Warren, MI Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sign Ordinance § 4A.27
- Signs per property
- 1 electronic message center
- Digital area cap
- 25% of freestanding sign area
- Nighttime brightness cap
- .3 foot-candles above ambient
- Message change rate
- No faster than every 30 seconds
- Content rule
- Static messaging only, no animation
Summary
Warren limits every property to one electronic message center, a digital sign face that can change its message by computer control. The display area cannot exceed 25% of the allowed freestanding sign area, brightness is capped at .3 foot-candles above ambient light at night, and messages must stay static and hold for at least 30 seconds.
(a)From one hour before dusk to one hour after dawn, the light emitted from the electronic message center does not exceed .3 foot-candles over the ambient light levels measured from anywhere on the public right-of-way or along the lot line;(b)Except a property where a business has a valid State of Michigan Motor Fuels Retail Outlet License, the digital display area of an electronic message center does not exceed 25% of the total permitted free standing sign area;(c)There is no more than one electronic message center;(d)The electronic message center is a freestanding sign;(e)An electronic message center uses only static electronic messaging; and(f)An electronic message center does not change its graphics or message more than once every 30 seconds.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 102).
Full Breakdown
11 as a sign that displays its message on a lighted digital face changeable by computer control. 3 foot-candles above the ambient light level measured anywhere along the public right-of-way or the lot line, a brightness cap meant to control glare into neighboring streets and yards at night. The digital display area itself is limited to 25 percent of the property's total permitted freestanding sign area, though the ordinance carves out an exception for any property holding a valid State of Michigan Motor Fuels Retail Outlet License, recognizing that gas stations commonly need larger digital price displays.
Only one electronic message center is allowed per property, it must take the form of a freestanding sign rather than a wall or projecting sign, and its message content must stay static, meaning no scrolling, flashing, or video-style animation. The sign also cannot change its graphics or message more than once every thirty seconds, which rules out rapid-fire rotating ad content. 14(b).
Violations & Fines
Operating more than one electronic message center on a property, exceeding the .3 foot-candle nighttime brightness limit, running digital display area over 25 percent of the permitted freestanding sign area without a motor fuels retailer license, using animated or scrolling content instead of static messaging, or changing the message faster than every thirty seconds violates Section 4A.27 and can bring an order to repair or remove the sign under Section 4A.20.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many digital signs can a Warren business have?
Can a digital billboard in Warren scroll or show video?
Is there a brightness limit on digital signs at night?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Warren
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