That means counties can ban new billboards along these roads, but they can t make companies take them down without just compensation. Buncombe County leaders are considering rules that are similar to what the city of Asheville enacted in 1997. City Council voted then to require off-premise signs to be taken down in seven years. The owners of the billboards sued in state and federal court. Attorneys argued the state case to the North Carolina Court of Appeals in January, but there s been no ruling.
Amortization is the death penalty.
Buncombe County has more than 250 permitted, off-premise signs. Of that number, about 140 are billboards including more than 55 billboards along interstates. Some commissioners say it s time the county took that step. Commissioner David Young said he supports the move to take down billboards, but he s not sure what the amortization period should be. But Graves said banning new signs and forcing companies to take down some existing signs would hurt businesses that advertise using billboards.