Cape Coral, FL Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)

3, "Miscellaneous signs," sets out the City's rules for an "Electronic Message Center or Sign (EMC)" as a distinct category within the permanent sign article. 3 foot-candles above ambient light, measured with a foot-candle meter at a pre-set distance calculated as the square root of the sign area multiplied by 100, rounded to the nearest whole number, so a larger sign face is measured from farther away. Text-only EMC displays may scroll, but the lettering cannot exceed 12 inches in height. Only one EMC is permitted per site no matter how many freestanding or wall signs the property otherwise qualifies for, and an EMC can never be added onto an existing non-conforming sign, closing off a workaround for signs that already exceed the article's size or height limits.

Every EMC must hold a given message on screen for a minimum of 8 seconds before switching, and video display, flashing, or blinking effects are prohibited outright regardless of message content. Finally, every EMC must include photo-sensors that automatically adjust the sign's intensity to ambient lighting conditions, rather than relying on a fixed brightness the operator sets by hand. 2 of the sign article, meaning noncompliant units cannot be permitted or maintained anywhere in the city.