The director is directed to acquire by purchase, gift, condemnation, or exchange, signs lawfully erected which do not conform to this chapter or the rules established by the director. Owners of advertising structures, signs, displays, or devices acquired by the director pursuant to this section, and the owners of the land upon which such displays are located must be paid just compensation for the reasonable damages, if any, suffered by the reason of such removal.

Terms Used In North Dakota Code 24-17-05

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Director: means the director of the department of transportation of this state, acting directly or through authorized agents as provided in section 24-02-01. See North Dakota Code 24-01-01.1
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Right of way: means a general term denoting land, property, or interest therein, acquired for or devoted to highway purposes and shall include, but not be limited to publicly owned and controlled rest and recreation areas, sanitary facilities reasonably necessary to accommodate the traveling public, and tracts of land necessary for the restoration, preservation, and enhancement of scenic beauty adjacent to the state highway system. See North Dakota Code 24-01-01.1
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49

Just compensation must be paid upon the removal of any outdoor advertising sign, display, or device lawfully erected and maintained under state law, provided that federal matching funds are appropriated, allotted, and made available to this state under title 23, United States Code, for the purpose of providing just compensation for the removal of such signs, displays, or devices. A municipality, county or local zoning authority, or political subdivision may not remove or cause to be removed any advertising structures, except such structures that encroach upon the right of way, without paying compensation in accordance with this section.