No person shall engage or continue in the business of outdoor advertising in the Commonwealth outside the corporate limits of municipalities or within the corporate limits of municipalities if their off-premises sign, advertisement, or advertising structure is visible from the main traveled way of any Interstate System, federal-aid primary, or National Highway System highway without first obtaining a license therefor from the Commissioner of Highways. The fee for such license hereby imposed for revenue for the use of the Commonwealth shall be $500 per year, payable annually in advance. Applications for licenses or renewal of licenses shall be made on forms furnished by the Commissioner of Highways, shall contain such information as the Commissioner of Highways may require, and shall be accompanied by the annual fee. Licenses granted under this section shall expire on December 31 of each year and shall not be prorated. Applications for renewal of licenses shall be made not less than 30 days prior to the date of expiration. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any person that advertises upon a structure or fixture on its property or a licensed advertiser's structure or other space to obtain a license.
Code 1950, § 33-303; 1954, c. 588; 1964, c. 619; 1968, c. 519; 1970, c. 322, § 33.1-356; 1979, c. 216; 1993, c. 538; 2014, c. 805.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems
Chapter 12 - Outdoor Advertising in Sight of Public Highways
§ 33.2-1200. Policy; definitions
§ 33.2-1201. Enforcement of provisions by Commissioner of Highways
§ 33.2-1202. Territory to which article applies
§ 33.2-1203. Entry upon lands; hindering Commissioner of Highways or agent
§ 33.2-1204. Excepted signs, advertisements, and advertising structures
§ 33.2-1205. License required of outdoor advertisers
§ 33.2-1206. Revocation of license and judicial review
§ 33.2-1207. Bond required from out-of-state licensee
§ 33.2-1209. Applications for permits; fees
§ 33.2-1210. Duration and renewal of permit
§ 33.2-1211. Revocation of permit
§ 33.2-1213. Appeal from refusal or revocation of permit
§ 33.2-1214. Transfer of licenses and permits to successor concerns
§ 33.2-1215. Identification of advertising structure or advertisement
§ 33.2-1216. Certain advertisements or structures prohibited
§ 33.2-1218. Removal of billboard signs under this chapter prohibited without just compensation
§ 33.2-1219. Maintenance and repair of nonconforming billboard signs
§ 33.2-1220. Regulations and agreements with United States implementing § 33.2-1217
§ 33.2-1221. Selective pruning permits; fees; penalty
§ 33.2-1222. Tree-trimming policies
§ 33.2-1223. Pasting advertisements prohibited in certain instances
§ 33.2-1224. Signs or advertising on rocks, poles, etc., within limits of highway; civil penalty
§ 33.2-1225. Commissioner of Highways may enter into certain agreements; civil penalties
§ 33.2-1226. Harmony of regulations
§ 33.2-1227. Violation a nuisance; abatement
§ 33.2-1228. Disposition of fees
§ 33.2-1229. Penalties for violation
§ 33.2-1230. Adjustment or relocation of certain billboard signs
§ 33.2-1231. Construction of article
§ 33.2-1232. Prohibition of false and misleading signs
§ 33.2-1233. Penalty for violation of § 33.2-1232
§ 33.2-1234. Removal of false or misleading signs by Commissioner of Highways