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Administrative Code

Virginia Administrative Code
12/7/2024

Part III. Signs on Rights of Way of the Interstate and Other Controlled Access Highways

24VAC30-120-160. Definitions.

The original text of Part III pertains to traffic signs and other markers, which are exempt from the Administrative Process Act. The department has filed a replacement to this part as VR 385-01-63 ("Supplemental Signing Criteria") to comply with provisions of the Virginia Register Act (§ 2.2-4100 et seq. of the Code of Virginia). This document is available for inspection at the Department of Transportation, in the Office of Public Affairs in the Department's principal office at 1401 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219.

Part IV
Control and Continuance of Nonconforming Signs, Advertisements, and Advertising Structures

The definitions set out in § 33.2-1200 of the Code of Virginia and the following definitions shall apply:

"Erect" means to construct, build, raise, assemble, place, affix, attach, create, paint, draw, or in any other way bring into being or establish.

"Nonconforming sign" means one which was lawfully erected but which does not comply with the provisions of state law or state regulations passed at a later date or which later fails to comply with state law or state regulations due to changed conditions.

An example of changed conditions would be a sign or advertisement lawfully in existence in a commercial area which at a later date becomes noncommercial and thus required to be protected, or a sign or advertisement lawfully erected on a federal-aid secondary highway later upgraded to a federal-aid primary highway. Illegally erected or maintained signs or advertisements are not nonconforming signs.

"Nonconforming sign - grandfather clause" means a sign lawfully in existence on certain dates or as specified in the state-federal agreement erected in a commercial or industrial area which does not conform to size, lighting, or spacing criteria.

Statutory Authority

§§ 33.2-210, 33.2-1200, and 33.2-1220 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR385-01-13 § 4.1, eff. April 1, 1976; amended, Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 10, eff. March 8, 1995; Volume 31, Issue 7, eff. December 31, 2014.

24VAC30-120-170. Criteria for the maintenance and continuance of a nonconforming sign, advertisement or advertising structure.

A. To be classified as a nonconforming sign or structure, such sign or structure must have been in lawful existence on the effective date of the state law or regulation or changed condition and must continue to be lawfully maintained.

B. To be allowed to continue as nonconforming, a sign or structure must remain substantially unchanged from its condition as of the effective date of the state law or regulations or changed condition.

1. Replacement, extension, or enlargement of the sign or structure is a substantial change in the existing use.

2. The change of location or height of such sign or structure is a substantial change in the existing use.

3. A change of the message content is not a substantial change in existing use. In the event a sign has been blank for a period of 18 consecutive months, the owner will be given written notice of 120 days to display a message on or remove such sign structure. In the event a message is not displayed on the sign structure within 120 days from the postdate of the aforementioned written notice, the permit shall be cancelled.

4. Rebuilding, or re-erecting the sign or structure, is a substantial change in existing use if such rebuilding, or re-erection expenses exceed 50% of the current replacement cost new of the entire sign or structure.

EXCEPTION:

If it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the commissioner that a nonconforming sign or structure has been vandalized or subject to other criminal or tortious act, then the replacement, rebuilding, or re-erecting of such sign or structure will not be considered a substantial change in existing use irrespective of the cost of such replacement; however, it will be considered a substantial change in existing use if damage to nonconforming signs or structures is caused by natural disasters, hurricanes, high winds, hail, or the like, and such damage exceeds 50% of the current replacement cost new of the entire sign or structure. In the event vandalism and an act of God combine to damage a nonconforming sign or structure, the commissioner shall determine the percentage allocated to each cause of damage before determining whether a substantial change in existing use has occurred.

5. Normal upkeep and repair of such sign or structure on a frequent basis, to the extent that the total cost of such repairs in the 12-month period would not exceed 50% of the current replacement cost new of the entire sign or structure, is not a substantial change in existing use.

C. In reaching a determination on the cost point in subdivisions B 4 and B 5 of this section the following will apply:

1. The sign owner shall furnish the commissioner cost data supporting any contention that such sign or structure is not damaged more than 50% of the current replacement cost new.

2. The commissioner may also utilize any other data available to him.

3. A sign or advertising structure lawfully in existence under the "Grandfather Clause" (see 24VAC30-120-160, Definitions) must conform to the criteria set out herein.

4. Certain standard maintenance practices and techniques utilized by the industry relating to how repairs are accomplished may be individually approved, in which case nonconforming rights shall not be terminated.

5. A nonconforming sign or structure that does not conform to the foregoing criteria shall constitute a substantial change in existing use thereby terminating nonconforming rights and legal status.

D. Once the sign owner has submitted the data per subsection C of this section, the commissioner, per §§ 33.2-1201 and 33.2-1219 of the Code of Virginia, shall make a determination whether the cost of the requested or required repairs exceeds 50% of the current replacement cost new of the entire billboard or structure. The determination shall be communicated to the sign owner and the building official of the locality. The sign owner is required to apply for a building permit from the locality before repairs can be commenced. If the building official of the locality objects to the commissioner's determination, for good cause shown, he may submit the objection to the commissioner, with a copy to the sign owner, within 30 days of the building permit application by the sign owner. Upon receipt of the objection the commissioner, per §§ 33.2-1201 and 33.2-1219 of the Code of Virginia, shall consider the documentation submitted by the building official and reissue a determination, which shall be binding upon the locality.

Statutory Authority

§§ 33.2-210, 33.2-1200, and 33.2-1220 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR385-01-13 § 4.2, eff. April 1, 1976; amended, Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 10, eff. March 8, 1995; Volume 21, Issue 3, eff. November 17, 2004; Volume 31, Issue 7, eff. December 31, 2014.

24VAC30-120-180. Right to continue.

The right to continue a nonconforming sign, advertisement, or advertising structure is not confined to its owner or any one individual or corporation so using the land. Thus, a nonconforming sign, advertisement, or advertising structure may be sold, leased or otherwise transferred without affecting its status.

Statutory Authority

§§ 33.2-210, 33.2-1200, and 33.2-1220 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR385-01-13 § 4.3, eff. April 1, 1976; amended, Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 10, eff. March 8, 1995.

24VAC30-120-190. Owner's responsibility.

The owner is responsible for the maintenance and continuance of a sign, advertisement, or advertising structure in conformity with the foregoing, which is not construed to relieve owner of such responsibility, nor to waive applicable provisions of the Code of Virginia relating to outdoor advertising including, but not limited to, §§ 33.2-1200, 33.2-1211, 33.2-1216, 33.2-1217, 33.2-1220, and 33.2-1227 of the Code of Virginia.

Statutory Authority

§§ 33.2-210, 33.2-1200, and 33.2-1220 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR385-01-13 § 4.4, eff. April 1, 1976; amended, Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 10, eff. March 8, 1995; Volume 31, Issue 7, eff. December 31, 2014.

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