Trans 201.02 NoteNote: See 23 USC 131 (t). The DOT Bureau of Planning, P. O. Box 7913, Madison, WI 53717 maintains a list of highways that are primary highways as defined herein. Information regarding which highways are primary highways under this section may also be obtained from the sign permit coordinator in any DOT region office.

Trans 201.02(12)(12) “Visible” means the sign, or any part of the sign structure, can be seen from the main-traveled way of a highway by a person of normal visual acuity, regardless of whether the sign is designed, erected or intended to be read from the main-traveled way.

Trans 201.02(13)(13) “Zoned” includes the establishment of districts without restrictions on use.

Trans 201.02 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1976, No. 250, eff. 11-1-76; renum. from Hy 19.005 and am. (2), Register, July, 1980, No. 295, eff. 8-1-80; renum. (4) to be (13), cr. (intro.) and (4) to (12), Register, April, 2001, No. 544, eff. 5-1-01.

Trans 201.03Trans 201.03 Licensing. The licensing requirement under s. 84.30 (10), Stats., applies to persons who erect or maintain on-property signs as well as to persons who erect or maintain off-premises advertising signs. Persons who erect or maintain signs for the purpose of advertising their own business are not subject to the licensing requirement. The licensing requirement does not apply to persons who erect 2 or less signs during the calendar year. Any person who violates the licensing requirement shall be required to forfeit not less than $500 nor more than $1000. Violations shall be referred to the proper district attorney for prosecution.

Trans 201.035(1)(1) Sign identifier. The department shall assign a unique identifier to each off-property sign in the state of Wisconsin. The identifier shall be assigned to a sign upon any of the following occurrences:

Trans 201.035(2)(2) Database of sign owners. The department shall maintain a sign database to track the name and address of the owner of each sign, and such other information related to the sign as the department considers appropriate.

Trans 201.035(3)(3) Change of sign ownership. Any person who acquires a sign shall provide the department with a notice containing all of the following information for the sign:

Trans 201.035(3)(c)(c) The location of the sign, listing the name of the primary or interstate highway to which it is adjacent, the county and town in which the sign stands, the section number of the township in which the sign is located, the name, address and telephone number of the person owning the real property upon which the sign is located, and the distance of the sign from the centerline of the nearest crossroad or intersection.

Trans 201.035(3)(d)(d) The size of the sign measured in accordance with s. 84.30 (4) (a) 2., Stats. If the sign shape is not rectangular, a drawing showing the dimensions of the various triangles, circles, rectangles, and squares encompassing the entire sign shall be provided.

Trans 201.035(4)(4) Annual fee notice. The department shall mail an annual fee notice to the owner of record with the department of every off-premises sign within the state of Wisconsin that is subject to the requirement of paying a fee under sub. (9). All annual fee notices shall be considered delivered upon mailing to the owner of record indicated in the department’s database of sign owners as of the first day of the month in which the notices are mailed. Annual fee notices may include a summary of information related to one or more signs and require owners to update or correct information at the time of paying any required fee. The department may require owners of signs not subject to the fee requirement of sub. (9) to update or correct information from a summary of information with respect to any sign.

Trans 201.035(5)(5) Due date. Payment of annual permit fees and responses to information requests are due 60 days from the date of mailing of notices by the department, or on such other date as indicated in the fee notice.

Trans 201.035(6)(6) Nonconforming signs. Nonconforming signs for which the annual fee is not paid within 60 days of the due date shall be removed as abandoned signs. Payment of an annual fee may not be considered in determining whether a sign is subject to removal under the federal highway beautification act, the regulations promulgated thereunder, or s. Trans 201.10.

Trans 201.035(7)(7) Permitted signs. The permit for a sign shall expire upon the due date for payment unless the annual fee for the sign has been paid. Signs with expired permits are subject to removal 60 days from the due date specified in the notice. The department shall notify a sign owner that a sign is subject to removal under this section in accordance with s. 84.30 (11), Stats. The department may not issue a permit within any minimum required spacing limitations under ss. 84.30 (4) (c), Stats., s. Trans 201.05 (2) (d) or 201.06, of a sign with an expired permit until and unless that sign is removed.