Dearborn, MI Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)
Key Facts
- Max area
- 24 sq ft (2 for open signs)
- Message hold
- 5 sec., then 30-sec static pause
- Brightness cap
- 0.5 foot-candles at residential line
- Off-premises billboards
- Prohibited citywide, narrow state exception
- Nighttime cutoff
- Off 10pm-6am facing nearby homes
Summary
Dearborn caps on-premise electronic signs at 24 square feet, bans off-premises billboards outright except under Michigan's Highway Advertising Act, and requires displays to hold each message five seconds with a 30-second static pause and no animation or flashing.
Electronic signs up to 24 square feet in area and electronic open signs up to two square feet in area shall be permitted in nonresidential districts subject to the regulations of this article... Electronic signs shall not be used to display animations, motion pictures, television programming, movies, sporting events, or any similar live or recorded broadcast.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-07: Code: Updated through: July 22, 2026 | Zoning: Updated through: July 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 5-1337(c), electronic signs up to 24 square feet (and electronic open signs up to two square feet) are permitted in nonresidential districts subject to strict display rules: messages may scroll from one direction only, must display in full for at least five seconds, then hold static for 30 seconds; animation, video, flashing, or simulated motion is prohibited; and brightness is capped at 0.5 foot-candles at an adjacent residential property line, with mandatory ambient-light dimming. Separately, Sec. 5-1335(c)(2) bans billboards citywide except as permitted under Michigan's Highway Advertising Act (Act 106 of 1972), so a true off-premises digital billboard is not allowed.
Violations & Fines
Operating an electronic sign that flashes, scrolls too fast, exceeds 24 square feet, or exceeds the 0.5 foot-candle brightness limit violates Sec. 5-1337(c); noncompliant signs must cease operation until corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put up a digital billboard in Dearborn?
How big can an on-premise electronic sign be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dearborn
Compare Dearborn to another location·View the Michigan sign regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Digital Billboards in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle digital billboards.