Maui County, HI Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)
Key Facts
- Digital/animated signs
- Prohibited (§ 16.13.150(A))
- Only motion exception
- Wind-powered signs
- Illuminated sign buffer
- 150 ft. from residential districts
- Wind sign size cap
- 12 sq. ft. per lot / 4 per business
- Enforcement track
- § 19.530.030
- Unsafe sign removal surcharge
- 20% of removal cost
Summary
Maui County effectively bars digital and animated billboards. The Commercial Signs chapter prohibits any sign that needs mechanical, electrical, or other power to animate, flash, or move, with wind-powered motion the only exception, closing the door on LED billboards and electronic message boards countywide.
A.Any sign requiring mechanical, electrical or any other power source for its animation, flashing, movement or motion, except wind.
Full Breakdown
" That single clause reaches digital billboards, LED message boards, and any animated or flashing electronic display, since all of them rely on an electrical power source to change their image. The same section bans inflatable signs, signs over six square feet made of reflective material, portable signs, and signs mounted on parked or non-registered vehicles, showing the chapter's broader intent to keep Maui's commercial corridors free of attention-grabbing, powered signage. 140(I) separately bars directly illuminated signs within one hundred fifty feet of residential districts and requires indirectly illuminated signs to be shielded so no direct light rays reach neighboring lots, which further limits any lit sign near housing even if it does not move.
030 as fabric or similar lightweight material mounted to move with the wind, capped at twelve square feet per building or lot, or four square feet per business establishment, whichever is greater. 150(A) prohibition.
Violations & Fines
Erecting or maintaining a prohibited sign violates Maui County Code Section 16.13.230, with administrative enforcement and penalty assessment handled under Section 19.530.030; anyone can file a written complaint identifying the sign's location. Separately, Section 16.13.210 lets the director remove a sign summarily if it is an immediate safety hazard, then bill the owner for removal costs plus a twenty percent surcharge for inspection and incidental costs, referring unpaid bills to corporation counsel for collection after thirty days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a business install a digital or LED billboard in Maui County?
What is the only kind of moving sign the code allows?
Are illuminated (but not moving) signs restricted near homes?
What can the county do if a prohibited digital sign goes up anyway?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maui County
Compare Maui County to another location·View the Hawaii sign regulations overview
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