Volusia County, FL Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)
Key Facts
- Wattage cap
- 7 watts per bulb, exempt lighting
- Display duration
- 30 consecutive days maximum
- Frequency
- 4 times per calendar year
- Paired figurine cap
- 10 figurines, 4 feet tall max
- Shielding rule
- No direct beam onto street/dwelling
- Governing section
- Sec. 72-298(1)b and (12)
Summary
Seasonal string lighting displayed with yard figurines is exempt from Volusia County's sign permit rules under Sec. 72-298(1)b, but only if bulbs stay at seven watts or under and the display runs no more than 30 consecutive days, up to four times a calendar year.
(1)Exempt signs: ... b.Two-dimensional or three-dimensional figurines not exceeding four feet in height and string lighting, not to exceed seven watts per bulb, provided that no more than ten figurines are permitted on a lot, for a period not to exceed 30 consecutive days, not to exceed four times per calendar year. ||| (12)Shielding: The source of illumination from any sign shall be shielded in order to prevent a direct beam of light from shining onto a street or a residential single-family, two-family, or multifamily dwelling.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 108 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
The county folds holiday string lighting into the exempt-sign list at Sec. 72-298(1)b alongside decorative figurines: "string lighting, not to exceed seven watts per bulb ... for a period not to exceed 30 consecutive days, not to exceed four times per calendar year." That means a homeowner stringing lights for a holiday display doesn't need a sign permit under Sec. 72-298(13)a as long as each bulb stays at seven watts or below and the lights come down inside the 30-day window before the next seasonal run. Even exempt lighting isn't entirely unregulated on illumination grounds: Sec. 72-298(12) requires that "the source of illumination from any sign shall be shielded in order to prevent a direct beam of light from shining onto a street or a residential single-family, two-family, or multifamily dwelling," a general shielding standard that reaches any lit display treated as a sign under this article, holiday lighting included.
Violations & Fines
String lighting that exceeds seven watts per bulb, stays up longer than 30 consecutive days, or gets reinstalled more than four times in a calendar year loses its exempt status and becomes a regulated sign subject to the county's normal copy-area, number and permit requirements. Lighting that throws a direct, unshielded beam onto a street or neighboring home can also be cited under the separate shielding rule in Sec. 72-298(12), independent of the wattage and duration limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are holiday lights regulated under Volusia County's sign code?
What wattage limit applies to holiday string lights?
How long can holiday lighting stay up in unincorporated Volusia County?
Do holiday lights have to be shielded from neighbors?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Volusia County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Volusia County to another location·View the Florida sign regulations overview
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