COUNTY TO BEGIN ENFORCING STATE LAW

BANNING ADVERTISEMENTS IN HIGHWAY

RIGHT OF WAY

Albemarle County will begin enforcing an existing

state law against advertising signs in the highway
right of way along designated entrance corridors in
the County beginning on February 17, 2009. This
program is being conducted in cooperation with the
Virginia Department of Transportation’s ongoing
illegal sign removal efforts, and County staff have
been authorized to conduct this enforcement
through a signed agreement with VDOT.
Advertisements are defined as devices that are
intended to draw attention to or to solicit public
support for goods, merchandise, property,
business, services, entertainment or amusement
activities. Any such advertisements are illegal in
the highway right of way and are the focus of this
enforcement effort, which was initiated by the
County Board of Supervisors to improve safety and
aesthetics along entrance corridors like Route 29
and Route 250.
Beginning on February 17, county inspectors will
remove advertisements placed in the right of way
in response to complaints that are received and as
part of their regular duties as they travel around
the county. The County will also take proactive
measures such as conducting sweeps to remove
signs that are in violation. All enforcement
activities will be conducted with existing budgeted
resources, so no significant cost impact is from this
program.
Illegal advertisements removed by County staff
may be discarded, and violators are subject to a
$100 fine.
County staff are focusing on this illegal sign issue
at the request of the Board of Supervisors, who are
concerned about the traffic safety impacts of signs
that distract drivers and block sight lines and who
find the signs to be visual clutter than detracts
from the appearance of the roadways. Anyone
with questions should contact Jay Schlothauer at
(434)296-5832.

Lee Catlin
Community Relations Director
Albemarle County
401 McIntire Road
Charlottesville, VA 22902