HB 2097 -- Billboards

Sponsor:  Dixon

This bill changes the laws regarding billboards.  In its main
provisions, the bill:

(1)  Allows local authorities to adopt regulations regarding
billboard size, lighting, and spacing provisions that are more
restrictive than state law if they are reasonable, allow for
customary industry usage, and comply with the intent of the
provisions of the bill.  Local regulations cannot have the intent
or effect of prohibiting billboards on commercial or industrial
property within 660 feet of certain highways.  If a court rules
that a local regulation is prohibitive, unreasonable, or fails to
allow for customary industry usage, the statutory state
requirements will apply until a valid ordinance is adopted by the
local zoning authority;

(2)  Prohibits the Highways and Transportation Commission from
issuing new state sign permits after the date the commission
approves funding for any phase or portion of construction or
reconstruction of a street or highway until the completion of the
project and requires all existing signs to conform to the
requirements for outdoor advertising in effect on August 27,
1999;

(3)  Allows an owner of an existing sign who meets all state
requirements for outdoor advertising in effect on August 27,
1999, and the federal/state agreement and who voluntarily
executes a partial waiver and reset agreement with the commission
to reset signs on the same or adjoining property as long as the
owner obtains the necessary local approval.  Owners entering into
a reset agreement with the commission will receive compensation
for the actual cost of resetting the sign.  Signs must be
reconstructed with the same type of materials and cannot exceed
the square footage of the original sign;

(4)  Allows a sign owner 120 days from receiving a written notice
that a sign will be displaced by construction to execute a reset
agreement.  If an owner fails to execute an agreement, the
commission has the right to initiate normal condemnation
procedures for the compensated removal of the sign;

(5)  Allows local zoning authorities to prohibit an owner from
resetting a qualifying sign that does not comply with local
regulations but requires the local authorities to reimburse the
commission for the cost to condemn the sign less the cost to
reset the sign; and

(6)  Requires all signs to be subject to the biennial inspection
fees under Section 226.550, RSMo.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:13 pm