HB250 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Dexter Grimsley

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Highways, outdoor advertising, Highway Beautification Act amended, definitions, spacing, conformance with federal law, Secs. 23-1-271, 23-1-274 am'd.

Summary

HB250 updates Alabama's outdoor advertising rules to align with federal law by redefining business areas, adopting the federal definition of primary highways, and changing sign spacing to match federal requirements.

What This Bill Does

It removes the word at any time from the definition of a business area so only currently zoned areas (and certain unzoned commercial/industrial areas) are included. It adopts the federal definition of primary highway, tying Alabama’s outdoor advertising controls to the federal aid primary system as of June 1, 1991 and to the National Highway System. It revises sign spacing rules to conform with the Federal State Agreement, including minimum distances between signs on interstates and primary highways and rules that vary based on highway zoning status and whether signs were erected before or after a certain date. It keeps existing size and lighting rules for signs, aligning them with federal requirements.

Who It Affects

• Outdoor advertising businesses and sign owners/advertisers: must follow updated definitions and comply with revised spacing, size, and lighting rules aligned with federal standards.
• Local zoning authorities and highway-adjacent landowners: definitions of business areas and highway designations change, affecting where signs can be placed and how spacing is measured, with implications for permitting and enforcement.

Key Provisions

• Amendments to definitions in Section 23-1-271 redefine business area by removing the phrase at any time and adopt clarified adjacent area concepts.
• Adoption of the federal definition of primary highway, tying Alabama rules to the federal aid primary system as of June 1, 1991 and to the National Highway System.
• Revisions to Section 23-1-274 to make outdoor advertising spacing standards consistent with the Federal-State Agreement, including specific minimum distances on interstates and primary highways and distinctions based on highway zoning and sign age.
• Preservation of sign size and lighting standards, with post 1995 signs capped at 672 square feet (max height 14 feet, max length 48 feet) and pre 1995 signs capped at 1,200 square feet (max height 30 feet, max length 60 feet), plus general prohibitions and safety requirements.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Highways, Roads, and Bridges