84.30(3)(a)
(a) Directional and other official signs, including, but not limited to, signs pertaining to natural wonders, scenic and historical attractions, which are required or authorized by law, and which comply with rules which shall be promulgated by the department relative to their lighting, size, number, spacing and such other requirements as are appropriate to implement this section, but such rules shall not be inconsistent with, nor more restrictive than, such national standards as may be promulgated from time to time by the secretary of transportation of the United States under
23 USC 131 (c).
84.30(3)(b)
(b) Signs advertising the sale or lease of property upon which they are located if such signs comply with rules of the department.
84.30(3)(c)
(c) Signs advertising activities conducted on the property on which they are located if such on-property signs comply with applicable federal law and the June 1961 agreement between the department and the federal highway administrator relative to control of advertising adjacent to interstate highways. No on-property sign may be erected in a location where it constitutes a traffic hazard. If the department issues permits for outdoor advertising signs, the department is not required to issue permits for on-property signs that conform to the requirements of this paragraph. On-property signs may be illuminated, subject to the following restrictions:
84.30(3)(c)1.
1. Signs that contain, include or are illuminated by any flashing, intermittent or moving light or lights are prohibited, except electronic signs permitted by rule of the department.
84.30(3)(c)2.
2. Signs that are not effectively shielded as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any portion of the traveled ways of the interstate or federal-aid primary highway and that are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or to impair the vision of the driver of any motor vehicle, or that otherwise interfere with any driver's operation of a motor vehicle, are prohibited.
84.30(3)(c)3.
3. No sign may be so illuminated that it interferes with the effectiveness of or obscures an official traffic sign, device or signal.
84.30(3)(d)
(d) Signs located in business areas on March 18, 1972.
84.30(3)(e)
(e) Signs to be erected in business areas subsequent to March 18, 1972 which when erected will comply with
sub. (4).
84.30(3)(f)
(f) Signs located in urban areas outside the adjacent area.
84.30(3)(g)
(g) Landmark signs lawfully in existence on October 22, 1965.
84.30(3)(h)
(h) Signs outside the adjacent area which are not erected with the purpose of their message being read from the main-traveled way of an interstate or primary highway.
84.30(3)(i)
(i) Signs on farm buildings which are utilized by owners of the building for agricultural purposes if the signs promote a Wisconsin agricultural product unless prohibited by federal law.
84.30(3)(j)1.1. Signs erected by the Crime Stoppers, the nationwide organization affiliated with local police departments, on or before October 14, 1997, without regard to whether the department has issued a license for the sign. The department may not remove a sign authorized under this paragraph unless the sign does not conform to federal requirements. The requirements under
s. 86.19 do not apply to signs described in this subdivision.
84.30(3)(j)2.
2. Notwithstanding
subd. 1., whenever a sign authorized under this paragraph requires replacement due to damage or deterioration, the department shall require the sign to be licensed under
sub. (10) and to meet all of the requirements of this section and
s. 86.19.
84.30(4)
(4) Sign criteria. The department shall effectively control or cause to be controlled, the erection and maintenance of outdoor advertising signs, displays and devices that are erected subsequent to March 18, 1972 in all business areas. Whenever a bona fide county or local zoning authority has made a determination of customary use, as to size, lighting and spacing such determination may be accepted in lieu of controls by agreement in the zoned commercial and industrial areas within the geographical jurisdiction of such authority. In all other business areas, the criteria set forth below shall apply:
84.30(4)(a)1.
1. The maximum areas for any one sign shall be 1,200 square feet with a maximum height of 30 feet and maximum length of 60 feet, inclusive of any border and trim but excluding the base or apron, supports and other structural members.
84.30(4)(a)2.
2. The areas shall be measured by the smallest square, rectangle, triangle, circle or combination thereof which will encompass the entire sign.
84.30(4)(a)3.
3. The maximum size limitations shall apply to each side of a sign structure and signs may be placed back-to-back, side-by-side, or in V-type construction with not more than 2 displays to each facing, and such sign structure shall be considered as one sign.
84.30(4)(b)
(b) Signs may be illuminated, subject to the following restrictions:
84.30(4)(b)1.
1. Signs which contain, include, or are illuminated by any flashing, intermittent, or moving light or lights are prohibited, except those specified in
par. (bm) and those giving public service information such as time, date, temperature, weather, or similar information.
84.30(4)(b)2.
2. Signs which are not effectively shielded as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any portion of the traveled ways of the interstate or federal-aid primary highway and which are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or to impair the vision of the driver of any motor vehicle, or which otherwise interfere with any driver's operation of a motor vehicle are prohibited.
84.30(4)(b)3.
3. No sign shall be so illuminated that it interferes with the effectiveness of, or obscures an official traffic sign, device, or signal.
84.30(4)(bm)
(bm) Signs may contain multiple or variable messages, including messages on louvers that are rotated and messages formed solely by use of lights or other electronic or digital displays, that may be changed by any electronic process, subject to all of the following restrictions:
84.30(4)(bm)1.
1. Each change of message shall be accomplished in one second or less.
84.30(4)(bm)2.
2. Each message shall remain in a fixed position for at least 6 seconds.
84.30(4)(bm)3.
3. The use of traveling messages or segmented messages is prohibited.
84.30(4)(bm)4.
4. The department, by rule, may prohibit or establish restrictions on the illumination of messages to a degree of brightness that is greater than necessary for adequate visibility.
84.30(4)(c)1.
1. On interstate and federal-aid primary highways signs may not be located in such a manner as to obscure, or otherwise physically interfere with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, signal, or device, obstruct or physically interfere with the driver's view of approaching, merging, or intersecting traffic.
84.30(4)(c)2.
2. On interstate highways and freeways on the federal-aid primary system no 2 structures shall be spaced less than 500 feet apart. Outside of incorporated villages and cities, no structure may be located adjacent to or within 500 feet of an interchange, intersection at grade, or safety rest area. Said 500 feet shall be measured along the interstate or freeway from the beginning or ending of pavement widening at the exit from or entrance to the main-traveled way.
84.30(4)(c)3.
3. On nonfreeway federal-aid primary highways outside incorporated villages and cities, no 2 structures shall be spaced less than 300 feet apart. Within incorporated villages and cities, no 2 structures shall be spaced less than 100 feet apart.
84.30(4)(c)4.
4. The spacing between structures provisions in
subds. 1.,
2. and
3. do not apply to structures separated by buildings or other obstructions in such a manner that only one sign-facing located within the spacing distances in
subds. 1.,
2. and
3. is visible from the highway at any one time.
84.30(4)(c)5.a.a. Official and on-premises signs, as defined in
23 USC 131 (c), and structures that are not lawfully maintained shall not be counted nor shall measurements be made from them for purposes of determining compliance with spacing requirements.
84.30(4)(c)5.b.
b. The minimum distances between structures shall be measured along the nearest edge of the pavement between points directly opposite the signs along each side of the highway and shall apply only to structures located on the same side of the highway.
84.30(4)(d)1.1. Signs shall not be erected or maintained which imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal or device.
84.30(4)(d)2.
2. Signs shall not be erected or maintained upon trees, or painted or drawn upon rocks or other natural features, except landmark signs.
84.30(4)(d)3.
3. Signs shall not be erected or maintained which are structurally unsafe or in substantial disrepair.
84.30(5)(a)(a) Signs outside of business areas which are lawfully in existence on March 18, 1972 but which do not conform to the requirements herein are declared nonconforming and shall be removed by the end of the 5th year from said date.
84.30(5)(b)
(b) A sign lawfully erected after March 18, 1972 and which subsequently does not conform to this section shall be removed by the end of the 5th year after it becomes nonconforming.
84.30(5)(bm)
(bm) Signs lawfully erected, but which do not conform to the requirements of
sub. (3) (c), are declared nonconforming but are not subject to removal, except as otherwise provided in this paragraph. To allow such signs to exist, to perform customary maintenance thereon or to change the advertising message thereof, does not constitute a violation of
sub. (3), but to enlarge, replace or relocate such signs, or to erect additional signs, shall constitute a violation subjecting the sign to removal without compensation, unless upon completion of such work all signs upon the property conform to the requirements of
sub. (3).
84.30(5)(c)
(c) Should any commercial or industrial activity, which has been used in defining or delineating an unzoned area, cease to operate, the unzoned area shall be redefined or redelineated based on the remaining activities. Any signs located within the former unzoned area but located outside the unzoned area, based on its new dimensions, shall become nonconforming.
84.30(5)(d)
(d) The department shall give highest priority to the removal or relocation of signs advertising products of general availability in commercial channels when such signs fail to conform under this subsection.
84.30(5m)
(5m) Mars Cheese Castle signs in Kenosha County. Notwithstanding any other provision of law and any local ordinance or other restrictions on signs, the Mars Cheese Castle business in Kenosha County may relocate its on-premises signs located near the intersection of I 94 and STH 142 in Kenosha County and maintain such signs at their new location.
84.30(6)
(6) Just compensation. The department shall pay just compensation upon the removal or relocation on or after March 18, 1972, of any of the following signs which are not then in conformity with this section, regardless of whether the sign was removed because of this section:
84.30(6)(a)
(a) Signs lawfully in existence on March 18, 1972.
84.30(6)(b)
(b) Signs lawfully in existence on land adjoining any highway made an interstate or primary highway after March 18, 1972.
84.30(6)(c)
(c) Signs lawfully erected on or after March 18, 1972.
84.30(7)
(7) Measure. The just compensation required by
sub. (6) shall be paid for the following:
84.30(7)(a)
(a) The taking from the owner of such sign, all right, title and interest in and to the sign and the owner's leasehold relating thereto, including severance damages to the remaining signs which have a unity of use and ownership with the sign taken, shall be included in the amounts paid to the respective owner, excluding any damage to factories involved in manufacturing, erection, maintenance or servicing of any outdoor advertising signs or displays.
84.30(7)(b)
(b) The taking of the right to erect and maintain such signs thereon from the owner of the real property on which the sign is located.
84.30(8)
(8) Agreed price. Compensation required under
subs. (6) and
(7) shall be paid to the person entitled thereto. If the department and the owner reach agreement on the amount of compensation payable to such owner in respect to any removal or relocation, the department may pay such compensation to the owner and thereby require or terminate the owner's rights or interests by purchase. If the department and the owner do not reach agreement as to such amount of compensation, the department or owner may institute an action to have such compensation determined under
s. 32.05.
84.30(9)
(9) Sign information. On and after March 18, 1972 all signs, or structures on which there are displays, shall have stated thereon the names and addresses of the owner thereof, and the date of its erection; but if the address of the owner is on file with the department it need not be stated thereon.
84.30(10)(a)(a) On or after January 1, 1972, no person shall engage or continue to engage in the business of outdoor advertising in areas subject to this section without first obtaining a license therefor from the department. The fee for the issuance of a license or for the renewal thereof shall be $250 payable in advance. Each license shall remain in force until the next succeeding December 31 and may be renewed annually.
84.30(10)(b)
(b) Application for license or a renewal thereof shall be made on forms to be furnished by the department, shall contain such information as the department requires and shall be verified under oath by the applicant or an authorized officer or agent. Renewal applications shall be filed on or before the December 1 preceding the expiration date. Upon receipt of an application containing all required information, in due form and properly executed, together with any bond required by
par. (c) and upon payment of the required license fee, the department shall issue a license to the applicant or renew the existing license.
84.30(10)(c)
(c) No license to engage or continue to engage in the business of outdoor advertising shall be granted to any applicant who does not reside in this state or, in the case of a foreign corporation or foreign limited liability company not authorized to do business in this state until such applicant files with the department a bond payable to the state and with a surety approved by the attorney general, in the sum of $5,000 conditioned upon the licensee observing and fulfilling all applicable provisions of this section. Upon default thereof the department may enforce the collection of such bond in any court of competent jurisdiction. The bond shall remain in effect so long as any obligation of such licensee to the state remains unsatisfied.
84.30(10)(d)
(d) The department may, after a hearing with 30 days' prior written notice to the licensee, revoke the license if the department finds that the licensee has knowingly made false statements in the application or is violating this section. Such revocation shall not become effective if within 30 days after written notice of the findings has been given to the licensee, he or she corrects such false statement or terminates any such violation.
84.30(10m)
(10m) Annual permit fee requirement. The department may promulgate a rule requiring persons specified in the rule to pay annual permit fees for signs. The rule shall specify that no permit fee may be charged for an off-premises advertising sign that is owned by a nonprofit organization. If the department establishes an annual permit fee under this subsection, failure to pay the fee within 2 months after the date on which payment is due is evidence that the sign has been abandoned for the purposes of
s. Trans 201.10 (2) (f), Wis. Adm. Code.
84.30(11)
(11) Department removal. Any sign erected in an adjacent area after March 18, 1972, in violation of this section or the rules promulgated under this section, may be removed by the department upon 60 days' prior notice by registered mail to the owner thereof and to the owner of the land on which said sign is located, unless such sign is brought into conformance within said 60 days. No notice shall be required to be given to the owner of a sign whose name is not stated on the sign or on the structure on which it is displayed, or whose address is not stated thereon or is not on file with the department.
84.30(12)
(12) Federal compliance. The department on behalf of the state is authorized and directed to seek agreement with the secretary of transportation of the United States acting under the provisions of
23 USC 131, as amended, that the provisions of this section are in conformance with that federal law and provide effective control of outdoor advertising signs as set forth therein.
84.30(13)
(13) Federal funds. The department may accept any allotment of funds by the United States, or any agency thereof, appropriated to carry out the purposes of
23 USC 131, as amended, from time to time. The department shall take such steps as are necessary from time to time to obtain from the United States, or the appropriate agency thereof, funds allotted and appropriated, under
23 USC 131 for the purposes of paying the federal government's 75% of the just compensation to be paid to sign owners and owners of real property under
23 USC 131 (g) and this section.
84.30(14)
(14) Department rules. The department may promulgate rules deemed necessary to implement and enforce this section. The department shall promulgate rules to restrict the erection and maintenance of signs as to their lighting, size, number and spacing when such signs are visible from the highway but outside the adjacent area. The department shall by rule establish a priority system for the removal or relocation of all signs not specified in
sub. (5) (d) which fail to conform to the requirements of
sub. (5).
84.30(15)
(15) Funds required. Despite any contrary provision in this section no sign shall be required to be removed unless at the time of removal there are sufficient funds, from whatever source, appropriated and immediately made available to the department with which to pay the just compensation required and unless at such time the federal funds, required to be contributed to this state under
23 USC 131 have been appropriated and are immediately available to the state for the payment of compensation which is eligible for federal participation.
84.30(16)
(16) Severability. If any provision or clause of this section or application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the section which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this section are declared to be severable. If any portion of this section is found not to comply with federal law and federal billboard removal compensation that portion shall be void without affecting the validity of other provisions of the section.
84.30(17)
(17) Transportation fund. All fees collected for the issuance of permits provided for under this section shall be paid into the transportation fund.
84.30(18)
(18) Hearings; transcripts. Hearings concerning sign removal notices under
sub. (11) or the denial or revocation of a sign permit or license shall be conducted before the division of hearings and appeals as are hearings in contested cases under
ch. 227. The decision of the division of hearings and appeals is subject to judicial review under
ch. 227. Any person requesting a transcript of the proceedings from the division of hearings and appeals shall pay the amount established by the division of hearings and appeals by rule for the transcript.
84.30 History
History: 1971 c. 197;
1975 c. 196,
340,
418;
1977 c. 29 ss.
946,
1654 (1), (8) (a);
1977 c. 43,
273;
1977 c. 418 s.
924 (48);
1979 c. 90 s.
24;
1979 c. 154,
253;
1981 c. 347;
1983 a. 92,
189,
463;
1989 a. 56;
1991 a. 316;
1993 a. 16,
112,
357;
1997 a. 27;
1999 a. 9,
185;
2001 a. 109;
2005 a. 149,
464;
2007 a. 20.
84.30 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
Trans 201, Wis. adm. code.
84.30 Annotation
This section is the exclusive remedy for determining just compensation for signs meeting the criteria of sub. (6). Compensation includes the value of the sign structure, leasehold value, and location, but it does not include attorney fees. Vivid, Inc. v. Fiedler,
219 Wis. 2d 764,
580 N.W.2d 644 (1998),
96-1900.
84.30 Annotation
This section did not prevent the leaseholder of a sign subject to an administrative order for removal due to discontinuance of a legal nonconforming use from pursuing judicial review of the administrative review of the order under s. 227.52. Eller Media, Inc. v. Division of Hearings and Appeals, 2001 WI App 269,
249 Wis. 2d 198,
637 N.W.2d 96,
00-3497.
84.30 Annotation
Sub. (3) (a) provides 2 separate conditions. A sign must: 1) be required or authorized by law, and 2) comply with rules promulgated by the Wisconsin DOT that are no more restrictive than national standards. The "no more restrictive" language does not apply to the "required or authorized by law" condition. "Authorized by law" is a reference to whether a sign is authorized by a law other than this section and rules promulgated thereunder. Because there is no limitation on the source of other law, there is no reason why other law may not be a local zoning ordinance. Donaldson v. Town of Spring Valley, 2008 WI App 61,
311 Wis. 2d 223,
750 N.W.2d 506,
07-1418.
84.30 Annotation
The administrative and judicial review provided in sub. (18) is the exclusive procedure for challenging the legality of a sign after issuance of a removal order, even when DOT has removed the sign. A determination under sub. (18) that a sign is legal is a necessary predicate to just compensation for the sign. The entire statutory scheme provides for a determination on the legality of a sign under sub. (18) and, if the ultimate determination is that the sign is legal, there is a procedure in subs. (7) and (8) for obtaining just compensation. This scheme adequately provides the means both to challenge a removal order on the ground a sign is legal and to obtain just compensation if that challenge succeeds. Lamar Central Outdoor, LLC v. DOT, 2008 WI App 187,
315 Wis. 2d 190,
762 N.W.2d 745,
08-0439.
84.30 Annotation
Persons in the business of erecting on-premise signs are subject to the licensing requirement of sub. (10) (a). 66 Atty. Gen. 295.
84.30 Annotation
Outdoor sign regulation in Eden and Wisconsin. Larsen, 1972 WLR 153.
84.305
84.305
Vegetation obstructing view of outdoor advertising signs. 84.305(1)(c)
(c) "Natural vegetation" means vegetation that the department has allowed to become established and remain in the right-of-way of a highway.
84.305(1)(d)
(d) "Planted vegetation" means any of the following:
84.305(1)(d)1.
1. Vegetation that has been planted in the right-of-way of a highway as part of a landscape project approved by the department for which there is a project plan.
84.305(1)(d)2.
2. Individual trees or shrubs in a landscaped area that the department has allowed to become established naturally and that are specifically noted on a recorded project plan for a landscape project approved by the department.
