Portsmouth, VA Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)
Key Facts
- Daytime luminance cap
- 1,500 nits
- Nighttime luminance cap
- 150 nits
- Minimum static display time
- 8 seconds
- Barred use
- Household Living/Group Living properties
Summary
Portsmouth caps automatic changeable copy and LED signs at 1,500 nits during daylight and 150 nits at all other times, and bars digital displays from residential Household Living or Group Living properties entirely.
(c)The luminance of a sign shall not exceed 1,500 nits during daylight hours and 150 nits at all other times. Signs incorporating displays that use light emitting diodes (LEDs), charge coupling devices (CCDs), plasma, or functionally equivalent technologies shall be equipped with automatic dimming technology and certified by the manufacturer or a qualified professional to be compliant with the maximum luminance standards...(6)Automatic Changeable Copy...(b)Signs incorporating automatic changeable copy are permitted in any zoning district, but are not permitted on any property containing a use listed under the Household Living or Group Living subcategories...(c)(i)The display or copy shall remain static prior to each change for a period of not less than eight seconds.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 2-307(I)(5)(c) sets the luminance ceiling for any illuminated sign: no sign may exceed 1,500 nits during daylight hours or 150 nits at all other times, and any sign using LEDs, charge coupling devices, plasma, or similar technology must carry automatic dimming technology certified by the manufacturer or a qualified professional as compliant with that cap. Sec. 2-307(I)(6) separately governs automatic changeable copy, defined as the capacity to electronically change displayed words, symbols, or images by remote or automatic means. 2-216. 25 seconds if digital or 2 seconds if mechanical, changes cannot use animation, scrolling, or simulated movement, and the device must default to a static display if it malfunctions.
New off-premises signs and outdoor advertising signs, including any conversion to an LED electronic display or automatic changeable copy, require a Use Permit from City Council under Sec. 2-307(H)(2), and off-premises/outdoor advertising signs (attached and freestanding) are permitted only in the IL and IN industrial districts, capped at 672 square feet and 50 feet in height under Sec. 2-307(J)(3)(e).
Violations & Fines
A digital sign exceeding the 1,500/150-nit luminance caps, changing copy faster than the 8-second static/0.25-second transition standard, or installed on a Household Living or Group Living property is a Sign Ordinance violation; installing or converting an off-premises digital display without the required Use Permit is grounds for the Zoning Administrator to deny the permit or order the display removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How bright can a digital sign be in Portsmouth?
How often can an electronic sign change its display in Portsmouth?
Are digital billboards allowed near Portsmouth homes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Portsmouth
Compare Portsmouth to another location·View the Virginia sign regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.