Portland, ME Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)

G, 'Electronic Message Signs,' effective with the rest of the Land Use Code on July 1, 2026. The section caps the count at one electronic message sign per lot, a business cannot stack multiple digital faces on the same property. Motion is off-limits: the code bars flashing, blinking, fluttering, intermittent or chasing lights, and any video message, defined as any illumination or message that is in motion or appears to be in motion. Static message changes are allowed, but each one must stay up for a minimum of 30 seconds before the next appears.

Brightness is controlled with photocell technology that automatically dims the sign as ambient light drops; the code sets a hard ceiling of 100 nits of night-time luminance when the display is set to its maximum full-white brightness, and requires the manufacturer's factory pre-set to be locked behind password-protected software so an owner cannot override it. Applicants must submit written manufacturer certification of that 100-nit lock as part of the sign permit application reviewed by the Building Authority. , whichever comes first, a stricter cutoff than the 'whichever occurs last' rule the code applies to external and neon sign lighting. 5 and must meet Chapter 6 building standards, with a permit required before installation.