New Haven, CT Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)
Key Facts
- Max brightness, daytime
- 5,000 nits
- Max brightness, dusk-dawn
- 250 nits
- Min dwell time
- 10 seconds
- Near residential zones
- +.1 fc above ambient max
Summary
New Haven caps digital sign brightness at 5,000 nits by day and 250 nits at night, with a 10-second minimum dwell time and no animation.
(5)Performance Requirements. All Dynamic Displays must comply with the following standards:a.The maximum brightness may not exceed 5,000 nits during the day and may not exceed 250 nits between dusk and dawn.b.All Dynamic Displays abutting a residential zone or use may not emit more than .1 footcandles above ambient light levels at the property line or zone boundary.c.The Sign content must have a minimum dwell time of ten seconds and may not contain any movement, animation, audio, video, pyrotechnics, or other special effects.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 31 | Zoning: Supplement 32).
Full Breakdown
Dynamic Displays, electronic, LED, or LCD signs including digital billboards and menu boards, are limited by New Haven's zoning ordinance to 5,000 nits maximum brightness during the day and 250 nits between dusk and dawn. Displays next to a residential zone or use may not add more than .1 footcandles above ambient light at the property line. Content must hold for a minimum ten-second dwell time, and no movement, animation, audio, video, or pyrotechnic effects are allowed. A Special Permit application must include manufacturer certification of these functions before installation.
Violations & Fines
Displays operating outside these brightness, dwell-time, or transition standards must be adjusted by the operator; failure to comply can trigger further zoning enforcement action under Section 60.3(i)(5)f.
Frequently Asked Questions
How bright can a digital billboard be in New Haven at night?
Can a digital sign in New Haven show video or animation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Haven
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