Outdoor advertising displays: redevelopment agency project areas.

Existing law, the Outdoor Advertising Act, provides for the regulation by the Department of Transportation of an advertising display, as defined, within view of public highways. The act regulates the placement of an off-premises advertising display along highways that generally advertises business conducted or services rendered or goods produced or sold at a location other than the property where the display is located. The act does not apply to an on-premises advertising display, which generally advertises business conducted or services rendered or goods produced or sold at the location where the display is located. However, until January 1, 2023, the act treats an off-premises advertising display developed as part of and within the boundary limits of a redevelopment agency project, as those boundaries existed on December 29, 2011, as an on-premises advertising display if it meets certain criteria, subject to an extension beyond January 1, 2023, not to exceed the expiration of the redevelopment project area, upon a showing of good cause, as specified, to the department by the applicable city, county, or city and county. Existing law requires the advertising copy of these advertising displays within redevelopment agency boundary limits to advertise only the businesses or activities operating within those boundary limits, imposes other related display requirements, and requires a city, county, or city and county to annually certify to the department that these advertising copy requirements are met. Existing law requires that a redevelopment area advertising display be removed by January 1, 2023, or by the end of any applicable extension, unless it qualifies as a lawful display under the act, without the payment of any compensation to the owner or operator. This bill would, instead, treat an off-premises advertising display within the boundary limits of a redevelopment agency project, as detailed above, that meets the applicable criteria as an on-premises advertising display until January 1, 2026, would eliminate the authorization for an extension for good cause, would eliminate the requirements regarding advertising copy, and would eliminate the explicit requirement that the display be removed without compensation to the owner or operator.