(1)  The purpose of this part is to provide the statutory basis for the regulation of outdoor advertising consistent with zoning principles and standards and the public policy of this state in providing public safety, health, welfare, convenience and enjoyment of public travel, to protect the public investment in highways, to preserve the natural scenic beauty of lands bordering on highways, and to ensure that outdoor advertising shall be continued as a standardized medium of communication throughout the state so that it is preserved and can continue to provide general information in the specific interest of the traveling public safely and effectively.

Terms Used In Utah Code 72-7-501

  • Federal aid primary highway: means that portion of connected main highways located within this state officially designated by the department and approved by the United States Secretary of Transportation under Title 23, Highways, U. See Utah Code 72-1-102
  • Highway: means any public road, street, alley, lane, court, place, viaduct, tunnel, culvert, bridge, or structure laid out or erected for public use, or dedicated or abandoned to the public, or made public in an action for the partition of real property, including the entire area within the right-of-way. See Utah Code 72-1-102
  • National highway systems highways: means that portion of connected main highways located within this state officially designated by the department and approved by the United States Secretary of Transportation under Title 23, Highways, U. See Utah Code 72-1-102
  • Outdoor advertising: means any outdoor advertising structure or outdoor structure used in combination with an outdoor advertising sign or outdoor sign within the outdoor advertising corridor which is visible from a place on the main-traveled way of a controlled route. See Utah Code 72-7-502
  • Property: includes both real and personal property. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • United States: includes each state, district, and territory of the United States of America. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
(2)  It is the purpose of this part to provide a statutory basis for the reasonable regulation of outdoor advertising consistent with the customary use, zoning principles and standards, the protection of private property rights, and the public policy relating to areas adjacent to the interstate, federal aid primary highway existing as of June 1, 1991, and the national highway systems highways.

(3)  The agreement entered into between the governor of the state of Utah and the Secretary of Transportation of the United States dated January 18, 1968, regarding the size, lighting, and spacing of outdoor advertising which may be erected and maintained within areas adjacent to the interstate, federal aid primary highway existing as of June 1, 1991, and national highway systems highways which are zoned commercial or industrial or in other unzoned commercial or industrial areas as defined pursuant to the terms of the agreement is hereby ratified and approved, subject to subsequent amendments.

Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 270, 1998 General Session