Daytona Beach, FL Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LDC § 6.9.B.2.d, Exemptions
- Exempt window
- November, December, and January
- Condition
- No unsafe glare onto street ROW
- After exemption ends
- Must meet full § 6.9 lighting standards
- Other exempt lighting
- Speedway, flags, FAA towers, ≤40W fixtures
Summary
Daytona Beach exempts holiday lighting displayed in November, December, and January from the City's exterior lighting standards in Land Development Code Section 6.9.B.2.d, as long as the lighting doesn't create unsafe glare on street rights-of-way. Outside that three-month window, the same lighting has to meet the City's shielding, height, and brightness rules like any other exterior fixture.
B.Applicability.1.General. The provisions of this section shall apply to all development in the City unless exempted in accordance with paragraph 2 below.2.Exemptions. The following development is exempted from this section:a.FAA-mandated lighting associated with a utility tower or airport;b.Lighting associated with the Daytona International Speedway;c.Lighting associated with navigational beacons, the United States Flag, Florida Flag, or City of Daytona Beach Flag;d.Holiday lighting during the months of November, December, and January, provided the lighting does not create unsafe glare on street rights-of-way;e.Battery-powered emergency lighting; andf.Architectural lighting of 40 watts or less.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 78 | Land Development Code: Supplement 36).
Full Breakdown
2, Exemptions, of the Land Development Code's Exterior Lighting standards lists holiday lighting displayed during the months of November, December, and January as exempt from the section's general requirements, so a homeowner or business does not need full cut-off fixtures, height limits, or foot-candle compliance for seasonal string lights and decorations during that window. The exemption carries one condition: the lighting cannot create unsafe glare on street rights-of-way, so a display bright or directional enough to blind drivers or pedestrians can still be cited even during the holiday season.
The same subsection exempts several other categories alongside holiday lighting, including FAA-mandated lighting on utility towers or the airport, lighting associated with the Daytona International Speedway, lighting on navigational beacons and the United States, Florida, and City of Daytona Beach flags, battery-powered emergency lighting, and architectural lighting of 40 watts or less. 9, including the shielding, maximum-height, and maximum-illumination requirements that apply to permanent exterior lighting.
Violations & Fines
Holiday lighting left up beyond January, or any seasonal display that creates unsafe glare onto a street right-of-way, loses the exemption in Section 6.9.B.2.d and becomes subject to full enforcement under Article 10 of the Land Development Code, the same as any other nonconforming exterior lighting installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I leave holiday lights up without a lighting permit in Daytona Beach?
Do holiday lights have to be shielded or full cut-off like other exterior lighting?
What other lighting is exempt along with holiday displays?
What happens if holiday lights stay up after January?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Daytona Beach
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Daytona Beach to another location·View the Florida sign regulations overview
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Holiday Displays in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Volusia County handle holiday displays.