citation: BPC § 5110

text:
(a) After notice and an opportunity for a hearing, the board may deny an application to take the licensing examination, deny admission to current and future licensing examinations, void examination grades, and deny an application for a license or registration to any individual who has committed any of the following acts:

(1) Made any false, fraudulent, or materially misleading statement or a material omission in any application for a license, examination, or registration.

(2) Cheated or subverted or attempted to subvert any licensing examination.

(3) Aided, abetted, or conspired with any other person to violate paragraph (1) or (2).

(4) Any act that if committed by an applicant for licensure would be grounds for denial of a license or registration under Section 480 or if committed by a licensee or a registrant would be grounds for discipline under Section 5100.

(5) Any act committed outside of this state that would be a violation of this article if committed within this state.

(b) Neither the withdrawal of an application for examination, licensure, or registration, nor the expulsion or voluntary departure from an examination shall deprive the board of its authority to deny an application for, or admittance to, current or future licensing examinations, or to commence or continue a proceeding based on a violation of this article.

(c) Nothing in this article shall be construed to limit the authority of the board to refuse admittance to or to remove from the licensing examination, any person suspected of cheating or failing to comply with examination procedures or requirements.

(d) The term “licensing examination” includes the Uniform Certified Public Accountant examination, ethics examination, and any other professional or vocational licensing examination offered or administered by, or through, the board or other agencies within or outside of this state, for professional or vocational licensing purposes.

(e) The board may take any of the actions described in subdivision (a) based upon any determination, decision, ruling, or finding made by any state or other governmental entity, foreign or domestic, that any individual has committed any of the actions described in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (a).

(f) The provisions of this section are in addition to any other remedies that may be available under other provisions of law including, but not limited to, those set forth in Sections 123, 480, and 496.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 1054, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2001.)

article: 6. Disciplinary Proceedings


kind: section

code: BPC

citation: BPC § 5111

text:
Cheating on, or subverting or attempting to subvert any licensing examination includes, but is not limited to, engaging in, soliciting, or procuring any of the following:

(a) Any communication between one or more examinees and any person, other than a proctor or examination official, while the examination is in progress.

(b) Any communication between one or more examinees and any other person at any time concerning the content of the examination including, but not limited to, any examination question or answer, unless the examination has been publicly released by the examining authority or jurisdiction.

(c) The taking of all or a part of the examination by a person other than the applicant.

(d) Possession or use at any time during the examination or while the examinee is on the examination premises of any device, material, or document that is not expressly authorized for use by examinees during the examination including, but not limited to, notes, crib sheets, textbooks, and electronic devices.

(e) Failure to follow any examination instruction or rule related to examination security.

(f) Providing false, fraudulent, or materially misleading information concerning education, experience, or other qualifications as part of, or in support of, any application for admission to any professional or vocational examination.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 159, Sec. 19. Effective January 1, 2002.)

division: 3. PROFESSIONS AND VOCATIONS GENERALLY

chapter: 1. Accountants

article: 6. Disciplinary Proceedings

path: 3. PROFESSIONS AND VOCATIONS GENERALLY > 1. Accountants > 6. Disciplinary Proceedings


citation: BPC § 5112

text:
(a) The board may deny an application to take the licensing examination, deny admittance to current and future licensing examinations, and void examination grades on the grounds set forth in Section 5110 using either of the following procedures:

(1) Notifying the individual in writing of all of the following:

(A) The action the board has taken.

(B) The reasons the action was taken.

(C) The earliest date on which the individual may reapply for admittance to the licensing examination.

(D) The individual’s right to a hearing under the provisions of Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code if a written request for a hearing is made within 60 days from the date of the board’s notice. If the individual does not request a hearing, the board’s action shall become final at the expiration of this 60-day period.

(2) Filing and serving a statement of issues in accordance with Section 11504 of the Government Code.

(b) The board shall issue the notice of action under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) or file and serve the statement of issues under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) within five years of the last day of the examination with respect to which the alleged prohibited act was committed or within three years of the discovery of the commission of the alleged prohibited act, whichever occurs later.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 1054, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 2001.)

article: 6. Disciplinary Proceedings


citation: BPC § 5113

text: An individual who has been denied admission to the licensing examination under Section 5110 may petition the board for admission to the Certified Public Accountant examination not less than one year after the effective date of the decision issued by the board following a hearing held pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code or, if there was no hearing, may petition the board not less than one year after the decision or action pursuant to the notice of action issued by the board becomes final as provided in subparagraph (D) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 5112, unless the decision or notice of action issued by the board specifies a different timeframe within which this petition may be filed. However, in no event shall the timeframe specified by the board be more than three years from the effective date of the board’s decision or from the date that the board’s action pursuant to the notice of action becomes final.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 1054, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 2001.)

article: 6. Disciplinary Proceedings


citation: BPC § 5115

text:
(a) A person whose license has been revoked or surrendered may petition the board for reinstatement or reduction of penalty after a period of not less than one year has elapsed from the effective date of the decision or from the date of the denial of a similar petition, unless a longer period, not to exceed three years, is specified by the board in any decision revoking the license, accepting the surrender of the license, or denying reinstatement of the license.

(b) A person whose license has not been revoked or surrendered but who has been disciplined by imposition of a suspension or otherwise disciplined may petition the board for reinstatement or reduction of penalty after a period of not less than one year has elapsed from the effective date of the decision.

(c) The board shall give notice to the Attorney General of the filing of the petition and the Attorney General and the petitioner shall be afforded an opportunity to present either oral or written argument before the board itself. The board itself shall rule on the petition, and the decision shall include the reasons therefor and any terms and conditions that the board reasonably deems appropriate to impose as a condition of reinstatement or reduction of penalty, including, but not limited to, restrictions on the petitioner’s scope of professional practice.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 807, Sec. 13. Effective January 1, 2004.)

article: 6. Disciplinary Proceedings


citation: BPC § 5116

text:
(a) The board, after appropriate notice and an opportunity for hearing, may order any licensee or applicant for licensure or examination to pay an administrative penalty as provided in this article as part of any disciplinary proceeding or other proceeding provided for in this chapter.

(b) The board may assess administrative penalties under one or more provisions of this article. However, the total administrative penalty to be paid by the licensee shall not exceed the amount of the highest administrative penalty authorized by this article.

(c) The board shall adopt regulations to establish criteria for assessing administrative penalties based upon factors, including, but not limited to, actual and potential consumer harm, nature and severity of the violation, the role of the person in the violation, the person’s ability to pay the administrative penalty, and the level of administrative penalty necessary to deter future violations of this chapter.

(d) Administrative penalties assessed under this article shall be in addition to any other penalties or sanctions imposed on the licensee or other person, including, but not limited to, license revocation, license suspension, denial of the application for licensure, denial of the petition for reinstatement, or denial of admission to the licensing examination. Payment of these administrative penalties may be included as a condition of probation when probation is ordered.

(e) All administrative penalties collected under this article shall be deposited in the Accountancy Fund.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 921, Sec. 14. Effective January 1, 2005.)

article: 6.5. Administrative Penalties

path: 3. PROFESSIONS AND VOCATIONS GENERALLY > 1. Accountants > 6.5. Administrative Penalties


text: In accordance with Section 5116 and applicable regulations, except as provided in Section 5116.2, any licensee who violates any provision of this chapter may be assessed an administrative penalty of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the first violation and not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each subsequent violation.

article: 6.5. Administrative Penalties


text: In accordance with Section 5116 and applicable regulations, any licensee who violates subdivision (a), (c), (i), (j) or (k) of Section 5100 may be assessed an administrative penalty of not more than one million dollars ($1,000,000) for the first violation and not more than five million dollars ($5,000,000) for any subsequent violation, except that a licensee who is a natural person may be assessed an administrative penalty of not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the first violation and not more than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for any subsequent violation.

article: 6.5. Administrative Penalties


text: In accordance with Section 5116 and applicable regulations, any person who is found to have cheated or subverted or attempted to subvert or cheat on any licensing examination or who conspired with or aided or abetted any other person to cheat, subvert or attempt to subvert any examination may be assessed an administrative penalty of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the first violation and not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each subsequent violation.

article: 6.5. Administrative Penalties


text:
(a) The board’s executive officer may request assessment of an administrative penalty in any disciplinary or other proceeding provided in this chapter or in any notice to an applicant pursuant to Section 5112.

(b) The administrative penalty pursuant to subdivision (a) shall become final unless contested within the time period provided for the filing of a notice of appeal, for the filing of a notice of defense, or for requesting a hearing in the proceeding.

(c) Nothing in this article shall prevent an administrative penalty from being included in a final contested or default decision of the board or in a notice issued pursuant to Section 5112 once the time period for requesting a hearing has expired.

article: 6.5. Administrative Penalties


text: The board may obtain a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction ordering the payment of any final administrative penalty assessed by the board pursuant to this article upon the filing of a certified copy of the board’s final decision or notice issued pursuant to Section 5112.

article: 6.5. Administrative Penalties


text: Anywhere the term “licensee” is used in the article it shall include certified public accountants, public accountants, partnerships, corporations, holders of practice privileges, other persons licensed, registered, or otherwise authorized to practice public accountancy under this chapter, and persons who are in violation of any provision of Article 5.1 (commencing with Section 5096).

article: 6.5. Administrative Penalties


citation: BPC § 5120

text:
Any person who violates Article 3 (commencing with Section 5050) is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than six months, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.

Whenever the board has reason to believe that any person is liable to punishment under this article, the board or with its approval the enforcement advisory committee, may certify the facts to the appropriate enforcement officer of the city or county where the alleged violation had taken place and the officer may cause appropriate proceedings to be brought.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 415, Sec. 8. (SB 1491) Effective January 1, 2011.)

path: 3. PROFESSIONS AND VOCATIONS GENERALLY > 1. Accountants > 7. Prohibitions and Offenses Against the Chapter Generally


citation: BPC § 5121

text: The display or uttering by a person of a card, sign, advertisement or other printed, engraved or written instrument or device, bearing a person’s name in conjunction with the words “certified public accountant” or any abbreviation thereof or the words “public accountant” or any abbreviation thereof shall be prima facie evidence in any prosecution, proceeding or hearing brought under this article that the person whose name is so displayed caused or procured the display or uttering of such card, sign, advertisement or other printed, engraved or written instrument or device. Any such display or uttering shall be prima facie evidence that the person whose name is so displayed holds themselves out as a certified public accountant, or a public accountant holding a permit to practice public accountancy in this state under the provisions of this chapter. In any prosecution or hearing under this chapter, evidence of the commission of a single act prohibited by this chapter shall be sufficient to justify a conviction without evidence of a general course of conduct.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 510, Sec. 85. (SB 887) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 7. Prohibitions and Offenses Against the Chapter Generally


citation: BPC § 5122

text: Whenever in the judgment of the board, or with its approval the enforcement advisory committee, any person has engaged, or is about to engage, in any acts or practices that constitute, or will constitute, an offense against this chapter, the board may make application to the appropriate court for an order enjoining the acts or practices, and upon showing by the board that the person has engaged, or is about to engage, in any such acts or practices, an injunction, restraining order, or other order that may be appropriate shall be granted by the court.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 415, Sec. 9. (SB 1491) Effective January 1, 2011.)


citation: BPC § 5130

text: The board shall charge and collect a fee from each applicant for the certificate of certified public accountant. The fee shall accompany the application, which must be made on a form provided by the board.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 422, Sec. 3. (SB 1492) Effective January 1, 2019.)

article: 8. Revenue

path: 3. PROFESSIONS AND VOCATIONS GENERALLY > 1. Accountants > 8. Revenue


citation: BPC § 5131

text:
(a) The board may charge and collect an application fee and an examination fee from each applicant. The applicable fees shall accompany the application which shall be made on a form provided by the board.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the board may authorize an organization specified by the board pursuant to Section 5082.1 to receive directly from applicants payment of the examination fees charged by that organization as payment for examination materials and services.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 807, Sec. 14. Effective January 1, 2004.)

article: 8. Revenue


citation: BPC § 5132

text:
(a) All moneys received by the board under this chapter from any source and for any purpose and from a temporary license issued under Section 115.6 shall be accounted for and reported monthly by the board to the Controller and at the same time the moneys shall be remitted to the State Treasury to the credit of the Accountancy Fund.

(b) The secretary-treasurer of the board shall, from time to time, but not less than once each fiscal year, prepare or have prepared on their behalf, a financial report of the Accountancy Fund that contains information that the board determines is necessary for the purposes for which the board was established.

(c) The report of the Accountancy Fund, which shall be published pursuant to Section 5008, shall include the revenues and the related costs from examination, initial licensing, license renewal, citation and fine authority, and cost recovery from enforcement actions and case settlements.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 693, Sec. 6. (AB 107) Effective January 1, 2022.)

article: 8. Revenue


citation: BPC § 5133

text: All money in the Accountancy Fund is hereby appropriated to the California Board of Accountancy to carry out the provisions of this chapter. Each member of the board and each member of a committee shall receive a per diem and expenses as provided in Section 103.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 657, Sec. 29. Effective January 1, 2000.)

article: 8. Revenue


citation: BPC § 5134

text:
The amount of fees prescribed by this chapter is as follows:

(a) The fee to be charged to each applicant for the certified public accountant examination shall be fixed by the board at an amount not to exceed six hundred dollars ($600). The board may charge a reexamination fee not to exceed seventy-five dollars ($75) for each part that is subject to reexamination.

(b) The application fee to be charged to each applicant for issuance of a certified public accountant certificate shall be fixed by the board at an amount not to exceed seven hundred dollars ($700).

(c) After June 30, 2024, the fee to be charged to each applicant for registration as a partnership or professional corporation shall not be less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) and shall not exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000).

(d) (1) The biennial renewal fee for a certified public accountant to engage in the practice of public accountancy, as specified in Section 5070, shall be three hundred forty dollars ($340) for permits expiring after June 30, 2024.

(2) The biennial renewal fee for a certified public accountant to engage in the practice of public accountancy, as specified in Section 5070, shall be four hundred dollars ($400) for permits expiring after June 30, 2026.

(e) (1) The biennial renewal fee for a partnership or professional corporation shall be four hundred dollars ($400) for permits expiring after June 30, 2024.

(2) The biennial renewal fee for a partnership or professional corporation shall be five hundred twenty dollars ($520) for permits expiring after June 30, 2026.

(f) If the board has unencumbered funds in an amount that is equal to more than the board’s operating budget for the next two fiscal years, the board may fix the biennial renewal fees by regulation at an amount less than those identified in subdivision (d) for certified public accountants and subdivision (e) for partnerships and professional corporations.

(g) The application fee to be charged to each applicant for a retired status license, as described in Section 5070.1, shall be fixed by the board at an amount not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

(h) The application fee to be charged to each applicant for restoration of a license in a retired status to an active status pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 5070.1 shall be fixed by the board at an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(i) The delinquency fee shall be 50 percent of the accrued renewal fee.

(j) The initial permit fee is an amount equal to the renewal fee in effect on the last regular renewal date before the date on which the permit is issued, except that, if the permit is issued one year or less before it will expire, then the initial permit fee is an amount equal to 50 percent of the renewal fee in effect on the last regular renewal date before the date on which the permit is issued. The board may, by regulation, provide for the waiver or refund of the initial permit fee where the permit is issued less than 45 days before the date on which it will expire.

(k) The fee to be charged for the certification of documents evidencing passage of the certified public accountant examination, the certification of documents evidencing the grades received on the certified public accountant examination, or the certification of documents evidencing licensure shall be twenty-five dollars ($25).

(l) The board shall fix the fees in accordance with the limits of this section and any increase in a fee fixed by the board shall be pursuant to regulation duly adopted by the board in accordance with the limits of this section.

(m) It is the intent of the Legislature that, to ease entry into the public accounting profession in California, any administrative cost to the board related to the certified public accountant examination or issuance of the certified public accountant certificate that exceeds the maximum fees authorized by this section shall be covered by the fees charged for the biennial renewal of the permit to practice.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 723, Sec. 20.5. (SB 816) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 8. Revenue


citation: BPC § 5150

text: An accountancy corporation is a corporation which is registered with the California Board of Accountancy and has a currently effective certificate of registration from the board pursuant to the Moscone-Knox Professional Corporation Act, as contained in Part 4 (commencing with Section 13400) of Division 3 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code, and this article. Subject to all applicable statutes, rules and regulations, an accountancy corporation is entitled to practice accountancy. With respect to an accountancy corporation, the governmental agency referred to in the Moscone-Knox Professional Corporation Act is the California Board of Accountancy.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 1055, Sec. 4. Effective September 30, 2000.)

article: 9. Accountancy Corporations

path: 3. PROFESSIONS AND VOCATIONS GENERALLY > 1. Accountants > 9. Accountancy Corporations


citation: BPC § 5151

text: An applicant for registration as an accountancy corporation shall supply to the board all necessary and pertinent documents and information requested by the board concerning the applicant’s plan of operation. The board may provide forms of application. If the board finds that the corporation is duly organized and existing under the General Corporation Law or the foreign corporation is duly qualified for the transaction of intrastate business pursuant to the General Corporation Law, that, except as otherwise permitted under Section 5053 or 5079, each officer, director, shareholder, or employee who will render professional services is a licensed person as defined in the Moscone-Knox Professional Corporation Act, or a person licensed to render the same professional services in the jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which the person practices, and that from the application it appears that the affairs of the corporation will be conducted in compliance with law and the rules and regulations of the board, the board shall upon payment of the registration fee in the amount as it may determine, issue a certificate of registration. The applicant shall include with the application for each shareholder of the corporation licensed in a foreign country but not in this state or in any other state, territory, or possession of the United States, a certificate from the authority in the foreign country currently having final jurisdiction over the practice of accounting, which shall verify the shareholder’s admission to practice in the foreign country, the date thereof, and the fact that the shareholder is currently in good standing as the equivalent of a certified public accountant or public accountant. If the certificate is not in English, there shall be included with the certificate a duly authenticated English translation thereof. The application shall be signed and verified by an officer of the corporation. At the time of application, if the corporation has a valid email address, it shall provide that email address to the board.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 359, Sec. 16. (AB 1521) Effective January 1, 2020.)

article: 9. Accountancy Corporations


citation: BPC § 5152

text: Each accountancy corporation shall file with the board at the times the board may require a report containing information pertaining to qualification and compliance with the statutes, rules and regulations of the board as the board may determine. All reports shall be signed and verified by an officer of the corporation.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1077, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1995.)

article: 9. Accountancy Corporations


text: Each accountancy corporation shall renew its permit to practice biennially and shall pay the renewal fee fixed by the board in accordance with Section 5134. At the time of renewal, if the corporation has a valid email address, it shall provide that email address to the board.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 359, Sec. 17. (AB 1521) Effective January 1, 2020.)

article: 9. Accountancy Corporations


citation: BPC § 5154

text: Except as provided in Section 5079 of this code and in Section 13403 of the Corporations Code, each director, shareholder, and officer of an accountancy corporation shall be a licensed person as defined in the Moscone-Knox Professional Corporation Act, or a person licensed to render the same professional services in the jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which the person practices.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 1054, Sec. 10. Effective January 1, 2001.)

article: 9. Accountancy Corporations


citation: BPC § 5155

text: The income of an accountancy corporation attributable to professional services rendered while a shareholder is a disqualified person (as defined in the Moscone-Knox Professional Corporation Act) shall not in any manner accrue to the benefit of such shareholder or his shares in the accountancy corporation.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1970, Ch. 1113.)

article: 9. Accountancy Corporations


citation: BPC § 5156

text: An accountancy corporation shall not do or fail to do any act the doing of which or the failure to do which would constitute unprofessional conduct under any statute, rule or regulation now or hereafter in effect. In the conduct of its practice, it shall observe and be bound by such statutes, rules and regulations to the same extent as a person holding a permit under Section 5070 of this code. The board shall have the same powers of suspension, revocation and discipline against an accountancy corporation as are now or hereafter authorized by Section 5100 of this code, or by any other similar statute against individual licensees, provided, however, that proceedings against an accountancy corporation shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the board shall have all the powers granted therein.

article: 9. Accountancy Corporations


citation: BPC § 5157

text: The board may formulate and enforce rules and regulations to carry out the purposes and objectives of this article, including rules and regulations requiring (a) that the articles of incorporation or bylaws of an accountancy corporation shall include a provision whereby the capital stock of such corporation owned by a disqualified person (as defined in the Moscone-Knox Professional Corporation Act), or a deceased person, shall be sold to the corporation or to the remaining shareholders of such corporation within such time as such rules and regulations may provide, and (b) that an accountancy corporation as a condition of obtaining a certificate pursuant to the Moscone-Knox Professional Corporation Act and this article shall provide adequate security by insurance or otherwise for claims against it by its clients arising out of the rendering of professional services.

article: 9. Accountancy Corporations


citation: BPC § 5158

text: Each office of an accountancy corporation engaged in the practice of public accountancy in this state shall be managed by a certified public accountant or public accountant.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1978, Ch. 92.)

article: 9. Accountancy Corporations


citation: BPC § 5200

text: This chapter of the Business and Professions Code constitutes the chapter on advertisers. It may be cited as the Outdoor Advertising Act.

history: (History: Repealed and added by Stats. 1970, Ch. 991.)

chapter: 2. Advertisers

article: 1. General Provisions

path: 3. PROFESSIONS AND VOCATIONS GENERALLY > 2. Advertisers > 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5201

text: Unless the context otherwise requires, the general provisions set forth in this article govern the construction of this chapter.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5202

text: “Advertising display” refers to advertising structures and to signs.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5203

text:
“Advertising structure” means a structure of any kind or character erected, used, or maintained for outdoor advertising purposes, upon which any poster, bill, printing, painting or other advertisement of any kind whatsoever may be placed, including statuary, for advertising purposes.

“Advertising structure” does not include:

(a) Official notices issued by any court or public body or officer;

(b) Notices posted by any public officer in performance of a public duty or by any person in giving legal notice;

(c) Directional, warning or information structures required by or authorized by law or by federal, state or county authority.

(d) A structure erected near a city or county boundary, which contains the name of such city or county and the names of, or any other information regarding, civic, fraternal or religious organizations located therein.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 991, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1994.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5204

text: “Bonus segment” means any segment of an interstate highway which was covered by the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1958 and the Collier-Z'berg Act, namely, any such segment which is constructed upon right-of-way, the entire width of which was acquired subsequent to July 1, 1956.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5205

text: “Business area” means an area within 1,000 feet, measured in each direction, from the nearest edge of a commercial or industrial building or activity and which is zoned under authority of state law primarily to permit industrial or commercial activities or an unzoned commercial or industrial area.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5206

text: “Centerline of the highway” means a line equidistant from the edges of the median separating the main traveled way of a divided highway, or the centerline of the main traveled way of a nondivided highway.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5208

text: “Collier-Z'berg Act” refers to Chapter 128, Statutes of 1964 (First Extraordinary Session).

article: 1. General Provisions


text: “Department” means the Department of Transportation.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 649, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1993.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5209

text: “Director” refers to the Director of Transportation of the State of California.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1977, Ch. 579.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5210

text: “Federal Aid Highway Act of 1958” refers to Section 131 of Title 23 of the United States Code, as in effect before October 22, 1965.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5211

text: “Flashing” is a light or message that changes more than once every four seconds.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 787, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2001.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5212

text: “Freeway,” for the purposes of this chapter only, means a divided arterial highway for through traffic with full control of access and with grade separations at intersections.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5213

text: “Highway” includes roads, streets, boulevards, lanes, courts, places, commons, trails, ways or other rights-of-way or easements used for or laid out and intended for the public passage of vehicles or of vehicles and persons.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5214

text: “Highway Beautification Act of 1965” refers to Section 131 of Title 23 of the United States Code, as in effect October 22, 1965.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5215

text: “Interstate highway” means any highway at any time officially designated as a part of the national system of interstate and defense highways by the director and approved by appropriate authority of the federal government.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5216

text:
(a) “Landscaped freeway” means a section or sections of a freeway that is now, or hereafter may be, improved by the planting at least on one side or on the median of the freeway right-of-way of lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, or other ornamental vegetation requiring reasonable maintenance.

(b) Planting for the purpose of soil erosion control; traffic safety requirements, including light screening; reduction of fire hazards; covering soundwalls or fences; or traffic noise abatement shall not change the character of a freeway to a landscaped freeway.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if an agreement to relocate advertising displays from within one area of a city or county to an area adjacent to a freeway right-of-way has been entered into between a city or county and the owner of an advertising display, then a “landscaped freeway” shall not include the median of a freeway right-of-way.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 926, Sec. 1. (AB 3168) Effective January 1, 2019.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text: “Lawfully erected” means, in reference to advertising displays, advertising displays which were erected in compliance with state laws and local ordinances in effect at the time of their erection or which were subsequently brought into full compliance with state laws and local ordinances, except that the term does not apply to any advertising display whose use is modified after erection in a manner which causes it to become illegal. There shall be a rebuttable presumption pursuant to Section 606 of the Evidence Code that an advertising display is lawfully erected if it has been in existence for a period of five years or longer without the owner having received written notice during that period from a governmental entity stating that the display was not lawfully erected.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1983, Ch. 653, Sec. 2.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text: “Main-traveled way” is the traveled way of a highway on which through traffic is carried. In the case of a divided highway, the traveled way of each of the separate roadways for traffic in opposite directions is a main-traveled way. Main-traveled way does not include facilities such as frontage roads, ramps, auxiliary lanes, parking areas, or shoulders.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 5216.2 by Stats. 2000, Ch. 787, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2001.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text: “Message center” is an advertising display where the message is changed more than once every two minutes, but no more than once every four seconds.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 787, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2001.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text: “Nonconforming advertising display” is an advertising display that was lawfully placed, but that does not conform to the provisions of this chapter, or the administrative regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, that were enacted subsequent to the date of placing.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 5216.3 by Stats. 2000, Ch. 787, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2001.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) “Officially designated scenic highway or scenic byway” is any state highway that has been officially designated and maintained as a state scenic highway pursuant to Sections 260, 261, 262, and 262.5 of the Streets and Highways Code or that has been officially designated a scenic byway as referred to in Section 131(s) of Title 23 of the United States Code.

(b) “Officially designated scenic highway or scenic byway” does not include routes listed as part of the State Scenic Highway system, Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 260) of Chapter 2 of Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code, unless those routes, or segments of those routes, have been designated as officially designated state scenic highways.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 179, Sec. 11. Effective January 1, 2009.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5218

text: “Penalty segment” means any segment of a highway located in this state which was not covered by the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1958 and the Collier-Z'berg Act but which is covered by the Highway Beautification Act of 1965, namely, any segment of an interstate highway which is constructed upon right-of-way, any part of the width of which was acquired prior to July 1, 1956, and any segment of a primary highway.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5219

text: “Person” includes natural person, firm, cooperative, partnership, association, limited liability company, and corporation.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1010, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 1995.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5220

text: “Primary highway” means any highway, other than an interstate highway, designated as a part of the federal-aid primary system in existence on June 1, 1991, and any highway that is not in that system but which is in the National Highway System.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1292, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1994.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5221

text:
“Sign” refers to any card, cloth, paper, metal, painted or wooden sign of any character placed for outdoor advertising purposes on or to the ground or any tree, wall, bush, rock, fence, building, structure or thing, either privately or publicly owned, other than an advertising structure.

“Sign” does not include any of the following:

(a) Official notices issued by any court or public body or officer.

(b) Notices posted by any public officer in performance of a public duty or by any person in giving any legal notice.

(c) Directional warning or information signs or structures required by or authorized by law or by federal, state or county authority.

(d) A sign erected near a city or county boundary that contains the name of that city or county and the names of, or any other information regarding, civic, fraternal, or religious organizations located within that city or county.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 300, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1999.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5222

text: “660 feet from the edge of the right-of-way” means 660 feet measured from the edge of the right-of-way horizontally along a line normal or perpendicular to the centerline of the highway.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1970, Ch. 991.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text: “State highway system” means the state highway system as described in Section 300 of the Streets and Highways Code.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 991, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1994.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5223

text: “Unzoned commercial or industrial area” means an area not zoned under authority of state law in which the land use is characteristic of that generally permitted only in areas which are actually zoned commercial or industrial under authority of state law, embracing all of the land on which one or more commercial or industrial activities are conducted, including all land within 1,000 feet, measured in each direction, from the nearest edge of the commercial or industrial building or activity on such land. As used in this section, “commercial or industrial activities” does not include the outdoor advertising business or the business of wayside fresh product vending.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5224

text: “Visible” means capable of being seen (whether or not legible) without visual aid by a person of normal visual acuity.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5225

text: The verb, “to place” and any of its variants, as applied to advertising displays, includes the maintaining and the erecting, constructing, posting, painting, printing, tacking, nailing, gluing, sticking, carving or otherwise fastening, affixing or making visible any advertising display on or to the ground or any tree, bush, rock, fence, post, wall, building, structure or thing. It does not include any of the foregoing activities when performed incident to the change of an advertising message or customary maintenance of the advertising display.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5226

text:
The regulation of advertising displays adjacent to any interstate highway or primary highway as provided in Section 5405 is hereby declared to be necessary to promote the public safety, health, welfare, convenience and enjoyment of public travel, to protect the public investment in such highways, to preserve the scenic beauty of lands bordering on such highways, and to insure that information in the specific interest of the traveling public is presented safely and effectively, recognizing that a reasonable freedom to advertise is necessary to attain such objectives. The Legislature finds:

(a) Outdoor advertising is a legitimate commercial use of property adjacent to roads and highways.

(b) Outdoor advertising is an integral part of the business and marketing function, and an established segment of the national economy, and should be allowed to exist in business areas, subject to reasonable controls in the public interest.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5227

text: It is the intention of the Legislature to occupy the whole field of regulation by the provisions of this chapter except that nothing in this chapter prohibits enforcement of any or all of its provisions by persons designated so to act by appropriate ordinances duly adopted by any county of this state nor does anything prohibit the passage by any county of reasonable land use or zoning regulations affecting the placing of advertising displays in accordance with the provisions of the Planning Law, Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 65000) of Title 7 of the Government Code, relating to zoning, or, with reference to signs or structures pertaining to the business conducted or services rendered or goods produced or sold upon the property upon which such advertising signs or structures are placed, ordinances subjecting such signs or structures to building requirements.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5228

text: It is declared to be the intent of the Legislature in enacting the provisions of this chapter regulating advertising displays adjacent to highways included in the national system of interstate and defense highways or the federal-aid primary highway system to establish minimum standards with respect thereto.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5229

text: The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to permit a person to place or maintain in existence on or adjacent to any street, road or highway, including any interstate or state highway, any outdoor advertising prohibited by law or by any ordinance of any city, county or city and county.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5230

text: The governing body of any city, county, or city and county may enact ordinances, including, but not limited to, land use or zoning ordinances, imposing restrictions on advertising displays adjacent to any street, road, or highway equal to or greater than those imposed by this chapter, if Section 5412 is complied with. No city, county, or city and county may allow an advertising display to be placed or maintained in violation of this chapter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 653, Sec. 5.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5231

text: The governing body of any city or city and county may enact ordinances requiring licenses or permits, or both, in addition to those imposed by this chapter, for the placing of advertising displays in view of any highway, including a highway included in the national system of interstate and defense highways or the federal-aid primary highway system, within its boundaries.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 653, Sec. 6.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: BPC § 5250

text: The director may make orders and regulations for the enforcement of this chapter and may authorize the Department of Transportation to enforce its provisions.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 681, Sec. 1.)

article: 2. Administration

path: 3. PROFESSIONS AND VOCATIONS GENERALLY > 2. Advertisers > 2. Administration


citation: BPC § 5251

text: Regulations promulgated by the director prior to November 8, 1967, concerning interstate highways constructed upon rights-of-way, the entire width of which was acquired after July 1, 1956, shall be continued in effect to the extent necessary to comply with the agreement with the Secretary of Commerce specified in Section 131(j) of Title 23 of the United States Code.

history: (History: Repealed and added by Stats. 1970, Ch. 991.)

article: 2. Administration


citation: BPC § 5252

text: The director shall prescribe the form of all applications, licenses, permits and other appurtenant written matter.

article: 2. Administration


citation: BPC § 5253

text:
The director shall furnish requisite forms for applications, licenses and permits provided for in this chapter and may appoint a representative or agent in each of the counties throughout the state for the purpose of issuing the licenses and permits and collecting fees therefor as provided in this chapter. The agent or representative, in the discretion of the director, may be the county clerk in each county.

In the event of the appointment of the county clerk in any county by the director, the county clerk shall so act. Upon the issuance of any such license or permit by the authorized agent of the director, the agent shall immediately forward a copy thereof to the director.

article: 2. Administration


citation: BPC § 5254

text: The director may enforce the penalties for failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter.

article: 2. Administration


citation: BPC § 5270

text: The regulation of the placing of advertising displays by this chapter, insofar as such regulation may affect the placing of advertising displays within view of the public highways of this state in unincorporated areas, shall be exclusive of all other regulations for the placing of advertising displays within view of the public highways of this state in unincorporated areas whether fixed by a law of this state or by a political subdivision thereof.

article: 3. Application of Chapter

path: 3. PROFESSIONS AND VOCATIONS GENERALLY > 2. Advertisers > 3. Application of Chapter


citation: BPC § 5271

text: Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the provisions of this chapter apply only to the placing of advertising displays within view of highways located in unincorporated areas of this state, except that the placing of advertising displays within 660 feet from the edge of the right-of-way of, and the copy of which is visible from, interstate highways or primary highways, including the portions of such highways located in incorporated areas, shall be governed by this chapter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1278, Sec. 2.)

article: 3. Application of Chapter


citation: BPC § 5272

text:
(a) With the exception of Article 4 (commencing with Section 5300) and Sections 5400 to 5404, inclusive, this chapter does not apply to any advertising display used exclusively for any of the following purposes:

(1) To advertise the sale, lease, or exchange of real property on which the advertising display is placed.

(2) To advertise directions to, and the sale, lease, or exchange of, real property for which the advertising display is placed, provided that this exemption does not apply to advertising displays visible from a highway and subject to the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 (23 U.S.C. Sec. 131).

(3) To designate the name of the owner or occupant of the premises or to identify the premises.

(4) To advertise the business conducted, services rendered, or goods produced or sold on the property on which the advertising display is placed if the display is on the same side of the highway and within 1,000 feet of the point on the property or within 1,000 feet of the entrance to the site at which the business is conducted, services are rendered, or goods are produced or sold.

(5) To display only noncommercial public health, emergency, and safety messages from the County of San Joaquin, on public property and equipment owned and operated by the County of San Joaquin in conformance with state law, federal law, regulations, and agreements.

(b) With the exception of Article 4 (commencing with Section 5300) and Sections 5400 to 5404, inclusive, this chapter does not apply to any advertising display used exclusively either to advertise products, goods, or services sold by persons on the premises of an arena on a regular basis, or to advertise products, goods, or services marketed or promoted on the premises of an arena pursuant to a sponsorship marketing plan, if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The arena is capable of providing a venue for professional sports on a permanent basis.

(2) The arena has a capacity of 15,000 or more seats.

(3) The advertising display is either of the following:

(A) Located on the premises of the arena.

(B) Has been authorized as of January 1, 2021, by, or in accordance with, a local ordinance, including, but not limited to, a specific plan or sign district adopted in connection with the approval of the arena by the city, county, or city and county, bears the name or logo of the arena, and is visible when approaching offramps from the interstate, primary, or state highways used to access the premises of the arena. No arena shall be permitted more than two advertising displays allowed under this subparagraph.

(c) (1) Any advertising display erected pursuant to subdivision (b) and located on the premises of the arena shall be lawful only if authorized by, or in accordance with, an ordinance, including, but not limited to, a specific plan or sign district, adopted by the city, county, or city and county, that regulates advertising displays on the premises of the arena by identifying the specific displays or establishing regulations that include, at a minimum, all of the following:

(A) Number of signs and total signage area allowed.

(B) Maximum individual signage area.

(C) Minimum sign separation.

(D) Illumination restrictions and regulations, including signage refresh rate, scrolling, and brightness.

(E) Illuminated sign hours of operation.

(2) Authorization of advertising displays under subdivision (b) is subject to the owner of the advertising display submitting to the department a copy of the ordinance adopted by the city, county, or city and county in which the arena is located authorizing the advertising display and, for signs located on the premises of the arena, identification of the provisions of the ordinance required under paragraph (1). The department shall certify that the proposed ordinance meets the minimum requirements contained in paragraph (1).

(3) An advertising display authorized pursuant to subdivision (b) shall not advertise products, goods, or services related to tobacco, firearms, or sexually explicit material.

(4) This chapter does not limit a local government from adopting ordinances prohibiting or further restricting the size, number, or type of advertising displays permitted by this section.

(d) As used in this section, “the premises of an arena” means either of the following:

(1) A venue for indoor or outdoor sports, concerts, or other events.

(2) Any development project or district encompassing the venue, adjacent to it, or separated from it only by public or private rights-of-way, the boundaries of which have been set by the city, county, or city and county in which the arena is located. The development project or district shall be contiguous and shall not extend more than 1,000 feet beyond the arena structure or any structure physically connected to the arena structure.

(e) As used in this section, “sponsorship marketing plan” means an agreement between the property owner, facility owner, facility operator, or occupant of the premises of an arena and a sponsor pursuant to which the sponsor is allowed to include its logo, slogan, or advertising on advertising displays and that meets both of the following conditions:

(1) The sponsorship marketing plan is for a period of not less than 120 days.

(2) The sponsorship marketing plan grants the sponsor the opportunity to display its logo, slogan, or advertising in the interior of structures on the premises of an arena, or conduct promotions, public relations, or marketing activities on the premises of an arena.

(f) Authorization of an advertising display under subdivision (b) that is a message center display is subject to the owner of the display complying with one of the following conditions:

(1) Making a message center display within the premises of the arena available on a space-available basis for use by the department or the Department of the California Highway Patrol for public service messages, including Emergency Alert System (Amber Alert) messages disseminated pursuant to Section 8594 of the Government Code, and messages containing, among other things, reports of commute times, drunk driving awareness messages, reports of accidents of a serious nature, and emergency disaster communications.

(2) Making a message center display not subject to this section that is under the control of the owner of the advertising display available on a space-available basis for public service messages in a location acceptable to the department and the Department of the California Highway Patrol.

(3) Providing funding to the department for the installation of a message center display to accommodate those public service messages, which may include funding as part of mitigation in connection with the approval of the arena by the city, county, or city and county.

(g) If an advertising display authorized under subdivision (b) is subject to a notice from the United States Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, or any other applicable federal agency to the state that the operation of that display will result in the reduction of federal aid highway funds provided in Section 131 of Title 23 of the United States Code, authorization of the display under subdivision (b) shall cease and the display owner shall remove all advertising copy from the display within 60 days after the state notifies the display owner of the receipt of the federal notice. Failure to remove the advertising copy pursuant to this subdivision shall result in a civil fine, imposed by the department, of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per day until the advertising copy is removed. The department shall not assume any liability in connection with cessation of operation or removal of an advertising display or advertising copy pursuant to this subdivision.

(h) The city, county, or city and county adopting the ordinance authorizing the displays erected pursuant to this section shall have primary responsibility for ensuring that the displays remain in conformance with all provisions of the ordinance and of this section. If the city, county, or city and county fails to ensure that the displays remain in conformance with all provisions of the ordinance and of this section after 30 days of receipt of a written notice from the department, the city, county, or city and county shall hold the department harmless and indemnify the department for all costs incurred by the department to ensure compliance with the ordinance and this section or to defend actions challenging the adoption of the ordinance allowing the displays.

(i) An advertising display lawfully erected on or before December 31, 2013, in conformity with subdivision (e) of this section as it read on that date, shall remain authorized, subject to the terms of that subdivision.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 67, Sec. 10. (AB 1170) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 3. Application of Chapter


text:
(a) With the exception of Article 4 (commencing with Section 5300) and Sections 5400 and 5404, inclusive, nothing contained in this chapter applies to any advertising display that is exclusively on public property upon which is located a multimodal transit facility.

(b) This section applies to advertising displays only if the multimodal transit facility meets the following requirements:

(1) It is publicly owned and operated and is located on public land.

(2) It is identified as a critical component in the region’s sustainable communities strategy, as described in Section 65080 of the Government Code.

(3) One of the modes of transportation served at the multimodal transit facility is passenger rail.

(4) It is a current or future station for the high-speed train system in the corridor identified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 2704.04 of the Streets and Highways Code.

(c) To advertise any products, goods, or services on an advertising display pursuant to this section, all of the following shall apply:

(1) The advertising display shall be on the same side of the highway and within 1,000 feet of an entrance to a multimodal transit facility that meets the requirements of subdivision (b).

(2) The advertising display shall not advertise products, goods, or services related to tobacco, firearms, or sexually explicit material.

(3) Beyond the cost of erection, revenues from the advertising display shall be used to support the construction, operations, and maintenance of the multimodal transit facility.

(4) The advertising display shall not cause a reduction in federal aid highway funds as provided in Section 131 of Title 23 of the United States Code. If an advertising display authorized under this section is subject to a notice from the United States Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, or any other applicable federal agency to the state that the operation of that display will result in the reduction of federal aid highway funds as provided in Section 131 of Title 23 of the United States Code, the display owner shall remove all advertising copy from the display within 60 days after the state notifies the display owner of the receipt of the federal notice. Failure to remove the advertising copy pursuant to this paragraph shall result in a civil fine, imposed by the California Department of Transportation, of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per day until the advertising copy is removed. The department shall not assume any liability in connection with cessation of operation or removal of an advertising display or advertising copy pursuant to this paragraph.

(d) Any advertising display erected pursuant to this section shall be lawful only if authorized by, or in accordance with, an ordinance, including, but not limited to, a specific plan or sign district, adopted by the city, county, or city and county, as applicable, that regulates advertising displays by either identifying the specific displays or by establishing regulations that include, at a minimum, all of the following:

(1) The number of signs and total signage area allowed.

(2) The maximum individual signage area.

(3) Minimum sign separation.

(4) Illumination restrictions and regulations, including signage refresh rate, scrolling, and brightness.

(5) Illuminated sign hours of operation.

(e) Authorization of an advertising display under this section shall also be subject to the owner of the display submitting, to the High-Speed Rail Authority, a copy of the ordinance authorizing the display that has been adopted by the applicable city, county, or city and county pursuant to subdivision (d). The High-Speed Rail Authority shall review and certify that the proposed display and the ordinance meet the minimum requirements of this section, including that the multimodal transit facility is or will be a current or future station for the high-speed train system pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (b).

(f) The city, county, or city and county adopting the ordinance authorizing the displays erected pursuant to this section shall have the primary responsibility for ensuring that the displays remain in conformance with all provisions of the ordinance and of this section. If the city, county, or city and county fails to ensure that the displays are in conformance and shall remain in conformance with all provisions of the ordinance and of this section within 30 days of receipt of a written notice from the department, that one or more displays are out of conformance the city, county, or city and county shall hold the department harmless and indemnify the department for all costs incurred by the department to ensure compliance with the ordinance and this section or to defend actions challenging the adoption of the ordinance allowing the displays.

(g) Nothing in this section limits a city or county from adopting an ordinance prohibiting or further restricting the size, number, or types of advertising displays authorized by this section.

(h) Any law that applies to advertising displays authorized pursuant to Section 5272 shall also apply to this section.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 545, Sec. 1. (SB 694) Effective January 1, 2014.)

article: 3. Application of Chapter


text:
(a) With the exception of Article 4 (commencing with Section 5300) and Sections 5400 to 5404, inclusive, this chapter does not apply to any advertising display located in the geographic area in the City of Los Angeles bounded by Wilshire Boulevard on the northeast, S. Figueroa Street on the southeast, Interstate 10 on the southwest, and State Route 110 on the northwest, or to any advertising display located in the geographic area in the City of Los Angeles on the westerly side of State Route 110 bounded by West 8th Place, James M. Wood Boulevard, and Golden Avenue and bounded by 7th Street, South Bixel Street, West 8th Street, and Garland Avenue, or to any advertising display located in the geographic area in the City of Los Angeles on the westerly side of State Route 101 bounded by West Sunset Boulevard, North Bronson Avenue, Harold Way, and North Van Ness Avenue, and bounded by State Route 101, Vista Del Mar Avenue, Yucca Street, and Argyle Avenue, if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) (A) The advertising display is authorized by, or in accordance with, an ordinance, including, but not limited to, a specific plan or sign district, adopted by the City of Los Angeles that regulates advertising displays by identifying the specific displays or establishing a set of regulations that include, at a minimum, all of the following:

(i) Number of signs and total signage area allowed.

(ii) Maximum individual signage area.

(iii) Minimum sign separation.

(iv) Illumination restrictions and regulations, including signage refresh rate, scrolling, and brightness.

(v) Illuminated sign hours of operation.

(B) The ordinance adopted by the City of Los Angeles described in this paragraph may authorize a framework of allowable signage that preserves flexibility in the ultimate placement, sizing, and scope of advertising displays, so long as those displays remain within the adopted limits and conditions described in this section.

(C) The ordinance adopted by the City of Los Angeles described in this paragraph may define a range or maximum signage capacity with which the City of Los Angeles and its designated partners may subsequently determine the final placement, size, and configuration of advertising displays.

(2) The owner of the advertising display has submitted to the department a copy of the ordinance adopted by the City of Los Angeles authorizing the advertising display and identification of the provisions of the ordinance required under paragraph (1) and the department has certified that the ordinance meets the minimum requirements contained in paragraph (1).

(3) The advertising display will not advertise products, goods, or services related to tobacco, firearms, or sexually explicit material.

(4) (A) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (B), there shall be at least 500 feet between any two advertising displays located on the same side of the freeway unless the advertising displays are separated by buildings or other obstructions in a manner that only one of the advertising displays is visible from any given location on the freeway. For purposes of determining compliance with the spacing requirement, the distance between advertising displays shall be measured along the nearest edge of pavement between points directly opposite the advertising displays along each side of the freeway.

(B) The spacing requirement in subparagraph (A) does not apply to an advertising display that advertises only the business conducted, services rendered, or goods produced and sold upon the property upon which the advertising display is located and that, accordingly, is not subject to the requirements of this chapter.

(C) When counting the number of advertising displays and measuring the distance between them for purposes of subparagraph (A), the advertising displays described in subparagraph (B) shall be excluded from the count, and no measurements shall be made relative to the excluded advertising displays for purposes of subparagraph (A).

(5) This chapter does not limit the City of Los Angeles from adopting ordinances prohibiting or further restricting the size, number, or type of advertising displays permitted by this section. The City of Los Angeles may also adopt implementing ordinances that sequence or phase the authorization of advertising displays over time, provided that the total number, size, and area of those displays do not exceed the maximum limits certified under this section.

(6) If the advertising display is a message center, the owner of the display shall do one of the following:

(A) Make the message center display available on a space-available basis for use by the department or the Department of the California Highway Patrol for public service messages, including Emergency Alert System (Amber Alert) messages disseminated pursuant to Section 8594 of the Government Code, and messages containing, among other things, reports of commute times, drunk driving awareness messages, reports of accidents of a serious nature, and emergency disaster communications.

(B) Make a message center display not subject to this section that is under the control of the owner of the advertising display available on a space-available basis for public service messages in a location acceptable to the department and the Department of the California Highway Patrol.

(C) Provide funding to the department for the installation of a message center display to accommodate those public service messages, which may include funding as part of mitigation in connection with the approval of development of the property on which the message center display is located by the City of Los Angeles.

(b) (1) Before the advertising display authorized pursuant to subdivision (a) may be placed, the department shall determine that the display will not cause a reduction in federal aid funds or otherwise be inconsistent with any federal law, regulation, or agreement between the state and a federal agency or department.

(2) If the department is unable to make the determination required pursuant to paragraph (1), the department shall request the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) of the United States Department of Transportation to make the determination. Upon receipt of a determination by the FHWA that makes the finding described in paragraph (1), the advertising display may be placed.

(c) The City of Los Angeles shall have primary responsibility for ensuring that a display authorized pursuant to subdivision (a) remains in conformance with all provisions of the ordinance and of this section. If the City of Los Angeles fails to ensure that the display remains in conformance with all provisions of the ordinance and of this section after 30 days of receipt of a written notice from the department, the City of Los Angeles shall hold the department harmless and indemnify the department for all costs incurred by the department to ensure compliance with the ordinance and this section or to defend actions challenging the adoption of the ordinance allowing the displays.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 707, Sec. 1. (AB 770) Effective October 13, 2025.)

article: 3. Application of Chapter


text: The department shall, when renegotiating an agreement with the Federal Highway Administration on the state’s obligations pursuant to the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 (23 U.S.C. Sec. 131), include among its priorities support for advertising displays at arenas, as described in Section 5272.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 67, Sec. 11. (AB 1170) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 3. Application of Chapter


citation: BPC § 5273

text:
(a) Notwithstanding the dissolution of a state redevelopment agency and subject to subdivision (b), for purposes of this chapter, an advertising display advertising the businesses and activities developed within the boundary limits of, and as a part of, an individual redevelopment agency project, as those boundaries existed on December 29, 2011, and which was in use as of December 31, 2022, may continue to exist and be considered an on-premises display, as defined in Section 5490, and subject to the provisions of Article 4 (commencing with Section 5300) and Sections 5400 to 5404, inclusive, if the advertising display meets all of the following conditions:

(1) The advertising display is located within the boundary limits of the former project.

(2) The advertising display was constructed on or before January 1, 2012.

(3) The advertising display does not cause the reduction of federal aid highway funds provided pursuant to Section 131 of Title 23 of the United States Code. If an advertising display authorized under this section is subject to a notice from the United States Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, or any other applicable federal agency to the state that the operation of that display will result in the reduction of federal aid highway funds as provided in Section 131 of Title 23 of the United States Code, the display owner or operator shall remove all advertising copy from the display within 60 days after the date the state notifies the owner or operator, and the applicable city, county, or city and county, by certified mail, of the receipt of the federal notice. Failure to remove the advertising copy pursuant to this paragraph shall result in a civil fine, imposed by the California Department of Transportation, of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per day until the advertising copy is removed. The department shall not assume any liability in connection with the cessation of operation or removal of an advertising display or advertising copy pursuant to this paragraph. If the name of the owner or operator of the display is not indicated on the display, the state is only required to send the notice to the applicable city, county, or city and county.

(b) An advertising display described in subdivision (a) may remain until January 1, 2026.

(c) The applicable city, county, or city and county shall be responsible for ensuring that an advertising display is consistent with this section and provides a public benefit. This provision shall not be construed to preclude any enforcement authority of the department under this chapter.

(d) The applicable city, county, or city and county authorizing an advertising display placed pursuant to this section shall have primary responsibility for ensuring that the display remains in conformance with all provisions of this section. If the city, county, or city and county fails to do so within 30 days of the date of mailing of a notice to the city, county, or city and county by the department, the city, county, or city and county shall hold the department harmless and indemnify the department for all costs incurred by the department to ensure compliance with this section or to defend actions challenging the authorization of displays pursuant to this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 361, Sec. 1. (AB 1175) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 3. Application of Chapter


text:
(a) Notwithstanding Section 5273 and the dissolution of a state redevelopment agency, and subject to subdivision (b), for purposes of this section, an advertising display location that advertised businesses and activities within the boundary limits of the City of Inglewood may continue to exist and advertise businesses or activities operating outside the redevelopment project area. It shall be considered an on-premises display, as defined in Section 5490, if the advertising display meets all of the following conditions:

(1) The advertising display is located within the boundary limits of the City of Inglewood.

(2) The advertising display was constructed on or before January 1, 2012.

(3) The advertising display is adjacent to Interstate 405 and located at either postmile 22.36L or 22.38L north of Century Boulevard.

(4) The advertising display does not cause the reduction of federal aid highway funds provided pursuant to Section 131 of Title 23 of the United States Code. If an advertising display authorized under this section is subject to a notice from the United States Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, or any other applicable federal agency to the state that the operation of that display will result in the reduction of federal aid highway funds as provided in Section 131 of Title 23 of the United States Code, the display owner or operator shall remove all advertising copy from the display within 60 days after the date the state notifies the owner or operator, and the City of Inglewood, by certified mail, of the receipt of the federal notice. Failure to remove the advertising copy pursuant to this paragraph shall result in a civil fine, imposed by the California Department of Transportation, of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per day until the advertising copy is removed. The department shall not assume any liability in connection with the cessation of operation or removal of an advertising display or advertising copy pursuant to this paragraph. If the name of the owner or operator of the display is not indicated on the display, the state is only required to send the notice to the City of Inglewood.

(b) An advertising display described in subdivision (a) may remain until January 1, 2023, after which date the display shall be removed, unless it otherwise qualifies as a lawful advertising display pursuant to this section, without the payment of any compensation to the owner or operator. On and after January 1, 2022, the City of Inglewood may for good cause request from the department an extension beyond January 1, 2023, not to exceed the expiration of the redevelopment project area. “Good cause” for these purposes means that all of the following are satisfied: (1) there has been a finding by the City of Inglewood that the advertising display has had a positive economic impact on the redevelopment project area and provides a public benefit, (2) there have been no violations by the display owner or operator of this section or of any applicable illumination standards in the previous 10 years that have not been corrected within 30 days of the date of mailing of a violation notice to the owner or operator by the department, and (3) there has been compliance by the owner and operator with all other standards adopted by the City of Inglewood or by the department.

(c) The City of Inglewood shall be responsible for ensuring that an advertising display is consistent with this section and provides a public benefit. This provision shall not be construed to preclude any enforcement authority of the department under this chapter.

(d) The City of Inglewood shall annually certify to the department, by December 31 of each year, that at least 10 percent of the advertising copy, up to a maximum of 100 square feet, is used to display the address or location or locations of the business or activity or to identify the route to the business or activity from the nearest freeway offramp. The department may independently review compliance with this certification. An advertising display subject to this section shall be removed if it is in violation of this section more than three times within a 10-year period and the violation has not been corrected within 30 days of the date of mailing of a violation notice to the owner or operator by the department.

(e) The City of Inglewood shall have primary responsibility for ensuring that the advertising display authorized pursuant to this section remains in conformance with all of the provisions of this section. If the City of Inglewood fails to do so within 30 days of the date of mailing of a notice to the city by the department, the city shall hold the department harmless and indemnify the department for all costs incurred by the department to ensure compliance with this section or to defend actions challenging the authorization of displays pursuant to this section.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 869, Sec. 1. (SB 1199) Effective January 1, 2017.)

article: 3. Application of Chapter


text:
(a) Notwithstanding Section 5273, for the purposes of this chapter, in the City of Buena Park in Orange County, the Cities of Commerce, Covina, and South Gate in Los Angeles County, and the City of Victorville in San Bernardino County, advertising displays advertising those businesses and activities developed within the boundary limits of, and as a part of, any redevelopment agency project area or areas may, with the consent of the redevelopment agency governing the project area, be considered to be on the premises anywhere within the legal boundaries of the redevelopment agency’s project area or areas for a period not to exceed 10 years or the completion of the project, whichever occurs first, after which Sections 5272 and 5405 apply, unless an arrangement has been made for extension of the period between the redevelopment agency and the department for good cause.

(b) The governing body of a redevelopment agency in the cities set forth in subdivision (a), upon approving the purchase, lease, or other authorization for the erection of an advertising display pursuant to this section, shall prepare, adopt, and submit to the department an application for the issuance of a permit that, at a minimum, includes a finding that the advertising display would not result in a concentration of displays that will have a negative impact on the safety or aesthetic quality of the community. The department shall only deny the application if the proposed structure violates Sections 5400 to 5405, inclusive, or subdivision (d) of Section 5408, or if the display would cause a reduction in federal-aid highway funds as provided in Section 131 of Title 23 of the United States Code.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 818, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2000.)

article: 3. Application of Chapter


citation: BPC § 5274

text:
(a) None of the provisions of this chapter, except those in Article 4 (commencing with Section 5300), Sections 5400 to 5404, inclusive, and subdivision (d) of Section 5405, apply to an on-premises advertising display that is visible from an interstate or primary highway and located within a business center, if the display is placed and maintained pursuant to Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 5490) and meets all of the following conditions:

(1) The display is placed within the boundaries of an individual development project, as defined in Section 65928 of the Government Code, for commercial, industrial, or mixed commercial and industrial purposes, as shown on a subdivision or site map approved by a city, county, or city and county, and is developed and zoned for those purposes.

(2) The display identifies the name of the business center, if named.

(3) Each business identified on the display is located within the business center and on the same side of an interstate or primary highway where the display is located.

(4) The governing body of the city, county, or city and county has adopted ordinances for the display pursuant to Sections 5230 and 5231 for the area where the display will be placed, and the display meets city, county, or city and county ordinances.

(5) The display results in a consolidation of allowable displays within the business center, so that fewer displays will be erected as a result of the display.

(6) Placement of the display does not cause a reduction of federal aid highway funds as provided in Section 131 of Title 23 of the United States Code.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 471, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1998. Note: Sec. 3 of Ch. 471 repealed Sec. 3 of Stats. 1996, Ch. 495, which otherwise would have repealed, on January 1, 1999, the addition of this section by Sec. 1 of Ch. 495.)

article: 3. Application of Chapter


citation: BPC § 5275

text: Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the director may not regulate noncommercial, protected speech contained within any advertising display authorized by, or exempted from, this chapter.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 81, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2008.)

article: 3. Application of Chapter


citation: BPC § 5300

text:
(a) A person engages in the business of outdoor advertising whenever, personally or through employees, that person places an advertising display, changes the advertising message of an advertising display that does not pertain exclusively to that person’s business and is visible to a state highway or freeway.

(b) A manufacturer or distributor of a product for sale to the general public does not engage in the business of outdoor advertising when furnishing a sign pertaining to the product to a retailer of that product for installation on the retailer’s place of business or when installing on the retailer’s place of business a sign containing advertising pertaining to the product, the name or the business of the retailer.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 787, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 2001.)

article: 4. Licenses

path: 3. PROFESSIONS AND VOCATIONS GENERALLY > 2. Advertisers > 4. Licenses


citation: BPC § 5301

text:
No person shall engage in or carry on the business or occupation of outdoor advertising without first having paid the license fee provided by this chapter. The fee is payable annually in advance on the first day of July of each year to the director or his authorized agent. Each license shall remain in force for the term of one year from and after the first day of July, and may be renewed annually.

A license shall be obtained whether or not the advertising display requires a permit.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1970, Ch. 991.)

article: 4. Licenses


citation: BPC § 5302

text: All licenses issued on or after the first day of July shall expire on the 30th day of June following the date of issue. Fees for original licenses issued after the first day of July of each year shall be apportioned and collected on the basis of one-twelfth of the fee for each month or part thereof remaining in the fiscal year.

article: 4. Licenses


citation: BPC § 5303

text:
Every application for a license shall be made on a form to be furnished by the director. It shall state the full name of the applicant and the post office address of his fixed place of business and shall contain a certification that the applicant has obtained a copy of the provisions of this chapter and any regulations adopted thereunder and is aware of their contents.

The issuance of a license entitles the holder to engage in or carry on the outdoor advertising business and to apply for permits during the term of the license.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 653, Sec. 8.)

article: 4. Licenses


citation: BPC § 5350

text: No person shall place any advertising display within the areas affected by the provisions of this chapter in this state without first having secured a written permit from the director or from his authorized agent.

article: 6. Permits

path: 3. PROFESSIONS AND VOCATIONS GENERALLY > 2. Advertisers > 6. Permits


citation: BPC § 5351

text: Every person desiring a permit to place any advertising display shall file an application with the director or with his authorized agent.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 1003, Sec. 1. Effective September 11, 1984.)

article: 6. Permits


citation: BPC § 5353

text: The application shall be filed on a blank to be furnished by the director or by his agent. It shall set forth the name and address of the applicant and shall contain a general description of the property upon which it is proposed to place the advertising display for which a permit is sought and a diagram indicating the location of the proposed advertising display on the property, in such a manner that the property and the location of the proposed advertising display may be readily ascertained and identified.

article: 6. Permits


citation: BPC § 5354

text:
(a) The applicant for any permit shall offer written evidence that both the owner or other person in control or possession of the property upon which the location is situated and the city or the county with land use jurisdiction over the property upon which the location is situated have consented to the placing of the advertising display.

(b) At the written request of the city or county with land use jurisdiction over the property upon which a location is situated, the department shall reserve the location and shall not issue a permit for that location to any applicant, other than the one specified in the request, in advance of receiving written evidence as provided in subdivision (a) and for a period of time not to exceed 90 days from the date the department received the request.

(c) In addition to the 90-day period set forth in subdivision (b), an additional period of 30 days may be granted at the discretion of the department upon any proof, satisfactory to the department and provided by the city or county making the original request for a 90-day period, of the existence of extenuating circumstances meriting an additional 30 days. There shall be a conclusive presumption in favor of the department that the granting or denial of the request for an additional 30 days was made in compliance with this subdivision.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 972, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2003.)

article: 6. Permits


citation: BPC § 5355

text: An application for a permit to place a display shall contain a description of the display, including its material, size, and subject and the proposed manner of placing it.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 653, Sec. 10.)

article: 6. Permits


citation: BPC § 5357

text: If the applicant for a permit is engaged in the outdoor advertising business, the application shall contain the number of the license issued by the director.

article: 6. Permits


citation: BPC § 5358

text: When the application is in full compliance with this chapter and if the advertising display will not be in violation of any other state law, the director or the director’s authorized agent shall, within 10 days after compliance and upon payment by the applicant of the fee provided by this chapter, issue a permit to place the advertising display for the remainder of the calendar year in the year in which the permit is issued and for an additional four calendar years.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 152, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1998.)

article: 6. Permits


citation: BPC § 5359

text:
(a) The issuance of a permit for the placing of an advertising display includes the right to change the advertising copy without obtaining a new permit and without the payment of any additional permit fee.

(b) The issuance of a permit does not affect the obligation of the owner of the advertising display to comply with a zoning ordinance applicable to the advertising display under the provisions of this chapter nor does the permit prevent the enforcement of the applicable ordinance by the county.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 152, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1998.)

article: 6. Permits


citation: BPC § 5360

text:
(a) The director shall establish a permit renewal term of five years, which shall be reflected on the face of the permit.

(b) The director shall adopt regulations for permit renewal that include procedures for late renewal within a period not to exceed one year from the date of permit expiration. Any permit that was not renewed after January 1, 1993, is deemed revoked.

history: (History: Repealed and added by Stats. 1997, Ch. 152, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1998.)

article: 6. Permits


citation: BPC § 5361

text: Each permit provided in this chapter shall carry an identification number and shall entitle the holder to place the advertising display described in the application.

article: 6. Permits


citation: BPC § 5362

text: No person shall place any advertising display unless there is securely fastened upon the front thereof an identification number plate of the character specified in Section 5363. The placing of any advertising display without having affixed thereto an identification number plate is prima facie evidence that the advertising display has been placed and is being maintained in violation of the provisions of this chapter, and any such display shall be subject to removal as provided in Section 5463.

article: 6. Permits


citation: BPC § 5363

text: Identification number plates shall be furnished by the director. Identification number plates shall bear the identification number of the advertising display to which they are assigned.

article: 6. Permits


citation: BPC § 5364

text: The provisions of this article shall apply to any advertising display which was lawfully placed and which was in existence on November 7, 1967, adjacent to an interstate or primary highway and within the limits of an incorporated area, but for which a permit has not heretofore been required. A permit which is issued pursuant to this section shall be deemed to be a renewal of an original permit for an existing advertising display.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1975, Ch. 1074.)

article: 6. Permits


citation: BPC § 5365

text: When a highway within an incorporated area is designated as an interstate or a primary highway, each advertising display maintained adjacent to such highway shall thereupon become subject to all of the provisions of this act. For purposes of applying the provisions of this act, each such display shall be considered as though it had been placed along an interstate or a primary highway during all of the time that it had been in existence. Within 30 days of notification by the director of such highway designation, the owner of each advertising display adjacent to such highway shall notify the director of the location of such display on a form prescribed by the director. The director shall issue a permit for each such advertising display on the basis of the notification from the display owner; provided that such permits will be issued and renewed only if the owner pays the fees required by subdivision (b) of Section 5485. Each permit issued pursuant to this section shall be deemed to be a renewal of an original permit for an existing advertising display.

article: 6. Permits


citation: BPC § 5366

text: The issuance of a permit pursuant to this chapter does not allow any person to erect an advertising display in violation of any ordinance of any city, county, or city and county.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1983, Ch. 653, Sec. 13.)

article: 6. Permits


citation: BPC § 5367

text: The department shall not deny or delay the acceptance of a permit application for a new advertising display along a portion of a new alignment of an interstate or primary highway on the basis that the highway project has not been accepted by the department as complete if the section of highway is open to the use of the public for vehicular travel within 1,000 feet of the location specified in the permit application.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 313, Sec. 1. (SB 364) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 6. Permits


citation: BPC § 5400

text: No advertising structure may be maintained unless the name of the person owning or maintaining it, is plainly displayed thereon.

article: 7. Regulations

path: 3. PROFESSIONS AND VOCATIONS GENERALLY > 2. Advertisers > 7. Regulations


citation: BPC § 5401

text: No advertising structure shall be placed unless it is built to withstand a wind pressure of 20 pounds per square foot of exposed surface. Any advertising structure not conforming to this section shall be removed as provided in Section 5463.

article: 7. Regulations


citation: BPC § 5402

text: No person shall display or cause or permit to be displayed upon any advertising structure or sign, any statements or words of an obscene, indecent or immoral character, or any picture or illustration of any human figure in such detail as to offend public morals or decency, or any other matter or thing of an obscene, indecent or immoral character.

article: 7. Regulations


citation: BPC § 5403

text:
No advertising display shall be placed or maintained in any of the following locations or positions or under any of the following conditions or if the advertising structure or sign is of the following nature:

(a) If within the right-of-way of any highway.

(b) If visible from any highway and simulating or imitating any directional, warning, danger or information sign permitted under the provisions of this chapter, or if likely to be mistaken for any permitted sign, or if intended or likely to be construed as giving warning to traffic, by, for example, the use of the words “stop” or “slow down.”

(c) If within any stream or drainage channel or below the floodwater level of any stream or drainage channel where the advertising display might be deluged by flood waters and swept under any highway structure crossing the stream or drainage channel or against the supports of the highway structure.

(d) If not maintained in safe condition.

(e) If visible from any highway and displaying any red or blinking or intermittent light likely to be mistaken for a warning or danger signal.

(f) If visible from any highway which is a part of the interstate or primary systems, and which is placed upon trees, or painted or drawn upon rocks or other natural features.

(g) If any illumination shall impair the vision of travelers on adjacent highways. Illuminations shall be considered vision impairing when its brilliance exceeds the values set forth in Section 21466.5 of the Vehicle Code.

(h) If visible from a state regulated highway displaying any flashing, intermittent, or moving light or lights.

(i) If, in order to enhance the display’s visibility, the owner of the display or anyone acting on the owner’s behalf removes, cuts, cuts down, injures, or destroys any tree, shrub, plant, or flower growing on property owned by the department that is visible from the highway without a permit issued pursuant to Section 670 of the Streets and Highways Code.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 284, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2002.)

article: 7. Regulations


citation: BPC § 5404

text:
No advertising display shall be placed outside of any business district as defined in the Vehicle Code or outside of any unincorporated city, town or village, or outside of any area that is subdivided into parcels of not more than 20,000 square feet each in area in any of the following locations or positions, or under any of the following conditions, or if the advertising display is of the following nature:

(a) If within a distance of 300 feet from the point of intersection of highway or of highway and railroad right-of-way lines, except that this does not prevent the placing of advertising display on that side of an intercepted highway that is opposite the point of interception. But in case any permanent building, structure or other object prevents any traveler on any such highway from obtaining a clear view of approaching vehicles for a distance of 300 feet, then advertising displays may be placed on such buildings, structure or other object if such displays will not further obstruct the vision of those approaching the intersection or interception, or if any such display does not project more than one foot therefrom.

(b) If placed in such a manner as to prevent any traveler on any highway from obtaining a clear view of approaching vehicles for a distance of 500 feet along the highway.

article: 7. Regulations