SB 493

Under current law, if a highway project of the Department of Transportation

(DOT) causes the realignment of an outdoor advertising sign that does not conform

to a local ordinance (sign), the realignment does not affect the sign's nonconforming

status under the ordinance. "Realignment" is defined as relocation on the same site.

If DOT proposes the realignment of a sign in connection with a highway project, DOT

must notify the municipality or county that adopted the ordinance to which the sign

does not conform of the sign's proposed realignment. The municipality or county may

then petition DOT to condemn the sign instead of realigning the sign, but must pay

DOT for certain costs of condemnation if DOT succeeds in condemning the sign.

This bill expands these provisions to relocation of a sign to a new location within

the same municipality, not just on the same site. The bill also specifies that

relocation of a sign means either the dismantling and moving of the sign or the

removal of the sign and erection of a replacement sign constructed of new materials.

The bill also requires all of the following with respect to relocation of a sign caused

by a DOT highway project: 1) that the size of the sign face, and the number of sign

faces on the sign, after relocation must be the same as prior to relocation; 2) that the

height of the sign, as measured from road-grade level, after relocation must be equal

to or greater than prior to relocation; and 3) that the new location for the sign must

meet all requirements for a sign permit.