Milpitas, CA Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)
Key Facts
- Content rule
- Static messages only, no movement
- Minimum message duration
- 4 seconds
- Max brightness
- 0.3 foot-candles over ambient at 250 ft
- Required marking
- 'City of Milpitas' name or logo
- Extra approvals needed
- Written owner permission and Development Agreement
- Citation
- § XIII-C.8.050.D.2, Table C.8.050-D
Summary
In the City of Milpitas, digital billboards are allowed only as part of a permitted billboard sign under Table C.8.050-D of Municipal Code § XIII-C.8.050.D. Every display must show static messages only: no movement, blinking, or optical illusion of movement anywhere in the structure, design, lighting, or picture. Each message must hold for at least four seconds, and brightness is capped at 0.3 foot-candles over ambient light measured 250 feet from the face.
Digital Billboards Digital billboards shall contain static messages only, and shall not have movement, or the appearance or optical illusion of movement, of any part of the sign structure, design, lighting, or pictorial segment of the sign Each message must be displayed for a min. of 4 seconds Must not exceed a brightness level of 0.3 foot-candles over ambient light levels, as measured using a foot-candle meter at 250 ft from the sign face (unless a more restrictive standard is otherwise required)
Full Breakdown
Billboard signs in Milpitas are permitted only in Commercial and Industrial zones under Table C.8.050-A, and Table C.8.050-D caps every billboard, digital or static, at 1,200 square feet of sign area and 70 feet in height. The Digital Billboards standard within that same table adds sign-specific rules: the display must show static messages only, with no movement or appearance of movement in the sign structure, design, lighting, or pictorial content, and each message must stay up for a minimum of four seconds. Nighttime brightness cannot exceed 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light, measured with a foot-candle meter 250 feet from the sign face, unless a stricter standard applies.
Beyond the digital-specific limits, every billboard under Table C.8.050-D must sit in a landscaped area extending at least three feet from its base behind a protective vertical curb, must carry the words 'City of Milpitas' or the City logo, requires the property owner's written permission, and requires the operator to enter into a Development Agreement or similar instrument acceptable to the City Attorney. All advertising displayed must also conform to California Business and Professions Code §§ 5200-5486 and other state and federal rules. The Building Official administers sign installation under § XIII-C.8.040.F, and an electronic message sign of any kind additionally needs a Major Sign Permit under § XIII-C.8.040.E.5.
Violations & Fines
A digital billboard erected, altered, or maintained contrary to Table C.8.050-D is declared a public nuisance under § XIII-D.18.050.C, and its owner faces the general Title XIII penalty in § XIII-D.18.040: a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in the Santa Clara County jail, or both, with each day of continuing violation counted as a separate offense. The Building Official may also issue a Stop Work Order under § XIII-D.18.060 to halt further construction or operation until the sign is brought into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a digital billboard in Milpitas show a scrolling or animated ad?
How long must each digital billboard message stay up in Milpitas?
How bright can a Milpitas digital billboard be at night?
What else does Milpitas require before a digital billboard can go up?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Milpitas
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How other cities in Santa Clara County handle digital billboards.