Sacramento, CA Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sacramento City Code § 15.148.965
- Max height to display face
- 85 feet (90 feet overall)
- Standard max display-face area
- 700 square feet
- Stadium-agreement max face (up to 2 signs)
- 1,200 square feet
- Minimum still-image duration
- 8 seconds, 1-second max transition
- Where allowed
- City-owned/leased land adjacent to a freeway
- Agreement term cap
- 35 years, then billboard removed
Summary
Sacramento bans new digital billboards outright except through a city council agreement. Section 15.148.965 lets the council authorize digital billboards only on city-owned or city-leased land next to a freeway, capped at 85 feet to the display face, a 700-square-foot display face, and still images held at least 8 seconds with no motion or flashing.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this chapter, the maximum height of a digital-billboard structure, measured from grade to the top of the digital-display face, is 85 feet; and the overall maximum height, measured from grade to the top of the billboard structure, is 90 feet. ... the maximum area of each digital-display face is 700 square feet, and a digital billboard may have either one or two digital-display faces. A digital billboard may display only a series of still images, each of which is displayed for at least eight seconds. The still images may not move or present the appearance of motion and may not use flashing, scintillating, blinking, or traveling lights or any other means not providing constant illumination. Transition or blank screen time between still images may not exceed one second.
Full Breakdown
965 does not open digital billboards to the general market: it authorizes them only through city council agreements tied to specific public benefits. Relocation agreements under subsection B let the council approve relocating an existing billboard as a digital sign onto city-owned property adjacent to a freeway, in any commercial or industrial zoning district, notwithstanding the chapter's normal relocation rules. Funding agreements for indoor arenas (subsection C) allow up to six digital billboards if the owner funds at least 40% of the cost to design and construct an indoor arena seating at least 15,000 people for professional major-league sports, and removes the billboards at the owner's expense when the agreement ends (maximum term 35 years).
Funding agreements for outdoor stadiums (subsection D) allow up to seven digital billboards for an owner funding at least 40% of a 12,000-seat outdoor stadium; up to two of those billboards may carry a display face as large as 1,200 square feet instead of the standard cap. Subsection E permits digital billboards in subdistrict 3 of the Railyards sign district under a separate agreement process. Every authorized digital billboard is subject to the common provisions in subsection F: each display face must face the adjacent freeway, structure height is capped at 85 feet to the top of the display face (90 feet overall), the standard display-face area is 700 square feet, and each billboard may show only still images displayed at least 8 seconds apiece, with transitions capped at one second and no flashing, scintillating, blinking, or traveling-light effects.
§ 131), California's Outdoor Advertising Act (Cal. & Prof. ) and its implementing regulations, and the city must clear CEQA review before approving any agreement. 148 separately defines a "digital billboard" as a billboard or other off-site sign using digital-display technology, distinguishing it from on-site digital signage regulated elsewhere in the chapter.
Violations & Fines
Erecting, altering, relocating, or maintaining any sign, including a digital billboard, in violation of Chapter 15.148 is declared a public nuisance under Sacramento City Code § 15.148.1160, and any person who violates the chapter is guilty of an infraction. The city attorney is authorized to bring a court action to enjoin the violation, separate from any infraction penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a private landowner build a digital billboard in Sacramento?
How many digital billboards can one agreement authorize?
Can a digital billboard show animated content or video in Sacramento?
What happens if a digital billboard violates the sign chapter?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento
California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento to another location·View the California sign regulations overview
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Digital Billboards in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sacramento County handle digital billboards.