Marvin Mandel, Governor                       1335

CHAPTER 431
(Senate Bill 593)

AN ACT to add new Section 238A to Article 89B of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1969 Replacement Volume), title "State
Roads," subtitle "Highway Beautification," to follow immediately
after Section 238 thereof, and to be under the new subheading
"Outdoor Advertising," to prohibit placement in Harford County
of certain forms of outdoor advertising signs along state and
county highways, to provide for exemptions thereto; to provide for
the payment of just compensation for the removal of the signs;
and to generally relate to outdoor advertising signs in Harford
County.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Section 238A be and it is hereby added to Article 89B of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1969 Replacement Volume), title
"State Roads," subtitle "Highway Beautification," to follow immedi-
ately after Section 238 thereof, and to be under the new subheading
"Outdoor Advertising," and to read as follows:

OUTDOOR ADVERTISING
238A.

(a)  In Harford County, no person, firm, or corporation may lease,
rent, use, or permit to the use of property for the purpose of erecting
thereon any outdoor advertising signs of any kind adjacent to any
State or county highway which are visible from the traveled way
of the highway, except as hereinafter provided. As used in this sec-
tion "visible from the traveled way" means capable of being seen,
whether or not legible, without visual aid by a person of normal
visual acuity. This prohibition does not apply to the following:

(1)  Outdoor advertising signs promoting a business or other
activity being conducted on the same property as the sign, known
as "on-premise signs."

(2)  Outdoor advertising signs located under the authority of zon-
ing permits in commercial or industrial zones.

(3)  Outdoor advertising signs authorized in districts zoned com-
mercial and industrial by municipal corporations within their bound-
aries.

(4) Temporary real estate signs.

(5)  Official directional signs installed by the State Roads Com-
mission or the County Commissioners of Harford County.

(6)  Signs denoting places of religious worship or a historic monu-
ment on location. However, these signs shall be located in accord-
ance with the rules and regulations of the State Roads Commission.

(7)  Outdoor advertising signs erected prior to June 1, 1972.

(b)  Either the State Roads Commission or the County Commis-
sioners of Harford County may acquire by purchase, gift or condem-
nation, and pay just compensation upon the removal of, outdoor
advertising signs which are visible from the traveled way of State