§ 54-21-113 — Commissioner's authority to enter into agreement with secretary of transportation

(a) The commissioner is authorized and directed to enter into agreements with the secretary of transportation of the United States regarding the definition of unzoned industrial and commercial areas; and regarding the size, lighting, and spacing of outdoor advertising devices that may be erected and maintained within six hundred sixty feet (660') of the nearest edge of the right-of-way within the areas adjacent to the interstate and primary systems that are zoned industrial or commercial under the authority of state or local law, or in unzoned industrial or commercial areas that may be permitted in accordance with the terms of the agreement between the commissioner and the secretary of transportation of the United States. In any agreement entered into with the secretary of transportation, the commissioner reserves the right to renegotiate or make whatever modifications are necessary to conform to any subsequent amendments to the federal Highway Beautification Act of 1965, compiled in 23 U.S.C. §§ 131 , 136 , and 319 . Any modification of the agreement with the United States department of transportation that the commissioner signed on or about November 11, 1971, or any subsequent agreement becomes effective only upon passage of an act authorizing the modification by the general assembly. (b) The commissioner is authorized to execute a modification of the agreement signed on or about November 11, 1971, to change the maximum area for any one (1) outdoor advertising device from one thousand two hundred square feet (1,200 sq. ft.) to seven hundred seventy-five square feet (775 sq. ft.); to reduce the optional maximum square footage of outdoor advertising devices authorized in counties having a population greater than two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) from three thousand square feet (3,000 sq. ft.) to one thousand two hundred square feet (1,200 sq. ft.); to modify the agreement to change the minimum spacing of outdoor advertising devices on the interstate system and controlled access highways on the primary system from five hundred feet (500') to one thousand feet (1,000') where the same are not separated by buildings or other obstructions, so that only one (1) outdoor advertising device is visible from the highway at any one (1) time; to change the minimum spacing on noncontrolled access highways on the primary system outside the corporate limits of a municipality from three hundred feet (300') to five hundred feet (500'); and to change the minimum distance from an interchange, or intersection at grade, on the interstate system or controlled access highways on the primary system, outside incorporated cities, from five hundred feet (500') to one thousand feet (1,000'). Inside the corporate limits of a municipality, the distance between signs remains one hundred feet (100'). Permits issued prior to any change authorized for outdoor advertising devices or for outdoor advertising devices subsequently erected pursuant to the permit, that meet size, lighting, spacing, and zoning criteria are unaffected. (c) The commissioner is further authorized to change the definition of an unzoned commercial or industrial area to provide that only those areas on which there is located one (1) or more permanent structures within which a commercial or an industrial business is actively conducted, and that are equipped with all customary utilities facilities and open to the public regularly or regularly used by employees of the business as their principal work station, or that, due to the nature of the business, are equipped, staffed, and accessible to the public as is customary, may be so defined. (d) (1) The commissioner is authorized to execute a modification of the agreement signed on or about November 11, 1971, to change the minimum distance from an interchange, or intersection, at grade, on the interstate system or controlled access highway on the primary system, outside incorporated cities, to five hundred feet (500') when the interchange or intersection is within two thousand five hundred feet (2,500') of an interchange or intersection, at grade, of a welcome station. This distance may be measured from that side of the interstate or controlled access highway on which the outdoor advertising is to be located if a determination is made by the commissioner that there exists a geographical feature or foliage in the median of the highway that would substantially block visibility of such outdoor advertising device from any lane of highway on the opposite side of the median. (2) If the commissioner is formally notified by the appropriate federal offices of the United States department of transportation that as a result of any provision of this subsection (d), the state will lose federal funds or if a loss of federal funds occurs, then the provision is void and inoperative. (3) If this subsection (d) is found to be void and inoperative, or if notice is received from the United States department of transportation as provided in subdivision (d)(2), then any outdoor advertising device placed pursuant to this subsection (d) must be removed immediately by and at the expense of the owner. Failure to remove the outdoor advertising device renders the sign a public nuisance and § 54-21-105 applies. Nothing in this subsection (d) grants an absolute right in the placement of an outdoor advertising device or makes the state in any way liable under this subsection (d), if this subsection (d) is found in violation of any federal regulations as provided in subdivision (d)(2).

Legislative History

Amended by 2020 Tenn. Acts, ch. 706, s 8, eff. 6/22/2020. Acts 1972, ch. 655, § 13; T.C.A., § 54-2613; Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 113.