Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Madera County, CA Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)

Heavy Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Moving parts
Prohibited on all signs
Intermittent light
Prohibited on all signs
Residential/ag districts
Only address signs may be lit
Scope
Unincorporated Madera County only

Summary

Madera County bans moving parts and intermittent lighting on every sign in the unincorporated county, which rules out digital and electronic message billboards outright under the general sign ordinance.

City-specific rules exist: Madera has its own digital billboards rules that differ from Madera County's county-level regulations. If you live in Madera, check the city-specific page instead.

No sign shall contain moving parts. No sign may be illuminated by intermittent light. Only on-premises and off-premises signs may be illuminated within commercial, industrial or institutional zone districts. Only signs displaying a property address may be illuminated in a residential and agricultural zone district.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 52).

Full Breakdown

Section 18.90.150 of the county sign ordinance flatly prohibits moving parts on any sign and bars illumination by intermittent light, the two features that define a digital or electronic message billboard. Illumination itself is capped further: only on-premises and off-premises signs may be lit in commercial, industrial or institutional districts, and in residential or agricultural districts only a sign showing a property address may be illuminated at all. The rule applies countywide in the unincorporated areas of Madera County; it does not reach the cities of Madera or Chowchilla, which regulate signs under their own codes.

Violations & Fines

Erecting or operating a digital/electronic message sign violates § 18.90.150; the planning department can order removal, and a nonconforming sign is a public nuisance subject to abatement under § 18.90.090.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put up an LED billboard in unincorporated Madera County?
No. Section 18.90.150 bans moving parts and intermittent-light illumination on every sign, which covers digital and electronic message displays.
Does this rule apply inside the city of Madera?
No. The county sign chapter governs only unincorporated territory; the city of Madera regulates signs under its own code.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Madera County

All Madera County rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Madera County to another location·View the California sign regulations overview

Get notified when Digital Billboards in Madera County, CA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Digital Billboards in Cities Across Madera County