Tulsa, OK Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)
Key Facts
- Exemption
- Temporary holiday light displays exempt
- Citation
- Tulsa Zoning Code § 67.020.J
- Chapter effective
- January 1, 2016
- Other fixtures
- Still must meet shielding, spillover limits
Summary
Tulsa's zoning code exempts temporary holiday light displays from the outdoor lighting chapter's shielding, glare, and light-trespass standards, so seasonal lights don't need a lighting plan or footcandle compliance.
The outdoor lighting regulations of this section apply to all outdoor lighting installed after the effective date specified in Section 1.030, except that they do not apply to any of the following: ...I.Lighting fixtures with a light output of no more than one thousand (1,000) lumens; and J.Temporary holiday light displays.
Full Breakdown
Title 42's outdoor lighting chapter (Chapter 67) sets citywide standards for fixture shielding, maximum mounting heights, and light-trespass limits at property lines, but Section 67.020 lists exemptions, and item J is temporary holiday light displays. That means string lights, yard displays, and seasonal decorative lighting don't have to meet the chapter's shielding cutoffs, the 0.5/3.0 foot-candle spillover caps, or submit a lighting plan under Section 67.040. The exemption applies citywide inside Tulsa; it doesn't touch other outdoor lighting like permanent landscape or security lighting, which still must comply.
Violations & Fines
No permit or lighting plan needed for holiday displays; the general shielding and foot-candle limits apply only to non-exempt fixtures and are enforced under Zoning Code Chapter 85 penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to put up Christmas lights in Tulsa?
Does this exemption cover permanent landscape lighting too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tulsa
Compare Tulsa to another location·View the Oklahoma sign regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.