San Benito County, CA Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)

The construction, erection or use of any and all billboards as defined herein, other than those which legally exist in the county, or for which a valid permit has been issued and has not expired, as of the date on which this provision, or when a prior version of this article containing a provision to the same effect, was adopted, is prohibited. The “change of copy” provision applies to properly permitted, legally existing billboards. To the extent consistent with state law, existing legal billboards may not be converted to a more visually intense method of image presentation, such as converting a flat static display to a moving animated or change image display. This prohibition does not prohibit or limit agreements to relocate presently existing legal billboards, as encouraged by state law including, but not limited to, Cal. Business and Professions Code § 5412.

(6)   Property owner’s consent. No sign may be displayed on private tangible property or other regulated land without the property owner’s consent.

(7)   On-site/off-site distinction. The on-site/off-site distinction applies only to commercial messages and signs displaying commercial messages.

(8)   Mixed uses. For purposes of this article, wherever a parcel may be legally used for both residential and non-residential uses, all legal residential uses shall be treated as if they were located within a residential district, which would allow a residential unit of the same type (i.e., single