An Act To Allow a Waiver for On-premise Signs
Sec. 1. 23 MRSA §1914, sub-§4, as repealed and replaced by PL 1981, c. 318, §4, is amended to read:
Paragraphs A and B shall do not apply to signs erected before September 1, 1957.
Sec. 2. 23 MRSA §1914, sub-§4-A is enacted to read:
SUMMARY
Current law prohibits on-premise signs within 20 feet from the outside edge of the paved portion of any state or state aid highway with more than 2 travel lanes and a total paved portion in excess of 24 feet in width. This bill gives the Commissioner of Transportation the authority to grant a person a waiver of this requirement if the majority of on-premise signs on either edge of the public way within 1,000 feet of the location of the proposed on-premise sign are located within 20 feet from the outside edge of the paved portion of the public way or the proposed on-premise sign replaces an on-premise sign at the same location within 20 feet from the outside edge of the paved portion of the public way.
The bill also requires that the property owner assume all costs for removal and installation of the on-premise sign and record this fact with the registry of deeds.