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Beaufort County, SC Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)

Heavy Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
CDC § 5.6.50.A
New billboards
prohibited countywide
Digital displays
prohibited on all off-premises signs
Legacy billboards
repair only, no upgrades
Structural change effect
voids permit as abandonment
Max penalty
$500 fine or 30 days jail

Summary

Beaufort County flatly bans new off-premises signs and commercial billboards, and separately prohibits digital displays on any off-premises or billboard sign, so an electronic message board cannot be added even to an existing, legally permitted billboard structure.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Beaufort County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

A. Off-Premises Signs/Commercial Billboard Signs. New off-premises signs/commercial billboard signs are prohibited. Digital displays are prohibited on all off-premises signs/commercial billboard signs.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 55 Update 1 | Community Development Code: Supplement 16).

Full Breakdown

A (Off-Premises Sign Standards) states the rule in two sentences: new off-premises signs and commercial billboard signs are prohibited, and digital displays are prohibited on all off-premises signs and commercial billboard signs. Because new billboards cannot be built at all, the digital-display ban functions mainly against legacy, legally nonconforming billboards that predate the prohibition; an owner cannot retrofit one of those structures with an LED or electronic message center. 3. 2's abandonment clause, which treats any structural or substantive modification to a billboard as an abandonment that voids the prior permit and requires removal at the owner's expense. 2 requires removal within 20 days of notice, or within 20 days of a Zoning Board of Appeals ruling if the determination is appealed.

Violations & Fines

Erecting a new billboard, or adding a digital display to an existing one, is both an independent Article 9 violation and treated as an unauthorized modification that voids the sign's permit under Section 5.6.50.B.2, requiring removal at the owner's expense. Section 9.2.30.J separately makes it a violation to install or alter a sign without first obtaining the required permit. Section 9.5.10 sets the base penalty at up to $500 or 30 days imprisonment per violation, with each day the illegal digital display remains active counted as a separate offense, and the Code Enforcement Department can also impound a noncompliant sign under Section 9.4.50.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a company build a new digital billboard in unincorporated Beaufort County?
No. Section 5.6.50.A prohibits all new off-premises signs and commercial billboard signs, and separately prohibits digital displays on any off-premises or billboard sign, so a new digital billboard cannot be permitted under any circumstance.
Can an existing billboard be converted to a digital display?
No. Section 5.6.50.A bans digital displays on all off-premises signs, and Section 5.6.50.B.2 treats any structural modification to add one as an abandonment that voids the sign's existing permit and requires its removal at the owner's expense.
What repairs are legacy billboards allowed to make?
Section 5.6.50.B.2 limits maintenance to painting or refinishing the sign face or structure to its originally permitted appearance, and Subsection B.3 separately bars extension, enlargement, rebuilding, or adding lights to a previously unilluminated sign.
What happens if someone installs an illegal digital billboard?
The Code Enforcement Department can impound the sign and issue a notice of violation under Article 9, and Section 9.5.10 makes the violation a misdemeanor punishable by up to $500 or 30 days in jail, with each day of continued display a separate offense.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Beaufort County

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsWindow SignsSome RestrictionsPolitical SignsSome RestrictionsFreeway-Facing SignsHeavy RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Neighbor Fence RulesSome Restrictions

All Beaufort County rules

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