Oklahoma City's billboard ban came to an end Tuesday when the city council approved new restrictions about where signs can be located and how big they can be.
Advertisement
The city council approved rules increasing the distance required between billboards along highways, reducing the allowed size and height of billboards on city streets.
The rules also require that billboards be at least 150 feet from homes.
The rules came from a committee established after the Oklahoma City Council enacted a temporary ban on new billboards in September.
The committee was made up of city officials, community leaders and representatives from the billboard industry.
The council also voted to end the temporary ban and allow new billboards under the new rules.
"In the future, there will be fewer signs, but really that is a reflection partially on the industry,” Mayor Mick Cornett said. "They are going to these electronic signs, and their inventory can be increased with fewer signs.”
Ward 2 Councilman Sam Bowman, who served on the committee, said there was a consensus about the new rules.
"What they give all of us, the industry as well as the city, is a much more simplified sign ordinance both for permitting and for us enforcing it,” Bowman said.
The changes
•Increase the distance required between billboards on highways from 1,000 feet to 1,200 feet.
•Reduce the size of signs on city streets from 50 feet high and 672 square feet to 35 feet high and 350 square feet.
•Maintain the ban on new billboards along the new route for the Interstate 40 Crosstown Expressway, but close a loophole allowing permits to three businesses.
Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.
Leave a comment.
Log in below or sign up (it's free).
I think this is a good decision....this is a great way of advertising and a way people make a living. We have always had them and should not take them away.
The signs of the times: Some repairs may be due at... 02/13/2008 Mayor Mick Cornett loves the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. He just wishes it wasn't empty so often. He and the city council voted Tuesday to negotiate with a...
2
Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.