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H.B. 141 Enrolled

             1     

BILLBOARD AMENDMENTS
             2      2009 GENERAL SESSION
             3      STATE OF UTAH
             4      Chief Sponsor: Craig A. Frank
             5      Senate Sponsor: Wayne L. Niederhauser
             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies provisions relating to billboards.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    modifies the criteria under which a county or municipality is considered to have
             13      initiated the acquisition of a billboard structure by eminent domain when the
             14      county or municipality prevents the billboard owner from relocating the billboard;
             15          .    modifies the height limitation applicable to a billboard erected by an owner who
             16      modifies, upgrades, or relocates a billboard;
             17          .    increases from 60 to 90 days the period during which a county or municipality and
             18      billboard owner have to agree to a mutually acceptable location before the county
             19      or municipality is considered to have initiated the acquisition of a billboard by
             20      eminent domain;
             21          .    modifies the allowable height of an outdoor advertising sign whose height is
             22      adjusted by the owner because of an obstruction due to state agency action; and
             23          .    adds definitions to county and municipal land use provisions and to the Utah
             24      Outdoor Advertising Act.
             25      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             26          None
             27      Other Special Clauses:
             28          None
             29      Utah Code Sections Affected:

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             30      AMENDS:
             31          10-9a-511, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 171
             32          10-9a-513, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 171
             33          17-27a-510, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 171
             34          17-27a-512, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 171
             35          72-7-502, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 254
             36          72-7-510.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 68
             37     
             38      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             39          Section 1. Section 10-9a-511 is amended to read:
             40           10-9a-511. Nonconforming uses and noncomplying structures.
             41          (1) (a) Except as provided in this section, a nonconforming use or noncomplying
             42      structure may be continued by the present or a future property owner.
             43          (b) A nonconforming use may be extended through the same building, provided no
             44      structural alteration of the building is proposed or made for the purpose of the extension.
             45          (c) For purposes of this Subsection (1), the addition of a solar energy device to a
             46      building is not a structural alteration.
             47          (2) The legislative body may provide for:
             48          (a) the establishment, restoration, reconstruction, extension, alteration, expansion, or
             49      substitution of nonconforming uses upon the terms and conditions set forth in the land use
             50      ordinance;
             51          (b) the termination of all nonconforming uses, except billboards, by providing a
             52      formula establishing a reasonable time period during which the owner can recover or amortize
             53      the amount of his investment in the nonconforming use, if any; and
             54          (c) the termination of a nonconforming use due to its abandonment.
             55          (3) (a) A municipality may not prohibit the reconstruction or restoration of a
             56      noncomplying structure or terminate the nonconforming use of a structure that is involuntarily
             57      destroyed in whole or in part due to fire or other calamity unless the structure or use has been

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             58      abandoned.
             59          (b) A municipality may prohibit the reconstruction or restoration of a noncomplying
             60      structure or terminate the nonconforming use of a structure if:
             61          (i) the structure is allowed to deteriorate to a condition that the structure is rendered
             62      uninhabitable and is not repaired or restored within six months after written notice to the
             63      property owner that the structure is uninhabitable and that the noncomplying structure or
             64      nonconforming use will be lost if the structure is not repaired or restored within six months; or
             65          (ii) the property owner has voluntarily demolished a majority of the noncomplying
             66      structure or the building that houses the nonconforming use.
             67          (c) (i) Notwithstanding a prohibition in its zoning ordinance, a municipality may
             68      permit a billboard owner to relocate the billboard within the municipality's boundaries to a
             69      location that is mutually acceptable to the municipality and the billboard owner.
             70          (ii) If the municipality and billboard owner cannot agree to a mutually acceptable
             71      location within [60] 90 days after the owner submits a written request to relocate the billboard,
             72      the provisions of Subsection 10-9a-513 [(1)](2)(a)(iv) apply.
             73          (4) (a) Unless the municipality establishes, by ordinance, a uniform presumption of
             74      legal existence for nonconforming uses, the property owner shall have the burden of
             75      establishing the legal existence of a noncomplying structure or nonconforming use.
             76          (b) Any party claiming that a nonconforming use has been abandoned shall have the
             77      burden of establishing the abandonment.
             78          (c) Abandonment may be presumed to have occurred if:
             79          (i) a majority of the primary structure associated with the nonconforming use has been
             80      voluntarily demolished without prior written agreement with the municipality regarding an
             81      extension of the nonconforming use;
             82          (ii) the use has been discontinued for a minimum of one year; or
             83          (iii) the primary structure associated with the nonconforming use remains vacant for a
             84      period of one year.
             85          (d) The property owner may rebut the presumption of abandonment under Subsection

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             86      (4)(c), and shall have the burden of establishing that any claimed abandonment under
             87      Subsection (4)(c) has not in fact occurred.
             88          (5) A municipality may terminate the nonconforming status of a school district or
             89      charter school use or structure when the property associated with the school district or charter
             90      school use or structure ceases to be used for school district or charter school purposes for a
             91      period established by ordinance.
             92          Section 2. Section 10-9a-513 is amended to read:
             93           10-9a-513. Municipality's acquisition of billboard by eminent domain --
             94      Removal without providing compensation -- Limit on allowing nonconforming
             95      billboards to be rebuilt.
             96          (1) As used in this section:
             97          (a) "Clearly visible" means capable of being read without obstruction by an occupant
             98      of a vehicle traveling on a street or highway within the visibility area.
             99          (b) "Highest allowable height" means:
             100          (i) if the height allowed by the municipality, by ordinance or consent, is higher than
             101      the height under Subsection (1)(b)(ii), the height allowed by the municipality; or
             102          (ii) (A) for a noninterstate billboard:
             103          (I) if the height of the previous use or structure is 45 feet or higher, the height of the
             104      previous use or structure; or
             105          (II) if the height of the previous use or structure is less than 45 feet, the height of the
             106      previous use or structure or the height to make the entire advertising content of the billboard
             107      clearly visible, whichever is higher, but no higher than 45 feet; and
             108          (B) for an interstate billboard:
             109          (I) if the height of the previous use or structure is at or above the interstate height, the
             110      height of the previous use or structure; or
             111          (II) if the height of the previous use or structure is less than the interstate height, the
             112      height of the previous use or structure or the height to make the entire advertising content of
             113      the billboard clearly visible, whichever is higher, but no higher than the interstate height.

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             114          (c) "Interstate billboard" means a billboard that is intended to be viewed from a
             115      highway that is an interstate.
             116          (d) "Interstate height" means a height that is the higher of:
             117          (i) 65 feet above the ground; and
             118          (ii) 25 feet above the grade of the interstate.
             119          (e) "Noninterstate billboard" means a billboard that is intended to be viewed from a
             120      street or highway that is not an interstate.
             121          (f) "Visibility area" means the area on a street or highway that is:
             122          (i) defined at one end by a line extending from the base of the billboard across all
             123      lanes of traffic of the street or highway in a plane that is perpendicular to the street or
             124      highway; and
             125          (ii) defined on the other end by a line extending across all lanes of traffic of the street
             126      or highway in a plane that is:
             127          (A) perpendicular to the street or highway; and
             128          (B) (I) for an interstate billboard, 500 feet from the base of the billboard; or
             129          (II) for a noninterstate billboard, 300 feet from the base of the billboard.
             130          [(1)] (2) (a) A municipality is considered to have initiated the acquisition of a
             131      billboard structure by eminent domain if the municipality prevents a billboard owner from:
             132          (i) rebuilding, maintaining, repairing, or restoring a billboard structure that is damaged
             133      by casualty, an act of God, or vandalism;
             134          (ii) except as provided in Subsection [(1)] (2)(c), relocating or rebuilding a billboard
             135      structure, or taking other measures, to correct a mistake in the placement or erection of a
             136      billboard for which the municipality has issued a permit, if the proposed relocation,
             137      rebuilding, or other measure is consistent with the intent of that permit;
             138          (iii) structurally modifying or upgrading a billboard; or
             139          (iv) relocating a billboard into any commercial, industrial, or manufacturing zone
             140      within the municipality's boundaries, if the relocated billboard is:
             141          (A) within [2,640] 5,280 feet of its previous location;

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             142          (B) no closer than [500]:
             143          (I) 300 feet from an off-premise sign existing on the same side of the street or
             144      highway; or
             145          (II) if the street or highway is an interstate or limited access highway that is subject to
             146      Title 72, Chapter 7, Part 5, Utah Outdoor Advertising Act, the distance allowed under that act
             147      between the relocated billboard and an off-premise sign existing on the same side of the
             148      interstate or limited access highway; and
             149          (C) (I) the billboard owner has submitted a written request under Subsection
             150      10-9a-511 (3)(c); and
             151          (II) the municipality and billboard owner are unable to agree, within the time provided
             152      in Subsection 10-9a-511 (3)(c), to a mutually acceptable location.
             153          (b) A billboard owner structurally modifying or upgrading a billboard under
             154      Subsection [(1)] (2)(a)(iii) or relocating the billboard under Subsection [(1)] (2)(a)(iv):
             155          (i) may[, as the owner determines]:
             156          (A) erect the billboard:
             157          (I) to the highest allowable height; and
             158          (II) as the owner determines, to an angle that makes the entire advertising content of
             159      the billboard clearly visible; and
             160          [(I) to a height that is at least the same as, but no higher than, the previous use or
             161      structure, unless the municipality's ordinances allow or the municipality consents to a higher
             162      structure; and]
             163          [(II) to a height and angle to make it clearly visible to traffic on the main traveled way
             164      of the street or highway on which the billboard is located; and]
             165          (B) install a sign face on the billboard that is at least the same size as, but no larger
             166      than, the sign face on the billboard before its relocation; and
             167          (ii) shall comply with Title 72, Chapter 7, Part 5, Utah Outdoor Advertising Act, to the
             168      extent applicable.
             169          (c) A municipality's denial of a billboard owner's request to relocate or rebuild a

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             170      billboard structure, or to take other measures, in order to correct a mistake in the placement or
             171      erection of a billboard does not constitute the initiation of acquisition by eminent domain
             172      under Subsection [(1)] (2)(a) if the mistake in placement or erection of the billboard is
             173      determined by clear and convincing evidence to have resulted from an intentionally false or
             174      misleading statement:
             175          (i) by the billboard applicant in the application; and
             176          (ii) regarding the placement or erection of the billboard.
             177          [(2)] (3) Notwithstanding Subsection [(1)] (2) and Section 10-9a-512 , a municipality
             178      may remove a billboard without providing compensation if:
             179          (a) the municipality determines:
             180          (i) by clear and convincing evidence that the applicant for a permit intentionally made
             181      a false or misleading statement in the applicant's application regarding the placement or
             182      erection of the billboard; or
             183          (ii) by substantial evidence that the billboard:
             184          (A) is structurally unsafe;
             185          (B) is in an unreasonable state of repair; or
             186          (C) has been abandoned for at least 12 months;
             187          (b) the municipality notifies the owner in writing that the owner's billboard meets one
             188      or more of the conditions listed in Subsections [(2)] (3)(a)(i) and (ii);
             189          (c) the owner fails to remedy the condition or conditions within:
             190          (i) except as provided in Subsection [(2)] (3)(c)(ii), 90 days following the billboard
             191      owner's receipt of written notice under Subsection [(2)] (3)(b); or
             192          (ii) if the condition forming the basis of the municipality's intention to remove the
             193      billboard is that it is structurally unsafe, ten business days, or a longer period if necessary
             194      because of a natural disaster, following the billboard owner's receipt of written notice under
             195      Subsection [(2)] (3)(b); and
             196          (d) following the expiration of the applicable period under Subsection [(2)] (3)(c) and
             197      after providing the owner with reasonable notice of proceedings and an opportunity for a

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             198      hearing, the municipality finds:
             199          (i) by clear and convincing evidence, that the applicant for a permit intentionally made
             200      a false or misleading statement in the application regarding the placement or erection of the
             201      billboard; or
             202          (ii) by substantial evidence that the billboard is structurally unsafe, is in an
             203      unreasonable state of repair, or has been abandoned for at least 12 months.
             204          [(3)] (4) A municipality may not allow a nonconforming billboard to be rebuilt or
             205      replaced by anyone other than its owner or the owner acting through its contractors.
             206          [(4)] (5) A permit issued, extended, or renewed by a municipality for a billboard
             207      remains valid from the time the municipality issues, extends, or renews the permit until 180
             208      days after a required state permit is issued for the billboard if:
             209          (a) the billboard requires a state permit; and
             210          (b) an application for the state permit is filed within 30 days after the municipality
             211      issues, extends, or renews a permit for the billboard.
             212          Section 3. Section 17-27a-510 is amended to read:
             213           17-27a-510. Nonconforming uses and noncomplying structures.
             214          (1) (a) Except as provided in this section, a nonconforming use or a noncomplying
             215      structure may be continued by the present or a future property owner.
             216          (b) A nonconforming use may be extended through the same building, provided no
             217      structural alteration of the building is proposed or made for the purpose of the extension.
             218          (c) For purposes of this Subsection (1), the addition of a solar energy device to a
             219      building is not a structural alteration.
             220          (2) The legislative body may provide for:
             221          (a) the establishment, restoration, reconstruction, extension, alteration, expansion, or
             222      substitution of nonconforming uses upon the terms and conditions set forth in the land use
             223      ordinance;
             224          (b) the termination of all nonconforming uses, except billboards, by providing a
             225      formula establishing a reasonable time period during which the owner can recover or amortize

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             226      the amount of his investment in the nonconforming use, if any; and
             227          (c) the termination of a nonconforming use due to its abandonment.
             228          (3) (a) A county may not prohibit the reconstruction or restoration of a noncomplying
             229      structure or terminate the nonconforming use of a structure that is involuntarily destroyed in
             230      whole or in part due to fire or other calamity unless the structure or use has been abandoned.
             231          (b) A county may prohibit the reconstruction or restoration of a noncomplying
             232      structure or terminate the nonconforming use of a structure if:
             233          (i) the structure is allowed to deteriorate to a condition that the structure is rendered
             234      uninhabitable and is not repaired or restored within six months after written notice to the
             235      property owner that the structure is uninhabitable and that the noncomplying structure or
             236      nonconforming use will be lost if the structure is not repaired or restored within six months; or
             237          (ii) the property owner has voluntarily demolished a majority of the noncomplying
             238      structure or the building that houses the nonconforming use.
             239          (c) (i) Notwithstanding a prohibition in its zoning ordinance, a county may permit a
             240      billboard owner to relocate the billboard within the county's unincorporated area to a location
             241      that is mutually acceptable to the county and the billboard owner.
             242          (ii) If the county and billboard owner cannot agree to a mutually acceptable location
             243      within [60] 90 days after the owner submits a written request to relocate the billboard, the
             244      provisions of Subsection 17-27a-512 [(1)](2)(a)(iv) apply.
             245          (4) (a) Unless the county establishes, by ordinance, a uniform presumption of legal
             246      existence for nonconforming uses, the property owner shall have the burden of establishing the
             247      legal existence of a noncomplying structure or nonconforming use.
             248          (b) Any party claiming that a nonconforming use has been abandoned shall have the
             249      burden of establishing the abandonment.
             250          (c) Abandonment may be presumed to have occurred if:
             251          (i) a majority of the primary structure associated with the nonconforming use has been
             252      voluntarily demolished without prior written agreement with the county regarding an extension
             253      of the nonconforming use;

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             254          (ii) the use has been discontinued for a minimum of one year; or
             255          (iii) the primary structure associated with the nonconforming use remains vacant for a
             256      period of one year.
             257          (d) The property owner may rebut the presumption of abandonment under Subsection
             258      (4)(c), and shall have the burden of establishing that any claimed abandonment under
             259      Subsection (4)(c) has not in fact occurred.
             260          (5) A county may terminate the nonconforming status of a school district or charter
             261      school use or structure when the property associated with the school district or charter school
             262      use or structure ceases to be used for school district or charter school purposes for a period
             263      established by ordinance.
             264          Section 4. Section 17-27a-512 is amended to read:
             265           17-27a-512. County's acquisition of billboard by eminent domain -- Removal
             266      without providing compensation -- Limit on allowing nonconforming billboard to be
             267      rebuilt.
             268          (1) As used in this section:
             269          (a) "Clearly visible" means capable of being read without obstruction by an occupant
             270      of a vehicle traveling on a street or highway within the visibility area.
             271          (b) "Highest allowable height" means:
             272          (i) if the height allowed by the county, by ordinance or consent, is higher than the
             273      height under Subsection (1)(b)(ii), the height allowed by the county; or
             274          (ii) (A) for a noninterstate billboard:
             275          (I) if the height of the previous use or structure is 45 feet or higher, the height of the
             276      previous use or structure; or
             277          (II) if the height of the previous use or structure is less than 45 feet, the height of the
             278      previous use or structure or the height to make the entire advertising content of the billboard
             279      clearly visible, whichever is higher, but no higher than 45 feet; and
             280          (B) for an interstate billboard:
             281          (I) if the height of the previous use or structure is at or above the interstate height, the

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             282      height of the previous use or structure; or
             283          (II) if the height of the previous use or structure is less than the interstate height, the
             284      height of the previous use or structure or the height to make the entire advertising content of
             285      the billboard clearly visible, whichever is higher, but no higher than the interstate height.
             286          (c) "Interstate billboard" means a billboard that is intended to be viewed from a
             287      highway that is an interstate.
             288          (d) "Interstate height" means a height that is the higher of:
             289          (i) 65 feet above the ground; and
             290          (ii) 25 feet above the grade of the interstate.
             291          (e) "Noninterstate billboard" means a billboard that is intended to be viewed from a
             292      street or highway that is not an interstate.
             293          (f) "Visibility area" means the area on a street or highway that is:
             294          (i) defined at one end by a line extending from the base of the billboard across all
             295      lanes of traffic of the street or highway in a plane that is perpendicular to the street or
             296      highway; and
             297          (ii) defined on the other end by a line extending across all lanes of traffic of the street
             298      or highway in a plane that is:
             299          (A) perpendicular to the street or highway; and
             300          (B) (I) for an interstate billboard, 500 feet from the base of the billboard; or
             301          (II) for a noninterstate billboard, 300 feet from the base of the billboard.
             302          [(1)] (2) (a) A county is considered to have initiated the acquisition of a billboard
             303      structure by eminent domain if the county prevents a billboard owner from:
             304          (i) rebuilding, maintaining, repairing, or restoring a billboard structure that is damaged
             305      by casualty, an act of God, or vandalism;
             306          (ii) except as provided in Subsection [(1)] (2)(c), relocating or rebuilding a billboard
             307      structure, or taking other measures, to correct a mistake in the placement or erection of a
             308      billboard for which the county has issued a permit, if the proposed relocation, rebuilding, or
             309      other measure is consistent with the intent of that permit;

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             310          (iii) structurally modifying or upgrading a billboard; or
             311          (iv) relocating a billboard into any commercial, industrial, or manufacturing zone
             312      within the unincorporated area of the county, if the relocated billboard is:
             313          (A) within [2,640] 5,280 feet of its previous location;
             314          (B) no closer than [500]:
             315          (I) 300 feet from an off-premise sign existing on the same side of the street or
             316      highway; or
             317          (II) if the street or highway is an interstate or limited access highway that is subject to
             318      Title 72, Chapter 7, Part 5, Utah Outdoor Advertising Act, the distance allowed under that act
             319      between the relocated billboard and an off-premise sign existing on the same side of the
             320      interstate or limited access highway; and
             321          (C) (I) the billboard owner has submitted a written request under Subsection
             322      17-27a-510 (3)(c); and
             323          (II) the county and billboard owner are unable to agree, within the time provided in
             324      Subsection 17-27a-510 (3)(c), to a mutually acceptable location.
             325          (b) A billboard owner structurally modifying or upgrading a billboard under
             326      Subsection [(1)] (2)(a)(iii) or relocating the billboard under Subsection [(1)] (2)(a)(iv):
             327          (i) may[, as the owner determines]:
             328          (A) erect the billboard:
             329          (I) to the highest allowable height; and
             330          (II) as the owner determines, to an angle that makes the entire advertising content of
             331      the billboard clearly visible; and
             332          [(I) to a height that is at least the same as, but no higher than, the previous use or
             333      structure, unless the county's ordinances allow or the county consents to a higher structure;
             334      and]
             335          [(II) to a height and angle to make it clearly visible to traffic on the main traveled way
             336      of the street or highway on which the billboard is located; and]
             337          (B) install a sign face on the billboard that is at least the same size as, but no larger

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             338      than, the sign face on the billboard before its relocation; and
             339          (ii) shall comply with Title 72, Chapter 7, Part 5, Utah Outdoor Advertising Act, to the
             340      extent applicable.
             341          (c) A county's denial of a billboard owner's request to relocate or rebuild a billboard
             342      structure, or to take other measures, in order to correct a mistake in the placement or erection
             343      of a billboard does not constitute the initiation of acquisition by eminent domain under
             344      Subsection [(1)] (2)(a) if the mistake in placement or erection of the billboard is determined by
             345      clear and convincing evidence to have resulted from an intentionally false or misleading
             346      statement:
             347          (i) by the billboard applicant in the application; and
             348          (ii) regarding the placement or erection of the billboard.
             349          [(2)] (3) Notwithstanding Subsection [(1)] (2) and Section 17-27a-511 , a county may
             350      remove a billboard without providing compensation if:
             351          (a) the county determines:
             352          (i) by clear and convincing evidence that the applicant for a permit intentionally made
             353      a false or misleading statement in the applicant's application regarding the placement or
             354      erection of the billboard; or
             355          (ii) by substantial evidence that the billboard:
             356          (A) is structurally unsafe;
             357          (B) is in an unreasonable state of repair; or
             358          (C) has been abandoned for at least 12 months;
             359          (b) the county notifies the owner in writing that the owner's billboard meets one or
             360      more of the conditions listed in Subsections [(2)] (3)(a)(i) and (ii);
             361          (c) the owner fails to remedy the condition or conditions within:
             362          (i) except as provided in Subsection [(2)] (3)(c)(ii), 90 days following the billboard
             363      owner's receipt of written notice under Subsection [(2)] (3)(b); or
             364          (ii) if the condition forming the basis of the county's intention to remove the billboard
             365      is that it is structurally unsafe, ten business days, or a longer period if necessary because of a

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             366      natural disaster, following the billboard owner's receipt of written notice under Subsection
             367      [(2)] (3)(b); and
             368          (d) following the expiration of the applicable period under Subsection [(2)] (3)(c) and
             369      after providing the owner with reasonable notice of proceedings and an opportunity for a
             370      hearing, the county finds:
             371          (i) by clear and convincing evidence, that the applicant for a permit intentionally made
             372      a false or misleading statement in the application regarding the placement or erection of the
             373      billboard; or
             374          (ii) by substantial evidence that the billboard is structurally unsafe, is in an
             375      unreasonable state of repair, or has been abandoned for at least 12 months.
             376          [(3)] (4) A county may not allow a nonconforming billboard to be rebuilt or replaced
             377      by anyone other than its owner or the owner acting through its contractors.
             378          [(4)] (5) A permit issued, extended, or renewed by a county for a billboard remains
             379      valid from the time the county issues, extends, or renews the permit until 180 days after a
             380      required state permit is issued for the billboard if:
             381          (a) the billboard requires a state permit; and
             382          (b) an application for the state permit is filed within 30 days after the county issues,
             383      extends, or renews a permit for the billboard.
             384          Section 5. Section 72-7-502 is amended to read:
             385           72-7-502. Definitions.
             386          As used in this part:
             387          (1) "Clearly visible" means capable of being read without obstruction by an occupant
             388      of a vehicle traveling on the main traveled way of a street or highway within the visibility area.
             389          [(1)] (2) "Commercial or industrial activities" means those activities generally
             390      recognized as commercial or industrial by zoning authorities in this state, except that none of
             391      the following are commercial or industrial activities:
             392          (a) agricultural, forestry, grazing, farming, and related activities, including wayside
             393      fresh produce stands;

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             394          (b) transient or temporary activities;
             395          (c) activities not visible from the main-traveled way;
             396          (d) activities conducted in a building principally used as a residence; and
             397          (e) railroad tracks and minor sidings.
             398          [(2)] (3) "Commercial or industrial zone" means only:
             399          (a) those areas within the boundaries of cities or towns that are used or reserved for
             400      business, commerce, or trade, or zoned as a highway service zone, under enabling state
             401      legislation or comprehensive local zoning ordinances or regulations;
             402          (b) those areas within the boundaries of urbanized counties that are used or reserved
             403      for business, commerce, or trade, or zoned as a highway service zone, under enabling state
             404      legislation or comprehensive local zoning ordinances or regulations;
             405          (c) those areas outside the boundaries of urbanized counties and outside the
             406      boundaries of cities and towns that:
             407          (i) are used or reserved for business, commerce, or trade, or zoned as a highway
             408      service zone, under comprehensive local zoning ordinances or regulations or enabling state
             409      legislation; and
             410          (ii) are within 8420 feet of an interstate highway exit, off-ramp, or turnoff as measured
             411      from the nearest point of the beginning or ending of the pavement widening at the exit from or
             412      entrance to the main-traveled way; or
             413          (d) those areas outside the boundaries of urbanized counties and outside the
             414      boundaries of cities and towns and not within 8420 feet of an interstate highway exit,
             415      off-ramp, or turnoff as measured from the nearest point of the beginning or ending of the
             416      pavement widening at the exit from or entrance to the main-traveled way that are reserved for
             417      business, commerce, or trade under enabling state legislation or comprehensive local zoning
             418      ordinances or regulations, and are actually used for commercial or industrial purposes.
             419          [(3)] (4) "Commercial or industrial zone" does not mean areas zoned for the sole
             420      purpose of allowing outdoor advertising.
             421          [(4)] (5) "Comprehensive local zoning ordinances or regulations" means a

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             422      municipality's comprehensive plan required by Section 10-9a-401 , the municipal zoning plan
             423      authorized by Section 10-9a-501 , and the county master plan authorized by Sections
             424      17-27a-401 and 17-27a-501 . Property that is rezoned by comprehensive local zoning
             425      ordinances or regulations is rebuttably presumed to have not been zoned for the sole purpose
             426      of allowing outdoor advertising.
             427          [(5)] (6) "Directional signs" means signs containing information about public places
             428      owned or operated by federal, state, or local governments or their agencies, publicly or
             429      privately owned natural phenomena, historic, cultural, scientific, educational, or religious
             430      sites, and areas of natural scenic beauty or naturally suited for outdoor recreation, that the
             431      department considers to be in the interest of the traveling public.
             432          [(6)] (7) (a) "Erect" means to construct, build, raise, assemble, place, affix, attach,
             433      create, paint, draw, or in any other way bring into being.
             434          (b) "Erect" does not include any activities defined in Subsection [(6)] (7)(a) if they are
             435      performed incident to the change of an advertising message or customary maintenance of a
             436      sign.
             437          [(7)] (8) "Highway service zone" means a highway service area where the primary use
             438      of the land is used or reserved for commercial and roadside services other than outdoor
             439      advertising to serve the traveling public.
             440          [(8)] (9) "Information center" means an area or site established and maintained at rest
             441      areas for the purpose of informing the public of:
             442          (a) places of interest within the state; or
             443          (b) any other information that the department considers desirable.
             444          [(9)] (10) "Interchange or intersection" means those areas and their approaches where
             445      traffic is channeled off or onto an interstate route, excluding the deceleration lanes,
             446      acceleration lanes, or feeder systems, from or to another federal, state, county, city, or other
             447      route.
             448          [(10)] (11) "Maintain" means to allow to exist, subject to the provisions of this
             449      chapter.

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             450          [(11)] (12) "Maintenance" means to repair, refurbish, repaint, or otherwise keep an
             451      existing sign structure safe and in a state suitable for use, including signs destroyed by
             452      vandalism or an act of God.
             453          [(12)] (13) "Main-traveled way" means the through traffic lanes, including auxiliary
             454      lanes, acceleration lanes, deceleration lanes, and feeder systems, exclusive of frontage roads
             455      and ramps. For a divided highway, there is a separate main-traveled way for the traffic in each
             456      direction.
             457          [(13)] (14) "Official signs and notices" means signs and notices erected and
             458      maintained by public agencies within their territorial or zoning jurisdictions for the purpose of
             459      carrying out official duties or responsibilities in accordance with direction or authorization
             460      contained in federal, state, or local law.
             461          [(14)] (15) "Off-premise signs" means signs located in areas zoned industrial,
             462      commercial, or H-1 and in areas determined by the department to be unzoned industrial or
             463      commercial.
             464          [(15)] (16) "On-premise signs" means signs used to advertise the major activities
             465      conducted on the property where the sign is located.
             466          [(16)] (17) "Outdoor advertising" means any outdoor advertising structure or outdoor
             467      structure used in combination with an outdoor advertising sign or outdoor sign.
             468          [(17)] (18) "Outdoor advertising corridor" means a strip of land 350 feet wide,
             469      measured perpendicular from the edge of a controlled highway right-of-way.
             470          [(18)] (19) "Outdoor advertising structure" or "outdoor structure" means any sign
             471      structure, including any necessary devices, supports, appurtenances, and lighting that is part of
             472      or supports an outdoor sign.
             473          [(19)] (20) "Point of widening" means the point of the gore or the point where the
             474      intersecting lane begins to parallel the other lanes of traffic, but the point of widening may
             475      never be greater than 2,640 feet from the center line of the intersecting highway of the
             476      interchange or intersection at grade.
             477          [(20)] (21) "Public assembly facility" means a convention facility as defined under

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             478      Section 59-12-602 and that:
             479          (a) is wholly or partially funded by public moneys; and
             480          (b) requires a person attending an event at the public assembly facility to purchase a
             481      ticket or that otherwise charges for the use of the public assembly facility as part of its regular
             482      operation.
             483          [(21)] (22) "Relocation" includes the removal of a sign from one situs together with
             484      the erection of a new sign upon another situs in a commercial or industrial zoned area as a
             485      substitute.
             486          [(22)] (23) "Relocation and replacement" means allowing all outdoor advertising signs
             487      or permits the right to maintain outdoor advertising along the interstate, federal aid primary
             488      highway existing as of June 1, 1991, and national highway system highways to be maintained
             489      in a commercial or industrial zoned area to accommodate the displacement, remodeling, or
             490      widening of the highway systems.
             491          [(23)] (24) "Remodel" means the upgrading, changing, alteration, refurbishment,
             492      modification, or complete substitution of a new outdoor advertising structure for one permitted
             493      pursuant to this part and that is located in a commercial or industrial area.
             494          [(24)] (25) "Rest area" means an area or site established and maintained within or
             495      adjacent to the right-of-way by or under public supervision or control for the convenience of
             496      the traveling public.
             497          [(25)] (26) "Scenic or natural area" means an area determined by the department to
             498      have aesthetic value.
             499          [(26)] (27) "Traveled way" means that portion of the roadway used for the movement
             500      of vehicles, exclusive of shoulders and auxiliary lanes.
             501          [(27)] (28) (a) "Unzoned commercial or industrial area" means:
             502          (i) those areas not zoned by state law or local law, regulation, or ordinance that are
             503      occupied by one or more industrial or commercial activities other than outdoor advertising
             504      signs;
             505          (ii) the lands along the highway for a distance of 600 feet immediately adjacent to

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             506      those activities; and
             507          (iii) lands covering the same dimensions that are directly opposite those activities on
             508      the other side of the highway, if the department determines that those lands on the opposite
             509      side of the highway do not have scenic or aesthetic value.
             510          (b) In measuring the scope of the unzoned commercial or industrial area, all
             511      measurements shall be made from the outer edge of the regularly used buildings, parking lots,
             512      storage, or processing areas of the activities and shall be along or parallel to the edge of
             513      pavement of the highway.
             514          (c) All signs located within an unzoned commercial or industrial area become
             515      nonconforming if the commercial or industrial activity used in defining the area ceases for a
             516      continuous period of 12 months.
             517          [(28)] (29) "Urbanized county" means a county with a population of at least 125,000
             518      persons.
             519          (30) "Visibility area" means the area on a street or highway that is:
             520          (a) defined at one end by a line extending from the base of the billboard across all
             521      lanes of traffic of the street or highway in a plane that is perpendicular to the street or
             522      highway; and
             523          (b) defined on the other end by a line extending across all lanes of traffic of the street
             524      or highway in a plane that is:
             525          (i) perpendicular to the street or highway; and
             526          (ii) 500 feet from the base of the billboard.
             527          Section 6. Section 72-7-510.5 is amended to read:
             528           72-7-510.5. Height adjustments for outdoor advertising signs.
             529          (1) If the view and readability of an outdoor advertising sign, including a sign that is a
             530      nonconforming sign as defined in Section 72-7-510 , a noncomplying structure as defined in
             531      Sections 10-9a-103 and 17-27a-103 , or a nonconforming use as defined in Sections 10-9a-103
             532      and 17-27a-103 is obstructed due to a noise abatement or safety measure, grade change,
             533      construction, directional sign, highway widening, or aesthetic improvement made by an

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             534      agency of this state, along an interstate, federal aid primary highway existing as of June 1,
             535      1991, national highway systems highway, or state highway or by an improvement created on
             536      real property subsequent to the department's disposal of the property under Section 72-5-111 ,
             537      the owner of the sign may:
             538          (a) adjust the height of the sign; or
             539          (b) relocate the sign to a point within 500 feet of its prior location, if the sign complies
             540      with the spacing requirements under Section 72-7-505 and is in a commercial or industrial
             541      zone.
             542          (2) A height adjusted sign under this section does not constitute a substantial change
             543      to the sign.
             544          (3) The county or municipality in which the outdoor advertising sign is located shall,
             545      if necessary, provide for the height adjustment or relocation by ordinance for a special
             546      exception to its zoning ordinance.
             547          (4) (a) The height adjusted sign:
             548          (i) may be erected:
             549          (A) to a height [and angle] to make [it] the entire advertising content of the sign
             550      clearly visible [to traffic on the main-traveled way of the highway and]; and
             551          (B) to an angle to make the entire advertising content of the sign clearly visible; and
             552          (ii) shall be the same size as the previous sign.
             553          (b) The provisions of Subsection (4)(a) are an exception to the height requirements
             554      under Section 72-7-505 .

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