San Antonio, TX Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)
Key Facts
- New digital billboards
- Prohibited citywide + ETJ
- Pilot-program cap
- 15 permits (13 built)
- Minimum dwell time
- 10 seconds
- Spacing from another digital
- 2,000 feet
- Max brightness, full color day
- 7,000 NITS
Summary
New off-premises digital signs, digital billboards, are prohibited across San Antonio and its ETJ. Only the roughly 13 LED billboards from a 2007 pilot program, plus narrowly council-authorized additions, may operate, and each must meet strict dwell-time, spacing, and brightness limits.
New, off-premise digital signs are prohibited within the jurisdiction of the city, provided however, that the director was previously authorized to issue fifteen (15) off-premise digital sign permits pursuant to Ordinance No. 2007-12-06-1247. Existing off-premise digital signs are subject to this section... The dwell time... shall be at least ten (10) seconds... An off-premises digital sign may not be within two thousand (2,000) feet of another off-premise digital sign facing the same traveled way. In no case shall an off-premise digital sign be in a line of sight with another off-premise digital sign.
Full Breakdown
Section 28-54 of the Sign Code flatly prohibits new off-premise digital signs citywide and in the ETJ; the director was authorized to issue only 15 pilot-program permits (13 were built) under Ordinance 2007-12-06-1247. Existing digital billboards must hold each message at least 10 seconds and change it within one second, sit at least 2,000 feet from another off-premise digital sign facing the same traveled way, never be in line of sight of one, meet full-cutoff criteria at 3000K, and cap full-color brightness at 7,000 NITS by day / 2,500 at night with a dimmer, photocell, and malfunction freeze. Development Services enforces. Converting a static face to digital requires removing four square feet of existing sign face per square foot of display.
Violations & Fines
A Chapter 28 violation is a misdemeanor punished by a fine up to $500 (Sec. 28-9), with each day a separate offense. Unpermitted or unregistered off-premises signs are removed at the owner's expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a new digital billboard in San Antonio?
How fast can an existing digital billboard change messages?
How bright are they allowed to be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Antonio
Texas rules heatmap·Compare San Antonio to another location·View the Texas sign regulations overview
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Digital Billboards in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Bexar County handle digital billboards.