SCS/SBs 247 & 330 - This act makes various changes regarding Missouri's billboard laws and regulations.

CUTOUTS AND EXTENSIONS - This act allows the use of temporary cutouts or extensions on conforming or nonconforming billboard signs.

STACKED STRUCTURES - This act allows existing stacked structures to be considered legal nonconforming and allows them to be maintained. Current law treats such structures built before August 28, 1999, as conforming until they are replaced or rebuilt.

SPACING BETWEEN BILLBOARD SIGNS - This act requires a 1000 foot spacing between sign structures on all classes of highways. Signs existing before the effective date of this act will not have to meet these spacing requirements, and shall be deemed legal nonconforming, provided MoDOT and the FHWA allows the use of temporary cutouts and extensions on nonconforming signs. If cutouts and extensions are not allowed, signs erected before the effective date of this act will be considered conforming.

UNZONED LAND - This act amends the law for unzoned commercial areas to exclude the area across the highway from a business as included in the commercial area unless it also has commercial activity.

ZONED COMMERCIAL AREA - This act adopts an actual use standard for allowing signs in zoned commercial areas. Signs cannot be built on commercially or industrially zoned property unless a commercial business is located within 600 feet of the sign.

DETERMINATION OF COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY - This act modifies the standard for determining whether the primary use of property is commercial or industrial. In making this determination, the Commission shall consider whether there is an owner or employee on the premises for at least 20 hours per week.

VEGETATION PERMITS - Vegetation permits shall be issued in accordance with the Transportation Commission's rules and regulations. No permit is needed by utility facilities and rural electric cooperatives to trim or cut vegetation.

AGRICULTURALLY ZONED AREAS - This act allows any person to erect a business sign in an agriculturally zone area of a zoned county.

SURRENDER OF PERMITS - This act requires applicants to surrender two or more billboard permits for each new permit requested until the overall number of billboards falls to 11,000 or less. This provision does not apply to permits for billboards which are less than one hundred square feet in size. Permit holders who surrender permits without receiving a new permit may receive credit for a permit which may be used at a future date. The Commission is required to publish an annual report on the number of existing billboard signs in order to implement this portion of the law.

FEES - This act also raises the current permit fees and inspection fees. Permit fees are increased from $28.50 to $200, and inspection fees are increased from $28.50 to $50.

This act has an emergency clause.
STEPHEN WITTE