Richardson, TX Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)
Key Facts
- Message hold time
- Minimum 4 minutes
- Change duration
- 2 seconds or less
- Brightness cap
- 1 foot-candle at property line
- School/residential timer
- 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. illumination
- Setback
- 150 ft (general) / 50 ft (school/timer)
- Permit
- Required (Sec. 18-96(8)(g))
Summary
Electronic message signs in Richardson must hold each message at least four minutes, change it within two seconds, skip all flashing or animation, and cap brightness at one foot-candle at the property line, under Sec. 18-96(8), with a city sign permit required before installation.
(8)Electronic messaging.a.Definition/purpose: Provide identification or advertisement of a specific business, service, product, activity, person, organization, place or building. ... f.Design:1.Moving, flashing, animated, intermittently-lighted, changing color, beacons, revolving, scrolling, dissolving, or similarly constructed signs shall not be allowed.2.Each message shall be displayed for at least four minutes and a change of message shall be accomplished within two seconds or less. ... 6.The illumination intensity of the display of a digital display shall not exceed one foot candle measured at the property line.7.Signs erected at a public school (except scoreboards), religious institution, or other lawful nonresidential use in a residential zoned district must be regulated by an automated timer that limits the period of illumination from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Signs must be erected a minimum of 50 feet from an adjacent residential property line.8.Signs located in a nonresidential zoned district must be located a minimum of 150 feet from a residential zoned property.g.Permit required: Yes.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 35 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Section 18-96(8) governs electronic messaging signs, limited to one per street frontage on a monument or pole sign in apartment, office, technical office, industrial, retail and commercial districts. The design rules are specific: moving, flashing, animated, intermittently-lighted, color-changing, revolving, scrolling or dissolving displays are not allowed; each message must display for at least four minutes, and changing between messages must take two seconds or less. Brightness must automatically adjust to ambient light and cannot interfere with the vision of traffic on an adjacent road, and the illumination intensity of the digital display cannot exceed one foot candle measured at the property line.
A malfunctioning sign must be equipped with a default mechanism that reverts it immediately to a single fixed image or a black screen. and sit at least 50 feet from the nearest residential property line; electronic signs in nonresidential districts generally must sit at least 150 feet from residential zoning. The signs cannot display commercial messages for products or services not offered on the premises, and a permit is required under subsection (g).
Violations & Fines
Installing an electronic message sign that flashes, animates, changes faster than every four minutes, exceeds the one-foot-candle brightness cap, or sits closer than the required residential setback violates Sec. 18-96(8). Sec. 18-4 sets the penalty by reference to Sec. 1-8: a fine of up to $500 per violation, with the sign owner and landowner both responsible under Sec. 18-3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an electronic sign in Richardson flash or scroll?
How long must an electronic sign display each message?
How close can a digital sign sit to a house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Richardson
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