The N.C. House today passed a measure that would limit local governments’ ability to regulate billboards and put scenic highways at risk, but rejected many of the most egregious provisions in the measure’s original version.
The bill, sponsored by Reps. Jason Saine, Jimmy Dixon, Brenden Jones, and Michael Wray, passed the House on a 77-39 vote. It now moves to the Senate, which has in the past been more willing than the House to accommodate the billboard industry’s wish list.
H645, Revisions to Outdoor Advertising Laws, would allow billboard owners more leeway to relocate billboards to places that local governments do not currently allow. Currently, nonconforming billboards may be repaired and maintained, but not expanded or moved. The N.C. Department of Transportation may not issue permits to any proposed new or relocated billboard that violates local government ordinances, and relocated billboards are treated the same as new billboards for purposes of zoning ordinance control.
Amendments added in House committees and on the floor restrict where billboards may be relocated, prevent relocated billboards from being digitized, and remove a provision making the bill retroactive.
An amendment by Rep. Chuck McGrady eliminated provisions that would have permitted a significant expansion of tree-cutting on public right-of-ways to improve the visibility of billboards.
“North Carolina’s local governments must have the ability to control the safety and appearance of their roadway, and have local ordinances respected.” said Molly Diggins, N.C. Sierra Club state director. “While we regret the House passage of the bill, we appreciate the amendments to improve it. As the state Senate now takes up the bill, we call on its members to place the public interest ahead of unwarranted giveaways to the billboard industry.”