Hartford, CT Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Location
- I-91 or I-84 west of Park St
- New billboard cap
- Up to 3, on city land
- City-line buffer
- 500+ feet from city line
- Fee per face
- $175,000-$300,000+ into fund
- Permit term
- Maximum 5 years
Summary
Billboards visible from Interstate 91 or Interstate 84 west of Park Street may convert to digital displays only by special permit, staying 500+ feet from the city line and paying into Hartford's complete streets fund.
an existing large-scale billboard with off-site advertising on property adjacent to or along and visible from Interstate 91, or Interstate 84 west of Park Street, may be converted to a dynamic display, and up to 3 new large-scale billboards with a dynamic display may be erected on city property adjacent to Interstate 91, only if the property owner, or in the case of city-owned property the billboard operator or lessee, applies for a special permit and in the judgment of the commission satisfies the special permit criteria of 1.3.4 and the following criteria, prior to the issuance of any such permit:(a)Does not locate such billboard within 500 feet of the city line
Full Breakdown
Section 8.12.3 D(2) lets an existing large-scale off-site billboard along I-91, or I-84 west of Park Street, convert to a dynamic display, and allows up to 3 new large-scale digital billboards on city-owned property adjacent to I-91. Both require a special permit meeting the standard 1.3.4 criteria plus added conditions: the sign must stay at least 500 feet from the city line, the operator must pay $175,000 (removing another static board) or $300,000 (no removal) per face into the complete streets fund, with annual increases after 2019, and must provide the city at least 10 hours of monthly ad time between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Violations & Fines
A converted or new I-91/I-84 billboard that stops meeting the monthly city ad-time obligation, moves within 500 feet of the city line, or otherwise breaches its special permit conditions loses the continued validity of that permit under § 8.12.3 F(2).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a new billboard be built anywhere along I-91 in Hartford?
Does the city get anything in return for approving a digital billboard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hartford
Compare Hartford to another location·View the Connecticut sign regulations overview
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