Huntington Beach, CA Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)

12 of the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance permits electronic readerboards only after Design Review Board review and Zoning Administrator approval of a conditional use permit, requiring findings that the sign conforms to Chapter 233, is compatible with nearby signs, will not create a traffic hazard, and will not adversely impact adjoining commercial or residential neighborhoods. Readerboards may be freestanding or wall-mounted, limited to one per site, with a maximum sign area of 115 square feet (90 square feet for the message center, 25 feet allotted to other information) and a maximum freestanding height of 25 feet.

Each unit must have cylinders, a shade screen and a photocell that dims the display at night, and measurable light output cannot exceed 50 foot-candles at any property line. Location is restricted to parcels abutting a freeway and parcels abutting Beach Boulevard, excluding the landscape-corridor segment of Beach Boulevard south of Adams to Pacific Coast Highway; the parcel needs at least 200 feet of lot frontage, and readerboards must sit at least 150 feet from another readerboard and 150 feet from any residence. , with at least 10% of message time reserved for public service announcements.

Messages cannot change faster than once every four seconds, with at least a one-second gap between messages, and continuous scrolling motion is barred. Sites with a readerboard may run temporary banners, balloons or flags up to 15 days per calendar year, and may add one monument sign up to 7 feet tall and 50 square feet.