1096

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 414

rentals or other compensation received for the erection,
use or maintenance of billboards[,] or any other
structures, signs, posters or display advertising of any
kind or nature [whatsoever], upon real property, without
OBTAINING FROM THE STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION a license
[having first been obtained from the State Roads
Commission of Maryland] to engage in [such] THE
[[business[, for which the said firm, person or
corporation shall pay an annual license fee for the use
of the State of $200.00; provided, however, that a
person, firm, or corporation maintaining not more than
fifty billboards, signs, posters, or other structures for
display advertising, shall pay an annual license fee of
fifty dollars ($50.00) and that the licenses first issued
under this section shall be dated June 1, 1931, and shall
expire on the 30th day of April succeeding, and the
charge therefor shall be $183.25, unless the applicant
engages in business in any month subsequent to June 1,
1931, when a ratable sum shall be charged. Thereafter,
all licenses, shall be dated May 1st and shall expire the
following April 30th and the full fee shall be charged
therefor except when the applicant engages in the
business in any other month subsequent to May 1st when
such license shall be issued from such month and a
ratable sum charged therefor].

(B) THE LICENSEE SHALL PAY AN ANNUAL LICENSE FEE,
SET BY THE STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION BUT NOT EXCEEDING
THE PRO RATA COST OF REGULATING THE LICENSING OF OUTDOOR

ADVERTISING.]] BUSINESS FOR WHICH THE FIRM, PERSON,__OR

CORPORATION SHALL PAY AN ANNUAL LICENSING FEE FOR THE USE

OF THE STATE OF $350.00; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT A

PERSON, FIRM, OR CORPORATION MAINTAINING NOT MORE THAN
FIFTY BILLBOARDS. SIGNS. POSTERS, OR OTHER STRUCTURES FOR
DISPLAY ADVERTISING, SHALL PAY AH ANNUAL LICENSE FEE OF
ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS (100.00).

[[(C)]](B) (1) THE FULL FEE SHALL BE CHARGED FOR
AN INITIAL LICENSE, WHICH SHALL BE DATED MAY 1 AND EXPIRE
ON APRIL 30 OF THE FOLLOWING YEAR. HOWEVER, IF AN
APPLICANT APPLIES FOR A LICENSE AFTER THE MONTH OF MAY,
THE LICENSE ISSUED SHALL BE DATED FROM THE MONTH OF
ISSUANCE AND A RATABLE FEE SHALL BE CHARGED FOR IT.

(2) EACH RENEWAL LICENSE SHALL BE ISSUED ON
MAY 1 AND EXPIRE ON APRIL 30 OF THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

204.

(A) [Every] EACH person, firm or corporation
[hereafter] desiring to erect or maintain billboards or
other similar structures, signs, posters or display
advertising of any kind [whatsoever,] outside [of] the
corporate limits of any city, town or village[,] and
within [five hundred (500)] 500 feet of a public highway
of the State [of Maryland,] shall file with the State
[Roads Commission the following information, data and
plats concerning and explaining the proposed location of