The telegram reports that Total Outdoor’s plan to erect two two-sided electronic billboards overlooking the Massachusetts Turnpike is moving ahead. Total has agreed to make a $1 million in payments to the town over 20 years. $250,000 up-front consisting of the first 5 years worth of payments on the sign […]
By Kerry Yoakum (OAAA) One out of three states could consider proposals this year to tax services traditionally exempt from sales taxes (advertising is a service). Several factors are driving this trend: Some states face budget stress The service sector is a growing part of the economy Politically, taxing services […]
Care to guess which six states which are least friendly to outdoor advertising? A 2010 study of local regulation of outdoor advertising in 215 jurisdictions by Alan Weinstein, commissioned by the OAAA, found that 64% of the cities which most stringently regulate signs are located in just six states: Arizona […]
Ponte Vendra Recorder reports that the St John’s County, Florida planning and zoning agency voted 5 to 1 to to recommend that the Board of county Commissions delete digital billboards from proposed changes to sign code regulations. The decision reverses a plan for a pilot program to permit digital signs. […]
BizTimes in Milwaukee, WI reports that Clear Channel Outdoor lost an appeal on a challenge to $7.2 million in real estate tax assessments on their 850 billboards. Clear Channel had previously paid the $7.2 million obligation for the years 2009-2013 but had challenged the real estate assessments as invalid arguing […]
By Kerry Yoakum, OAAA Legal challenges to billboard controls were filed in four states, prompted by a 2015 Supreme Court ruling that bolstered free speech protections. Two of those four cases recently have been dismissed, in Rhode Island and Georgia. In late January, the Rhode Island case (Rhode Island DOT […]
Insider published a post February 11 stating that the Austin Statesman had reported that the Texas DOT is considering a proposal to raise the maximum billboard height on Texas roads from 42.5 feet to 65 foot maximum. Margaret Lloyd of Scenic America Texas contacted Insider saying the story was […]
Amortization refers to the practice of forcing a billboard company to remove a billboard after an arbitrary period of time without compensation for the loss. One of the goals of the Scenic America Strategic Plan for 2016-2019 is to encourage communities to get rid of billboards by amortization. There are […]
StAugustine.com reports the St Johns County, Florida Planning and Zoning Agency is considering changes to Land Development Code to permit a two year test of digital billboards. The regulations will: Require an 8 second flip Limit digital signs to industrial and commercially zoned areas adjacent to I-95. Require the removal […]
Villages-News reports that the Wildwood, Florida city commission has adopted a comprehensive sign ordinance which prohibits new billboards. Existing billboards are permitted and can be repaired. Existing billboards can be relocated under certain conditions such as a roadway expansion. Paid Advertisement
