Another week, another bill to take a closer look at. This week, it’s House Bill 581, which seeks to deregulate NC zoning law in regard to restrictions on outdoor advertising, a.k.a. Billboards. We’re asking that legislators please vote NO on H581 due to its disregard for zoning rules and local jurisdiction, as well as the concerning fiscal precedent it creates.
One of the biggest problems with this bill is that it creates a loophole for existing billboards to relocate wherever they want, often in unzoned areas, exempting these billboards from current restrictions on where billboards are allowed to be erected. This can and will result in billboards being moved from areas where they are small and unobtrusive to areas where they are more obtrusive and distracting to drivers.
This bill would also allow these relocated billboards to be expanded in size and converted to digital and flashing billboards. All of this stems from a part of the bill that allows the billboards a “right to be clearly viewed” that gives the billboard companies the ability to ignore local tree-cutting ordinances. This removes protections granted to dogwoods and redbuds in these areas.
The “right to be clearly viewed” provision and exemption from local tree-cutting ordinances highlight a major problem in this bill: the unnecessary and blatant steamrolling of local jurisdiction and opinion regarding these loosened restrictions. If a county or municipality doesn’t want billboard companies to cut down large swathes of trees or set up a distracting or undesirable billboard, local leaders will have no recourse.
Billboard companies could also receive dramatically greater compensation for relocation and reconstruction costs as well as for loss of business during relocation. Since federal dollars cannot be allocated for this purpose, the state would shoulder most of the burden, according to NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT). This bill is also fiscally questionable since the new definitions, digital billboards, and other proposed changes could result in a loss of 10% of federal highway funding, also according to NCDOT.
Bottom Line: This bill sidesteps local governance and excessively deregulates the outdoor advertising industry in ways that are detrimental to local safety and wildlife, in addition to being fiscally irresponsible. North Carolina lawmakers should vote “NO” on House Bill 581 to protect North Carolina’s scenic beauty and to avoid wasting taxpayer dollars to support a special interest.
