Pharr, TX Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)
Key Facts
- Daytime brightness cap
- 5,000 nits max
- Dusk-to-dawn cap
- 500 nits max
- Static display time
- 8 seconds minimum
- Area limit for CEDVMS
- 30% of allowed sign area
- Portable/temporary digital LED signs
- prohibited outright
Summary
Pharr caps electronic message signs at 5,000 nits by day and 500 nits at night, requires an automatic dimmer, and limits digital displays to 30 percent of the allowed sign area.
The maximum brightness of the sign shall not exceed 5,000 nits (candelas per square meter) during daylight hours and 500 nits (candelas per square meter) between dusk to dawn. The sign must have an automatic dimmer control which produces a distinct illumination change from a higher allowed illumination level to a lower allowed level for the time period between one-half hour before sunset and one-half hour after sunrise... CEDVMS sign is limited to 30 percent of the allowable sign area.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 44).
Full Breakdown
Pharr's sign code defines the changeable electronic digital variable message sign (CEDVMS) and regulates it directly: each display must hold static for eight seconds and change in two seconds or less, brightness is capped at 5,000 nits daytime and 500 nits dusk-to-dawn with a required automatic dimmer, and no scrolling, fading, blinking or flashing is allowed. A CEDVMS is capped at 30 percent of the allowable sign area, and portable or temporary digital LED advertising signs are separately banned outright.
Violations & Fines
The building official can order the sign owner to reduce brightness within 12 hours if it causes glare or impairs a driver's vision; sign owners must also give the city a 24/7 contact for programming issues and agree to display Amber Alerts and emergency notices on request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put up a portable digital LED sign for my business in Pharr?
How fast can a digital billboard's message change in Pharr?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pharr
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Pharr to another location·View the Texas sign regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Digital Billboards in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Hidalgo County handle digital billboards.