightness, and kept 400 feet from parks, gateways and historic districts. Each new digital face requires taking down three to five existing billboard faces first, depending on the zoning category. The planning department charges a $1,500 initial permit fee plus a $500 annual renewal, and images must hold static for at least ten seconds with no scrolling or animation.
Violations & Fines
Violating operators get 30 days' written notice to cure; if uncured, the city revokes the sign permit and orders the billboard removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a digital billboard go up anywhere in Omaha?
How bright can an Omaha digital billboard be?
Do old billboards have to come down for new digital ones?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Omaha
Compare Omaha to another location·View the Nebraska sign regulations overview
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