Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-28
BILLBOARD RULES
ADOPTED FOR CITY
Commissioners Unanimously
Approve Regulation of Out
door Advertising.

New sign regulations for the District
OF Columbia. limiting the number Of
billiards and otherwise designed to
give the local government broader
regulatory powers over all other forms
OF outdoor advertising. were adopted
unanimously late yesterday by the Dis
tr1ct Commissioners
Their action quickly followed the
accommodation of q Special Sign
Committee, headed by Maj. Donald
A. Dawson, acting Engineer Commts-
sioner, who previously had obtained the
support Of public interest groups and
business interests generally. He as
surcd the Commissioners his committee
had taken every legal precaution In
drafting a model set of sign regulations
consistent with the requirements OF the
National Capital which the commit
tee believes would be sustained by the
courts"
Prepare for Bicentennial.
The Commissioners also were actu-
ated by q desire to rid the city Of I'M
slightly signs, over which they previously
had little or no control, before the
Bicentennial celebration opens next
February. Under the requirements of
the sign law enacted by Congress last
Spring a month must elapse after the
publication of the regulations before
they become effective 1t was planned
to publish them this week, which would
give business firms and property own
ers until the end of November to con-
form.
Credit was given Maj. Dawson for
bringing about an agreement with the
billboard companies which was largely
responsible for paving the way for the
action just taken by the Commission
Tn ha Of he
ulaCions Maj. Dawson and the Sign
Committee were actuated by a desire
not only to protect public interests as
much rs possible, but also to respect
the legal rights of advertisers and prop
erty owners by keeping strictly within
the letter and spirit of the law. Since
1t was regulatory and not a prohibit
tive act, they were guided by the legal
opinion Of one Of their number, Assist
ant Corporation Counsel Edward H.
Thomas.
Objection Is Withdrawn.
Recently misunderstanding arose on
the part of some of the public interest
groups over the preparation of list Of
so-called doubtful" billboard locations
which are to become part of the estab-
Ilshed list. This led to criticism of
MAJ. Dawson and the Sign Committee.
When 1t was learned the committee was
powerleSS to act otherwise, this obiec-
ton was withdrawn, in the belief that
the regulations represented the best
possible that could be drafted within
the limitations provided by law.
A subcommittee, headed by Roland
M. Brennan, chief clerk of the En-
slneer department, is working out the
details for establishing an "au-
thorized list of billboards and is ex-
pected to complete this task soon.
When this list is eventually estab-
lished it will mark the limit of BUSH
ness which the three outdoor adver-
Using companies can do in the Dis
trict. No new billboard can be erected
without permit approved by the Com
miSSioners, who have strictly adhered
ID 4 DOllty Ol DENYING sulA p4pmIA
during the last 10 years or more
ulations repeal those which have been
in effect since 1927 and place with
out reservation, the power of issuing
permits In the hands of the District
Commissioners All companies en-
gagged in the business of erecting or
maintaining signs in the District must
be licensed.
Boards to Be Removed.
Billboard companies are ordered to
remove all unlicensed boards within go
days Part of the delay in drafting
the regulations, Maj Dawson reported,
was due to the time required by the
subcommittee to check, in the advertis-
ing companies Offices, authorizations
and permits claimed by the COMPANIES
for existing billboards and wall signs.
The committee has requested the
General Outdoor Advertising Co., the
Morton Advertising Co. and the Cri-
terion Advertising Co." his report said
Ito remove within three years all au-
thortzed billboardS and signs in resi-
Dental districts and authorized boards
and signs confronting public buildings
and public works, 40 per cent to be
removed durings the first year, 80 per
cent during the second year and 80 per
cent during the third year
With respect to real estate signs, no
permit shall be required for such a
sign not exceeding square~feet. Real
estate signs located within residential
zones are limited to 40 square feet. and
if located in outlying sections the maxi
mum area is 60 square feet.
VIII Speed Up Licensing.
Since the new license year begins No
vember /, Mai Dawson recommended
the licensing OF al lnuINluudlS VI lIInS
engaged in the sign business be required
as soon as possible.
Designed primarily to prohibit the in
discriminate repairing, repainting and
lacking" of miscellaneous signs on the
outside of stores and buildings. the new
regulations also impose strict provisions
for the protection OF residential dis
tricts and those fronting on public
buildings. All permits for signs in
areas coming within the Shipstead act
must first be passed on by the Commits
sion Of Fine Arts.
BY the enforcement of provisions
which restrict advertising to the prod
ucts sold on the premises, Mai. Dawson
believes hundreds of miscellaneous signs
can be removed in the downtown sec
tions. A general maximum of 100
square feet is imposed on signs of the
larger type. and every sign is required
to show q permit number and date Of
issuance.
Features of Regulations.
The outstanding features of the reg
ulations were stressed by the Sign Com
mittee in its report to the Commission
ers. as follows:
Restriction Of area of signs used to
advertise products or commodities &C
tually sold on the premises to so per
cent of the total area Of the sign.
Authority to compel the removal Of
signs which no longer advertise a bust
ness conducted upon the premises.
Forbidding the lacking, painting
pasting or otherwise affixing Of signs or
posters of a miscellaneous character,
visible from the public highways, on
the walls of buildings, on barns, sheds,
trees, fences, etc.
Requiring that all applications for
permits to erect signs on buildings or
land in areas falling within the Ship
stead zones be submitted to the Com
mission Of Fine Arts before permit is
issued
Restricting the area OF replacement
signs in the case OF non-conforming
uses in residential zones to 40 square