761—117.6(306C) Outdoor advertising permits and fees required. The owner of an advertising device must apply to the department for an outdoor advertising permit if the device is visible from the main traveled way of any primary highway and the device is regulated by subrule 117.4(1) or rule 761—117.5(306B,306C).
	1.	If an advertising device was in existence on July 1, 1972, application for a permit must have been made on or before July 31, 1972.
	2.	After July 1, 1972, the owner or an advertising device must obtain a permit from the department prior to the erection of the advertising device.
	3.	If an advertising device that was lawfully erected later becomes subject to these rules due to an event such as, but not limited to, a change in zoning, the establishment of a new highway or a change in the designation of a highway, the owner of the advertising device shall apply to the department for an outdoor advertising permit within 30 days after the event that made the device nonconforming. A nonconforming advertising device that complies with the permit provisions of rule 117.6(306C) may remain in existence without being in compliance with subrule 117.5(5) as long as the device otherwise complies with all other applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
	117.6(1) Application. Application for a permit shall be made in accordance with Iowa Code section 306C.18.
	a. 	A permit is required for each face of an advertising device; thus, a permit application must be submitted for each face. Three permits are required for a tri-face device if all three faces are visible from the main traveled way of a primary highway.
	b. 	A copy of the current lease shall be submitted upon application for a permit.
	c. 	Any intentional falsification or misrepresentation of information in the application or renewal process shall result in immediate denial or revocation of the permit.
	117.6(2) Fees. Fees are applicable to all advertising devices measuring over 32 square feet in size.
	a. 	The initial fee, payable at the time of application, is $100 per permit. This fee is not refundable unless the application is withdrawn prior to the department’s field review of the proposed location.
	b. 	The annual renewal fee for each permit, due on or before June 30 of each year, is as follows:

Area of Sign	Annual Renewal Fee	
33 to 375 square feet	$15	
376 to 999 square feet	$25	
1000 square feet or more	$50	
For tri-vision signs, the area shall be calculated by multiplying the area of the face by three.
	(1)	The renewal fee is not refundable.
	(2)	Failure to timely pay the annual renewal fee when due shall result in revocation of any permit that has been issued for the advertising device and removal of the advertising device as an abandoned sign.
	c. 	Fees shall not be prorated.
	d. 	If an outdoor advertising permit is revoked, any permit fee paid is forfeited.
	117.6(3) Permits to be issued.
	a. 	The department shall issue an outdoor advertising permit in accordance with Iowa Code section 306C.18. Permits shall not be transferrable to other advertising devices or to other locations.
	b. 	An advertising device that was lawfully in existence prior to July 1, 1972, and is located within an adjacent area which is neither a zoned nor an unzoned commercial or industrial area shall be issued a provisional permit and annual renewals thereof upon timely application and payment of the required fees, until such time as the department acquires the advertising device. See rule 761—117.9(306B,306C).
	c. 	The department shall not prevent nor unnecessarily delay the issuance of a permit for the reason of a proposed future highway improvement project, except under any of the following conditions:
	(1)	The property upon which the advertising device is proposed has been appraised for the purposes of acquisition.
	(2)	Contact by department staff has been made with the property owner regarding compensation for the affected area.
	(3)	The placement of the advertising device would fail to meet the requirements of an existing corridor preservation plan in effect for the proposed location.
	(4)	A construction contract for the project has been initiated by the department.
	117.6(4) Permit plate.
	a. 	Upon approval of the application, the department shall issue a metal permit plate for the advertising face.
	b. 	The owner of the advertising device shall securely attach the plate to the advertising face at the bottom corner nearest the main traveled way or to the support structure immediately below the bottom corner. If these locations do not permit unobscured display of the permit number, the permit plate shall be attached to another prominent area of the advertising device. The permit number shall not be obscured when viewed from the main traveled way.
	c. 	The owner of an advertising device is responsible for replacing a permit plate that is missing or illegible. To obtain a replacement, the owner shall apply to the department and pay a $10 fee.
	d. 	If the department notifies the owner of the advertising device that a permit plate is not properly displayed, the owner shall within 90 days of notification either correct the situation or secure and display a replacement permit plate. Failure to properly display a permit plate after the 90-day period has expired shall result in revocation of any permit that has been issued for the advertising device and removal of the advertising device in the manner specified in subrule 117.8(1).
	117.6(5) New permit required for reconstruction or modification. A new permit is required from the department prior to the reconstruction or modification of an advertising device subject to the permit provisions of this rule.
	a. 	To obtain a new permit, the owner of the advertising device shall submit a new application to the department, accompanied by the initial application fee.
	b. 	A reconstructed or modified advertising device is subject to the provisions of this chapter as if it were a new advertising device.
	c. 	Reconstruction or modification of an advertising device prior to the issuance of the required permit shall result in revocation of any permit that has been issued for the advertising device and removal of the advertising device in the manner specified in subrule 117.8(1).
	d. 	Rescinded IAB 4/7/99, effective 5/12/99.
	117.6(6) One year to erect advertising device. The permit for an advertising device that has not been erected within one year after the date the permit was issued shall be revoked. After revocation, a new permit is required. To obtain a new permit, the owner of the advertising device shall submit a new application to the department, accompanied by the initial application fee and a copy of the current lease.
	117.6(7) Access. Access to the private property upon which an advertising device is located shall be gained from highway right-of-way only at access points designated or allowed by the department in accordance with 761—Chapter 112. An initial violation of this requirement by or on behalf of the permit holder shall result in the department sending a written warning by certified mail to the permit holder. A second violation of this requirement shall result in revocation of any permit that has been issued for the advertising device and removal of the advertising device in the manner specified in subrule 117.8(1). If a permit is revoked for an access violation, the permit holder is ineligible to apply for a permit for at least 12 months after revocation for any location within 500 feet of the revoked permit’s sign location.
	117.6(8) Destruction of vegetation. Without the written authorization of the department, vegetation growing on the highway right-of-way shall not be cut, trimmed, removed, or in any manner altered or damaged to improve the visibility of an advertising device. Violation of this prohibition by or on behalf of the permit holder shall result in revocation of any permit that has been issued for the advertising device and removal of the advertising device in the manner specified in subrule 117.8(1). If a permit is revoked for destruction of vegetation, the permit holder is ineligible to apply for a permit for 12 months after revocation for any location within 500 feet of the revoked permit’s sign location.
	117.6(9) Blank sign.
	a. 	A blank sign is:
	(1)	An advertising device that has had a face physically removed.
	(2)	An advertising device that does not display copy. “This space for rent” or a similar message is not copy.
	(3)	An advertising device that qualifies as an obsolete sign.
	b. 	A blank sign shall not remain in blank status for a period of time exceeding six months.
	c. 	If the department determines that an advertising device has been blank for a period of time exceeding six months, the department shall issue a notice pursuant to rule 761—117.8(306B,306C) in which the owner has 30 days to either cause it to conform or to remove it.
	117.6(10) Destroyed sign.
	a. 	The permit for an advertising device which has been destroyed shall be revoked.
	b. 	An advertising device which has been destroyed is in a condition which, if repaired, would meet the definition of reconstruction in Iowa Code section 306C.10 and is subject to subrule 117.6(5).
	c. 	An advertising device which has been damaged, but not destroyed, may be repaired. The repair shall not be deemed an act of reconstruction.
[ARC 2645C, IAB 8/3/16, effective 9/7/16; ARC 4984C, IAB 3/11/20, effective 4/15/20]