Decision On Digital Billboard Ordinance In Beaumont Delayed Until Possibly Next Year

BEAUMONT, CA — A decision on whether the city should adopt regulations that would lift its existing ban on most digital billboards has been delayed after the planning commission approved a request to revisit the item at a later date.

The request to remove the item from the calendar was based on "the need for additional internal review in coordination before bringing up the item for public consideration," Community Development Director Steven Jones said during the meeting on Wednesday.

Subscribe

"We're pausing the ordinance's progression to ensure policy framework, operational implications, and interdepartmental feedback are aligned with the general plan and the city's protocols. As a result, this ordinance will be brought back to the commission with an updated schedule and any substantive changes that may result from additional analysis again to ensure legality and the implications for what we're proposing," he said.

RELATED: Beaumont Rethinks Its Ban On Digital Billboards

On Aug. 12, the planning commission deferred a decision on the ordinance after staff recommended the item be revisited on Sept. 9, including a public hearing.

Jones told the commissioners on Wednesday he anticipates the item will return to the planning commission within six months.

"If approved, the proposed ordinance would provide a predictable regulatory framework, reduce visual clutter, maintain safety, and preserve scenic vistas while supporting economic development opportunities," city staff wrote in meeting documents.

RELATED: Beaumont Planning Commission Delays Consideration Of Digital Billboards

The draft ordinance includes strict operational controls, sign-spacing requirements, height limits, lighting regulations, and options for development agreements or revenue sharing. It also incorporates "takedown ratios," requiring the removal of three static billboard faces for every new digital face installed.

Last year, the city council directed staff to explore if digital billboards should come to Beaumont. The city conducted a survey from Dec. 29, 2025, to Feb. 18, 2026, to gather public feedback. The city received 177 survey responses, with many expressing opposition to the idea of allowing digital billboard in Beaumont, citing concerns over driver distraction and nighttime light pollution.