HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 1691

BYRepresentatives Walk, Grimm and Belcher

Regulating billboards in commercial and industrial zones.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (18)

      Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Cantwell, Cooper, Day, Doty, Fisher, Gallagher, Hankins, Haugen, Jones, Meyers, Prince, Schmidt, D. Sommers, Vekich and K. Wilson.

House Staff:Mary McLaughlin (786-7309)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 15, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Along primary and Interstate highways, the state's Scenic Vistas Act limits the erection of billboards to:  (1) areas zoned "commercial or industrial" by county or municipal code, or (2) unzoned areas where there are three or more commercial or industrial activities within a 500-foot length and the area within 500 feet on both sides of the highway.

Commercial or industrial activities along certain segments of state highways are in areas officially zoned "general" by the county or city.  In a recent Pierce County court decision, areas zoned "general use" within the County were determined to be "unzoned".  Therefore, billboards installed in a general-use zone area within the county are legal, as long as three or more commercial or industrial activities are located within the zone.

The spacing between billboards erected along uncontrolled access highways outside the incorporated limits of cities and towns is 500 feet.

SUMMARY:

Billboards are no longer permitted along primary and Interstate highways in general-use zones, or in unzoned areas.  The erection of billboards is limited to areas zoned "commercial or industrial".  The spacing between billboards along uncontrolled access highways in incorporated areas is increased to 2,000 feet.  Existing billboards in unzoned or general-use zone areas, and those erected along uncontrolled access highways outside the incorporated limits, are allowed to remain and be maintained as nonconforming signs.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.