§ 136-131.5.  Relocation of lawfully existing outdoor advertising sign.

(a) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, in order to minimize the amount of just compensation due, whenever property on which a lawfully erected outdoor advertising sign is located is acquired by a public or private condemnor, as defined in G.S. 40A-3, or the Department of Transportation, and the acquiring party requires removal of the sign, or whenever the construction of a sound barrier wall would impair the visibility of a lawfully erected outdoor advertising sign, the eligible sign is permitted to be relocated and reconstructed, subject to all of the following requirements:

(1) The new site for relocation is permitted to be any area within 660 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of a highway on the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways or the federal aid primary highway system within the same zoning jurisdiction as the relocated site or, if the relocated site is within an unzoned city or county, then within the same territorial limits.

(2) The new site for relocation must be conforming to State standards as set forth in this Article and pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the Department as authorized by this Article.

(3) The new site for relocation must be along a highway on the interstate system or primary systems that has the same route number and letter or one of the same route numbers and letters as the highway adjacent to the relocated site.

(4) The reconstruction of the outdoor advertising sign at the new site shall comply with G.S. 136-131.2.

(5) The new site for relocation shall not be within an historic district lawfully established by a local city or county government pursuant to Part 4 of Article 9 of Chapter 160D of the General Statutes, unless consented to by a resolution adopted by the applicable local governing board.

(6) The new site for relocation shall not be adjacent to any scenic highway as provided in G.S. 136-129.2; provided, however, if a relocated sign is already adjacent to a scenic highway, it may be relocated within the same parcel.

(7) The construction work related to the relocation of the outdoor advertising sign shall commence within one year after the date of removal.

The express allowances of relocation and reconstruction in this section shall apply to any lawfully erected outdoor advertising sign anywhere within this State that is required to be removed as a result of action taken by a public or private condemnor, as defined in G.S. 40A-3, or the Department of Transportation, including such signs that are not subject to the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation.

(b) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, any outdoor advertising sign that does not otherwise qualify for relocation as provided in subsection (a) of this section and for which there is in effect a valid permit issued by the Department of Transportation pursuant to this Article is permitted to be relocated and reconstructed subject to all of the requirements listed in subdivisions (1) through (7) of subsection (a) of this section within the same parcel or an adjoining conforming parcel. No sign shall be relocated pursuant to this subsection within 10 years from the date of the last relocation pursuant to this subsection, however, this temporal limitation does not apply to relocations within the same parcel.

(c) A sign not conforming to State standards shall not be relocated pursuant to this section unless the nonconformity is removed as part of the relocation.

(d) The Department shall not require additional permits, nor revoke any existing permits, for any action taken pursuant to this section. The Department may require within 30 days of the completion of any action taken pursuant to this section an addendum to an existing permit showing or describing the changes to the conditions of the outdoor advertising sign. The rights set forth in this section shall attach to a permit issued by the Department of Transportation and shall expire with the voluntary cancellation of such permit or after the permit has been lawfully revoked and any appeals pursuant to G.S. 136-134.1 have been exhausted. The rights set forth in this section do not run with or attach to the land. (2021-180, s. 41.47(b).)