Off premise advertising

hello frank:

i have come across a municipality that allows billboards up to 400sf, yet they don’t allow off premise advertising. isn’t that a violation of freedom of speech? the tough part is getting to put up a billboard sign, yet not be able to advertise a business not located on premise? have you come across this?

thanks

Billboard companies have made the freedom of speech argument, but it has suffered a series of defeats in recent times, so it does not scare anybody anymore. Basically, the city in question seems to be in full moratorium. Not much you can do about it. You might try to file for a variance – that’s about your only option.

Sven,
look up these court cases. they may be relevant to your case. Ladue v. Gilleo,512 U.S. 43 (1994) and City of Cincinnati v. Discovery Network, Inc., 507 U.S. 410 (1993).

hello donnellegallion:

thanks for the information.