Loudoun County, VA Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)
Key Facts
- Holiday/seasonal lighting
- Exempt from § 7.05.02 standards
- Default rule
- All outdoor lighting otherwise regulated
- Other exemptions
- Entry lights, street lights, theatrical/construction, pool, emergency
- Enforcement of § 7.05
- Handled under § 10.13.E
- Lighted holiday signage
- Separately governed by Chapter 8 sign rules
Summary
Loudoun County exempts temporary seasonal and holiday lighting outright from its outdoor Light and Glare standards, so string lights and illuminated yard displays don't have to meet the dark-sky, glare, and light-trespass rules Section 7.05.02 imposes on permanent exterior lighting.
Except as provided below, all outdoor lighting must comply with Section 7.05.02. ... Exempt. The following are exempt from compliance with the requirements of Section 7.05.02: a. Exterior lights mounted on residential structures at entry and exit doorways that are neither located nor emit light above the eave; b. Street lighting located along public or private roads in accordance with the Facilities Standards Manual (FSM), for the purpose of illuminating the roads and not areas outside of such roads; c. Temporary seasonal or holiday lighting; d. Temporary lighting for theatrical, television, or performance areas and construction sites when the lighting is turned off at least 1 hour after the site is closed, event concludes, or workday ends
Full Breakdown
02's Light and Glare standards exist to curb glare, obtrusive light, artificial skyglow, and light trespass onto neighboring properties while still allowing reasonable nighttime lighting for safety and security, following International Dark-Sky Association principles. 02," and that includes new lighting, replacement fixtures, and lighting affected by a Site Plan revision. 2 lists six specific exemptions, and holiday lighting is one of them by name: "Temporary seasonal or holiday lighting" (item c) is exempt from the section entirely, alongside residential entry/exit lights that don't shine above the eave, street lighting built to the Facilities Standards Manual, temporary theatrical/television/performance and construction-site lighting that's shut off within an hour of use, underwater pool lighting, and emergency-only lighting.
That means a homeowner or business putting up seasonal string lights, illuminated figures, or projected holiday displays does not need a lighting plan, shielding, or dark-sky compliance review the rest of the year's exterior lighting would require. E. Note that a display doubling as advertising signage is a separate matter: Chapter 8 classifies holiday decorations as a type of Temporary or Incidental Sign, which can trigger its own Sign Permit and size limits regardless of the lighting exemption.
Violations & Fines
Because temporary seasonal or holiday lighting is exempt outright under Section 7.05.02.A.2.c, the county cannot cite a homeowner for exceeding the Light and Glare standards' shielding, glare, or skyglow limits over a seasonal display. Enforcement of Section 7.05's remaining, non-exempt lighting standards is handled under Section 10.13.E, and a display that also functions as illuminated signage can still be checked separately against Chapter 8's Sign Permit and size rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Loudoun County limit how bright or how long I can run holiday lights?
What lighting rules would apply if my display weren't exempt?
Are there other lighting exemptions besides holiday displays?
Could my holiday display still run into county rules some other way?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Loudoun County
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