ORS 377.775
Removal procedure for noncomplying signs

  • ownership issues at hearing
  • disposition of removed signs
  • costs of removal

(1)

Any sign that fails to comply with ORS 377.700 (Short title) to 377.844 (Enforcement of rules regarding health and safety) is a public and private nuisance. In addition to the penalties provided by ORS 377.992 (Penalties), such a sign may be removed by the Director of Transportation or the duly authorized representative of the director as provided by this section. The director may enter upon private property and remove the sign without incurring any liability therefor.

(2)

If a noncomplying sign does not bear the name and address of its owner or if the owner is not readily identified and located, the director may remove it immediately.

(3)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

If a noncomplying sign bears the name and address of its owner or if the owner of the sign is readily identified and located, the director shall notify the owner that the sign is in violation of ORS 377.700 (Short title) to 377.844 (Enforcement of rules regarding health and safety) and that the owner has 30 days from the date of the notice within which to make the sign comply, to remove the sign or to request a hearing before the director within the time specified in the notice.

(b)

If the sign is not made to comply or is not removed and if the owner does not request a hearing within the time required, or if the owner after a hearing fails to comply with the final order in the proceedings, the director or the duly authorized representatives of the director may remove and destroy or otherwise dispose of the sign.

(4)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

If the person who receives notice under subsection (3) of this section intends to raise issues regarding ownership interests in the sign or its appurtenances in a hearing requested under subsection (3) of this section, the request for hearing must include notice that the person intends to raise those issues and must contain the names and addresses of all persons who have ownership interests in the sign or its appurtenances.

(b)

If the person requesting the hearing under subsection (3) of this section fails to include notice of intent to raise issues regarding ownership interests, the person may not raise the issues in the hearing. In addition, the person who requested the hearing may not raise issues regarding ownership interests of any person whose name and address the person who requested the hearing has failed to provide as required by paragraph (a) of this subsection.

(c)

For purposes of this subsection, an ownership interest includes, but is not limited to:

(A)

An interest in the land on which the sign is located, in the sign structure and in the display surface; and

(B)

A right to operate the sign, whether the right is created by lease, operating agreement or otherwise.

(5)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

The director shall, after removing a sign in accordance with subsection (2) of this section, place the sign in storage for 30 days while the director makes a further effort to find its owner.

(b)

If the owner cannot be found within 30 days, the director may, without incurring any liability therefor, destroy or otherwise dispose of the sign.

(c)

If the owner is found within 30 days, the owner may be required to remove the sign from storage.

(d)

If the owner is found at any time, the director may recover from the owner the cost of storage. The cost of storage is in addition to the cost of removal payable under subsection (6) of this section.

(6)

The owner is liable for, and the director shall collect, the costs of removing a sign. Costs shall be determined by the director on the basis of actual costs of removal or on a square-foot flat fee basis.

(7)

A hearing under this section shall be conducted as a contested case hearing under ORS chapter 183. [1971 c.770 §17; 1973 c.790 §13; 1977 c.265 §5; 1993 c.741 §61; 2001 c.508 §2; 2007 c.199 §18]

Source: Section 377.775 — Removal procedure for noncomplying signs; ownership issues at hearing; disposition of removed signs; costs of removal, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors377.­html.

Notes of Decisions

Billboard may be nonconforming sign subject to removal notwithstanding that it is no longer outdoor advertising sign. Outdoor Media Dimensions, Inc. v. State of Oregon, 150 Or App 106, 945 P2d 614 (1997), aff’d 331 Or 634, 20 P3d 180 (2001)

377.030
Destruction or removal of trees on state highways without permission prohibited
377.040
Application to department to remove trees along state highways
377.050
Consent of department for removal of trees along state highways
377.100
Study of highway system
377.105
Effect of designation as historic and scenic highway
377.505
Definitions for ORS 377.505 to 377.540
377.510
Signs visible from state highways regulated
377.515
Removal of nonconforming signs deferred
377.521
Status of previously designated scenic areas
377.540
Director of Transportation to enforce orders and render administrative assistance
377.605
Definitions for ORS 377.605 to 377.655
377.610
Public policy on junkyards
377.615
Director’s authority to promulgate regulations, enter into agreements with federal government
377.620
Restrictions on maintaining or establishing junkyard along highway
377.625
Screening junkyard located in restricted area
377.630
Removing junkyard from restricted area
377.635
Junkyard in violation of restrictions declared a public nuisance
377.640
Acquisition of land necessary to screen or relocate junkyards
377.645
Expenditure of moneys to screen or relocate junkyards prior to availability of federal matching funds
377.650
Personal property on state highway
377.653
Personal property under state highway bridge
377.655
Rules for removal and disposition of signs and property in violation of ORS 377.650
377.700
Short title
377.705
Policy
377.707
Identifying location of signs on construction plans
377.708
Effect on certain signs of transfer of jurisdiction over state highway
377.710
Definitions for ORS 377.700 to 377.844
377.712
Issuance of permits for certain preexisting signs
377.713
Compensation following partial or total loss of outdoor advertising sign
377.715
Application of ORS 377.700 to 377.844
377.720
Prohibited signs
377.723
Affidavit of city or county necessary for issuance of sign permit
377.725
Permit
377.729
Fees for sign permits and business licenses
377.730
License for business of maintaining or erecting signs
377.735
Exemptions from sign permit requirements
377.737
Giving or receiving compensation or value for signs
377.740
ORS 377.700 to 377.844 not intended to authorize signs prohibited by other governmental units
377.745
Limitation on form and size of signs
377.750
Spacing between signs
377.753
Permits for outdoor advertising signs
377.756
Permits for signs erected by city or unincorporated community
377.757
Requirements for signs authorized by ORS 377.756
377.758
Notification by federal authorities of illegal sign
377.759
Issuance of relocation credits for removal of outdoor advertising signs from scenic byway
377.762
Issuance of relocation credits for removal of sign
377.763
Consolidation of relocation credits
377.765
Status of previously existing signs
377.767
Relocation of existing outdoor advertising sign
377.768
Effect of relocation permit on existing sign permit
377.770
Signs in protected, commercial or industrial areas
377.773
When sign abandoned
377.775
Removal procedure for noncomplying signs
377.777
Action to enjoin person from violation of ORS 377.700 to 377.844
377.780
Removal of outdoor advertising signs
377.787
Contracts to study traveler information needs
377.790
Construction, maintenance and operation of tourist and motorist informational signs
377.795
Allocation of costs of telephone informational system
377.800
Tourist and motorist informational signs
377.805
Form of tourist and motorist informational signs
377.820
Application for tourist or motorist informational sign permit
377.825
Fees for sign applications, maintenance costs and reinstallation
377.830
Limitation on motorist informational sign permits
377.831
Application for digital billboard permit
377.833
Public notifications
377.835
Creation of Travel Information Council as semi-independent state agency
377.836
Application of certain statutes to Travel Information Council
377.838
Authority of executive director of Travel Information Council
377.839
Authority of Travel Information Council
377.840
Travel Information Council account
377.841
Roadside rest areas
377.842
Refreshments at roadside rest areas
377.844
Enforcement of rules regarding health and safety
377.845
Use of funds by Department of Transportation after repayment of highway fund
377.880
Informational materials in roadside rest areas
377.885
Department of Transportation Human Trafficking Awareness Fund
377.887
State Parks and Recreation Department Human Trafficking Awareness Fund
377.992
Penalties
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