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Fort Smith, AR Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)

Few Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Exempt from
Glare/light-trespass standard, § 16-77(b)
Condition
No fire hazard or nuisance
Duration limit
None stated in the code
Permit required
No

Summary

Fort Smith exempts temporary seasonal light displays using multiple low-wattage bulbs from its glare/light-trespass standard, as long as the display avoids creating a fire hazard or nuisance and stays in safe condition.

(c)Exemptions. The following conditions are exempted from the standards set forth in subsection (b) of this section:(1)Welding, new construction, and repairs of facilities.(2)All lighting required by state and/or federal agencies.(3)Lighting used solely during an emergency.(4)Temporary seasonal displays using multiple low-wattage bulbs, provided that they do not constitute a fire hazard or create a nuisance, and are maintained in a safe condition. (Code 1992, § 16-77; Ord. No. 78-11, § 1, 10-4-2011)

Secs. 16-78—16-85. - Reserved.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).

Full Breakdown

The city's exterior-lighting ordinance at § 16-77(b) bars glare onto neighboring residential property, but subsection (c) exempts several categories from that standard, including welding/construction lighting, government-mandated lighting, emergency lighting, and -- most relevant to homeowners -- temporary seasonal displays using multiple low-wattage bulbs. That exemption carries no stated duration limit or takedown deadline; it turns instead on safety, requiring the display avoid creating a fire hazard or nuisance and remain maintained in safe condition. No separate permit or registration is required for a residential holiday lighting display under this section.

Violations & Fines

A display that falls outside the exemption -- one creating a fire hazard, a nuisance, or unsafe wiring -- loses the exemption and is enforced as a § 16-74 misdemeanor under the § 1-9 penalty schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for holiday lights in Fort Smith?
No. City Code § 16-77(c)(4) exempts temporary seasonal displays using multiple low-wattage bulbs from the exterior-lighting glare standard, with no permit or duration limit -- only a safety and no-nuisance condition.
Is there a deadline to take down holiday lights?
The ordinance sets none. The exemption for seasonal displays hinges on the bulbs being low-wattage and the display not creating a fire hazard or nuisance, not on a calendar date.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Fort Smith

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsDigital BillboardsSome RestrictionsWindow SignsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingFew RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome Restrictions

All Fort Smith rules

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