Senate Bill 534 - Revisions to Outdoor Advertising Laws

• Revises North Carolina's outdoor advertising regulations to declare that outdoor advertising is a legitimate commercial use and important medium of communication that should be regulated to balance advertiser needs with state beautification.

• Establishes detailed criteria for qualifying unzoned commercial or industrial areas for outdoor advertising permits, including requirements that activities maintain business licenses, have basic utilities, be in active operation for 6+ months, be open at least 20 hours per week, and be visible and recognizable as commercial from the highway.

• Creates new provisions allowing relocation and reconstruction of lawfully existing outdoor advertising signs displaced by eminent domain actions, with relocations permitted within 660 feet of interstate or primary highways and allowing height increases up to 50 feet.

• Expands vegetation removal rights for outdoor advertising sign owners by defining specific cut or removal zones and allowing the Department of Transportation to approve vegetation removal along acceleration/deceleration ramps and medians to improve sign visibility.

• Reduces the permitting timeline for selective vegetation removal permits from 2 years to 1 year of prior permitted operation and establishes automatic approval if the Department does not issue written notice of approval or denial within 30 days.