|
Vegetation Management at Outdoor Advertising
Signs (Note: In order to view the PDF files listed
on this page you need to have installed
Adobe Acrobat Reader.)
As authorized by
Section 479.106, Florida Statutes, Vegetation
Management, the Florida Department of
Transportation has developed rules to improve the
appearance of Florida's highways, create a net
increase in the vegetative habitat along the roads,
and to assure the future visibility of permitted
sign facings (billboards).
Rule Chapter 14-40, Highway Beautification and
Landscape Management, Part III, Florida
Administrative Code, describes all of the
requirements necessary to be issued a permit for
Vegetation Management at Outdoor Advertising Sign.
View
Zone Diagrams, Figure
2 and
Figure 3 define the Vegetation Management Zones.
Mitigation requirements for cutting and removal of
vegetation are calculated as outlined in the
document
Determining the Mitigation Value of Roadside
Vegetation.
The Application for Vegetation Management At
Outdoor Advertising Signs (Form
Number 650-050-06) can also be accessed online.
Applications and questions should be submitted to
the appropriate
District contact. The
Florida Department of Transportation Map of all
Districts will help determine the appropriate
contact.
What you MUST know about Highway
Landscape Projects near Billboards
Beautification Projects shall not be located
in an area that will screen from view legally
erected and permitted outdoor advertising signs
which have been permitted prior to the date of the
beautification project Section 479.106(6), Florida
Statutes
Florida Administrative Code
Rule 14-40.003(2)(g) "Screen" or "Screening"
means the planting or installation of any
vegetation or other landscape material which
will reach a height greater than the height of the
bottom of the lowest sign face, as viewed from a
height of 3.5 feet above the roadway surface at
the edge of the travel lane closest to the outdoor
advertising sign. Rule 14-40.003(3)(b) No planting
or installation of vegetation or other landscape
material for landscape projects, or issuance of
permits for such planting or installation, including
construction and beautification projects, is allowed
on Department right of way which screens or which,
when mature, will screen an outdoor advertising sign
permitted under Chapter 479, Florida Statutes. This
prohibition applies to outdoor advertising signs
exempt from Department permitting requirements that
are on the state highway system and located within
incorporated municipalities. This prohibition
applies to all landscape, construction, and
beautification projects on Department right of way
regardless of the source of funds for the project,
except for landscape projects approved by the
Department prior to the date of the original, state
sign permit for the sign. For purposes of this Rule,
a landscape, construction, or beautification project
is approved when it is specifically identified in
the Department's five year work program, is a
permitted landscape project, is part of an executed
agreement between the Department and a local
government, or has been approved in writing by the
Department for installation at a later date by a
local government. 1. Screening is prohibited
within a view zone. 2. When a
landscape project is proposed within 1,000 feet approaching a permitted
outdoor advertising sign which does not have an approved application for
vegetation management, the landscape architect of record will notify the sign permittee at the address provided in accordance with subsection 14-10.011(2),
F.A.C., that the permittee has 30 days to submit an Application to Permit
Vegetation management at Outdoor Advertising Sign that proposes the specific location
of a view zone. If an Application has not been submitted by the sign
permittee within 30 days of notification, screening will be prohibited as
described in paragraph 479.106(6)(b), F.S. Contact information for
any sign permitted by FDOT and other useful information may be obtained at http://www2.dot.state.fl.us/RightofWay/
or by contacting Outdoor Advertising Control, Florida Department of
Transportation, 605 Suwannee Street, MS 22, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0450.
3. The limits of the screening prohibition may be
adjusted pursuant to a written agreement between the
sign permittee and a local governmental entity.
Highway Landscape Architecture & Outdoor
Advertising laws and Rules In a nutshell...
When billboard view zones are within the limits of a
highway landscape project, the landscape
architect is responsible for documenting the
location of the billboards and their respective view
zones. Landscape plans, including maintenance
plans submitted for review and approval by the
department must represent a proposed landscape that
will not screen any legally permitted sign face.
The screening prohibition applies to:
- LEGALLY PERMITTED OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGNS
(BILLBOARD SIGN FACES). The screening
prohibition does not apply to
"On-premise" advertising signs. The FDOT
District Permits Engineer can verify whether a
sign is legally permitted by the Department.
- THE PRIMARY TRAVEL LANES OF THE HIGHWAY
NOTED ON THE SIGN PERMIT. Views of the sign from
other locations may be screened depending upon
the permit specifications.
- THE VIEW ZONE. The View Zone is established
by a FDOT Permit. The view zone is 350 feet for
posted speed limits of 35 miles per hour or
less. The view zone is 500 feet for posted speed
limits of over 35 miles per hour. The
established view zone is within the first 1,000
feet measured along the edge of the pavement in
the direction of approaching traffic from a
point on the edge of the pavement perpendicular
to the edge of the sign facing nearest the
highway and shall be continuous unless
interrupted by existing, naturally occurring
vegetation. The department and the sign owner
may enter into an agreement identifying the
specific location of the view zone for each sign
facing. In the absence of such agreement, the
established view zone shall be measured from the
sign along the edge of the pavement in the
direction of approaching traffic as provided in
this subsection.
- See
View Zone Diagrams for clarification. For
some signs, viewed across the median (cross
readers), part of the view zone may be within
the highway median.
- THE SIGN FACE. Sign structural supports may
be screened.
When a Permit has not been issued by
the FDOT for a legally permitted sign within the
limits of the highway landscape project, the
landscape architect must contact the sign
permittee (company holding the sign permit). This step is intended to maximize visibility of
sign faces, and maximize opportunities for
highway beautification. The
example notification letter may be useful. |
|
Training Manual for July 26, 2012 Webinar:
Permitting Vegetation Management at Outdoor
Advertising Signs
Webinar Handouts
Highway Landscape Architecture & Outdoor
Advertising Laws and Rules Resources:
FDOT Highway Beautification Policy
Highway Landscape Architecture & Outdoor Advertising
Laws and Rules Training PowerPoint
1965 US Highway Beautification Act
1972 FHWA/FDOT Agreement
Chapter 479 Florida Statutes
FDOT Rule Chapter 14-10, Florida Administrative Code
Outdoor Advertising Sign Regulation Highway
Beautification Program
FDOT Rule Chapter 14-40, Florida Administrative Code
Highway Beautification and Landscape Management
Example Notification Letter
View Zone Diagrams
FDOT Outdoor Advertising Website
FDOT Outdoor Advertising Database |
