Cupertino, CA Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)
Key Facts
- Eligibility
- Centers with 20+ tenants, 50,000+ sq ft
- Number allowed
- One per qualifying center
- Residential setback
- 500 ft on same street
- Approval authority
- Planning Commission
- Display color rule
- Match or complement sign background
Summary
Cupertino allows only one electronic readerboard sign per commercial center, and only for centers with at least 20 tenants and 50,000 square feet of floor area. The sign needs Planning Commission approval and must sit at least 500 feet from any residential district on the same street.
A. Electronic Readerboard Signs Commercial One sign for centers with 20 tenants or more and 50,000 s.f. of gross floor area Same as Sec. 19.104.160 No closer than 500 ft from any residential district on the same street as the sign PC Background of electronic readerboard will be the same color as the primary background. If not practical, then a color that is complementary to the background color shall be used
Full Breakdown
180 restricts Electronic Readerboard Signs to commercial zoning and limits eligibility to one sign per shopping center that has 20 tenants or more and 50,000 square feet of gross floor area, meaning small storefronts and standalone businesses cannot qualify. 160. Placement is further restricted: no electronic readerboard may sit closer than 500 feet from a residential district located on the same street as the sign. 104 that the Community Development Director can approve administratively, an electronic readerboard requires review and approval by the Planning Commission.
The design criteria also regulate the display itself: the readerboard's background must match the sign's primary background color, or, where that is not practical, use a complementary color rather than a jarring contrast. 230's citywide sign illumination cap and the requirement that illuminated commercial-district signs not exceed roughly 250 foot-lamberts.
Violations & Fines
An electronic readerboard installed without Planning Commission approval, or exceeding the 500-foot residential setback, is enforced under Section 19.104.300: the Director can order the sign removed and, under Section 19.104.330, must give the owner and tenant written notice to remove it or apply for approval within 10 calendar days. Violations are infractions under Section 19.104.380, punishable through Chapters 1.10 and 1.12 of the Municipal Code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any Cupertino business install an electronic readerboard sign?
How far must a digital sign be from homes in Cupertino?
Who approves an electronic readerboard sign?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cupertino
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