2023 Illinois Compiled Statutes › Chapter 225 - PROFESSIONS, OCCUPATIONS, AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS › 225 ILCS 440/ - Highway Advertising Control Act of 1971.

(225 ILCS 440/1) (from Ch. 121, par. 501)
Sec. 1. 
		
		
		The General Assembly finds and declares that the erection and
maintenance of outdoor advertising signs, displays, and devices in areas
adjacent to Interstate highways and primary highways should be regulated in
order to protect the public investment in such highways, to promote the
recreational value of public travel, to preserve natural beauty and to
promote the reasonable, orderly and effective display of such signs,
displays and devices.
The General Assembly further finds and declares that outdoor advertising
is a legitimate, commercial use of private property adjacent to roads and
highways; that outdoor advertising is an integral part of the business and
marketing function, and an established segment of the national economy
which serves to promote and protect private investments in commerce and
industry and should be allowed to operate in business areas; and that the
regulatory standards set forth in Section 6 of this Act are consistent with
customary use in this State and will properly and adequately carry out each
and all of the purposes of this Act, more severe restrictions being
inconsistent with customary use and ineffective to accomplish the purposes
of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/2) (from Ch. 121, par. 502)
Sec. 2. 
		
		
		This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Highway Advertising
Control Act of 1971".
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/3) (from Ch. 121, par. 503)
Sec. 3. 
As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the
terms defined in the Sections following this Section and preceding Section 4 have the meanings
ascribed to them in those Sections.
(Source: P.A. 98-756, eff. 7-16-14.)
(225 ILCS 440/3.01) (from Ch. 121, par. 503.01)
Sec. 3.01. 
		
		
		"Department" means the Department of Transportation of the State of
Illinois.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/3.02) (from Ch. 121, par. 503.02)
Sec. 3.02. 
		
		
		"Interstate highway" means any highway designated by the Department and
approved by the United States Department of Transportation as a part of the
National System of Interstate and Defense Highways on the effective date of
this Act or thereafter. A highway constructed after the effective date of
this Act shall become a part of the National System of Interstate and
Defense Highways upon the date of approval of the Route Location Decision
and the approval of the addition of the highway to the National System of
Interstate and Defense Highways by the Governor and the United States
Department of Transportation.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/3.03) (from Ch. 121, par. 503.03)
Sec. 3.03. 
		
		"Primary highway" means any highway, other than an Interstate highway,
designated by the Department and approved by the United States Department
of Transportation as a part of the Federal-Aid Primary System in
existence on June 1, 1991 or any highway other than an Interstate highway that
is not on such system
that is on the National Highway
System.
(Source: P.A. 89-605, eff. 8-2-96.)
(225 ILCS 440/3.04) (from Ch. 121, par. 503.04)
Sec. 3.04. 
		
		
		"Expressway" means a primary highway constructed as a freeway which has
complete control of access.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/3.05) (from Ch. 121, par. 503.05)
Sec. 3.05. 
		
		
		"Main-traveled way" means the traveled way of a highway on which through
traffic is carried. In the case of a divided highway, the traveled way of
each of the separated roadways for traffic in opposite directions is a
main-traveled way. It does not include such facilities as frontage roads,
turning roadways, or parking areas.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/3.06) (from Ch. 121, par. 503.06)
Sec. 3.06. 

"Maintain" means to allow to exist and includes the periodic changing of advertising messages as well as the normal maintenance or repair of signs and sign structures.
(Source: P.A. 96-919, eff. 6-9-10.)
(225 ILCS 440/3.07) (from Ch. 121, par. 503.07)
Sec. 3.07. 
		
		"Sign" means any outdoor sign, display, device, notice, figure
painting, drawing, message, placard, poster, billboard, or other thing, which
is designated, intended, or used to advertise or inform, and of which any
part of the existing or intended advertising or informative contents is or
will be visible from any place on the main-traveled way of any portion of
an Interstate or primary highway and which is within 660 feet of the nearest
edge of the right-of-way of such highway.
"Sign" also means any sign described in paragraph one of this Section
which is more than 660 feet from the nearest edge of such highway, outside
of an urban area, visible from any place on the main-traveled way of any
portion of such highway and erected with the purpose of its message being
read from such main-traveled way.
(Source: P.A. 79-1009.)
(225 ILCS 440/3.08) (from Ch. 121, par. 503.08)
Sec. 3.08. 

"Erect" means to construct, build, raise, assemble, place, affix,
attach, create, paint, draw or in any other way bring into being or
establish; but does not include any of the foregoing activities when
performed as an incident to the change of advertising message or normal
maintenance or repair of a sign or sign structure. For the purposes of this definition, the following shall not constitute normal maintenance or repair of a sign or sign structure: replacing more than 60% of the uprights, in whole or in part, of a wooden sign structure; replacing more than 30% of the length above ground of each broken, bent, or twisted support of a metal sign structure; raising the  height above ground of a sign or sign structure; making a sign bigger; adding lighting; or similar activities that substantially change a sign or make a sign more valuable.
(Source: P.A. 96-919, eff. 6-9-10.)
(225 ILCS 440/3.09) (from Ch. 121, par. 503.09)
Sec. 3.09. 
		
		
		"Municipality" means a city, village, or incorporated town in the State
of Illinois, but, unless the context otherwise provides, "municipal" or
"municipality" does not include a township, town when used as the
equivalent of a township, incorporated town which has superseded a civil
township, county, school district, park district, sanitary district or any
other similar governmental district.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/3.10) (from Ch. 121, par. 503.10)
Sec. 3.10. 
		
		"Commercial or industrial activities" means those activities
located within 660 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way generally
recognized as commercial or industrial by zoning authorities in this State,
but does not include the following:
(a) Agricultural, forestry, ranging, grazing and farming activities,
including wayside fresh produce stands and grain storage bins;
(b) Railroad tracks and minor sidings;
(c) Transient or temporary activities not involving permanent
buildings or structures;
(d) Outdoor advertising structures;
(e) Activities not visible from a main-traveled way;
(f) Activities conducted in a building principally used as a residence.
(Source: P.A. 79-1009.)
(225 ILCS 440/3.11) (from Ch. 121, par. 503.11)
Sec. 3.11. 
		
		
		"Unzoned commercial or industrial area" means any area adjacent to the
right-of-way of a primary highway not zoned by any county or municipality
and which lies within 600 feet of any commercial or industrial activity.
All measurements shall be from the outer edges of the regularly used
buildings, parking lots, storage or processing areas of the activities, not
from the property lines of the activities, and shall be along or parallel
to the edge or pavement of the highway. On primary highways other than
expressways where there is an unzoned commercial or industrial area on one
side of the road in accordance with the preceding, the unzoned commercial
or industrial area shall also include those lands directly opposite on the
other side of the highway to the extent of the same dimensions except where
such lands are publicly owned or controlled for scenic or recreational
purposes.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/3.12) (from Ch. 121, par. 503.12)
Sec. 3.12. Business area. "Business area" means any part of an area adjacent to and
within 660 feet of the right-of-way which is zoned for business,
commercial or industrial activities under the authority of any law of this
State; or not so zoned, but which constitutes an unzoned commercial or
industrial area as defined in Section 3.11.  However, as to signs along
Interstate highways, the term "business area" includes only areas which
are within incorporated limits of any city, village, or incorporated town,
as such limits existed on September 21, 1959, and which are zoned for
industrial or commercial use, or both, or to portions of Interstate highways
which traverse other areas where the land use, as of September 21, 1959,
was established by State law as industrial or commercial, or both.
With respect to signs owned or leased by the State or a political subdivision, an area zoned for business, commercial, or industrial activities that is adjacent to and within 660 feet of an Interstate highway and that is in Township 41 North, Range 10 East of the Third Principal Meridian, shall be deemed a "business area" for purposes of this Act.  This zoning must have been a part of comprehensive zoning and not have been created primarily to permit outdoor advertising structures as described in 23 CFR 750.
(Source: P.A. 98-56, eff. 7-5-13.)
(225 ILCS 440/3.13) (from Ch. 121, par. 503.13)
Sec. 3.13. 
		
		
		"Visible" means capable of being seen (whether or not legible) without
visual aid by persons of normal visual acuity.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/3.14) (from Ch. 121, par. 503.14)
Sec. 3.14. 
		
		For purposes of this Act, "urban area" means an urbanized
area or, in the case of an urbanized area encompassing more than one state,
that part of the urbanized area in each such state, or an urban place as
designated by the Bureau of the Census of the United States having a
population of 5,000 or more and not within any urbanized area, within
boundaries to be fixed by responsible state and local officials in cooperation
with each other, subject to approval by the Secretary of the United States
Department of Transportation.  Such boundaries shall, as a minimum, encompass
the entire urban place designated by the Bureau of the Census.
(Source: P.A. 79-1009.)
(225 ILCS 440/3.15)
Sec. 3.15. 
		
		"National Highway System" is a designation provided to certain
highways by the Department, which designation must be approved by the United
States Department of Transportation and the United States Congress for the
purpose of providing an interconnected system of principal arterial routes that
serve major population centers, international border crossings, ports,
airports, public transportation facilities, other major travel destinations,
and interstate and interregional travel and meet national defense
requirements.
(Source: P.A. 89-605, eff. 8-2-96.)
(225 ILCS 440/3.16)
Sec. 3.16. 
		
		"Scenic byway" means that portion of a highway that has
been nominated by the Department to the United States Department of
Transportation for designation as a national scenic byway or All-American Road,
and that has received national designation.  "Scenic byway" does not include a
section of primary or Interstate highway that traverses a business area at the
time of nomination, except in accordance with Section 14.02(a)(5).
(Source: P.A. 89-605, eff. 8-2-96.)
(225 ILCS 440/3.17)
Sec. 3.17. On-premise sign. "On-premise sign" means any sign advertising a business or activity conducted on the property on which they are located.
(Source: P.A. 98-56, eff. 7-5-13.)
(225 ILCS 440/3.18)
Sec. 3.18. Off-premise sign. "Off-premise sign" means any sign advertising a business or activity not being conducted on the same property as the sign.
(Source: P.A. 98-56, eff. 7-5-13.)
(225 ILCS 440/3.19)
Sec. 3.19. Real estate sign. "Real estate sign" means any sign advertising solely the sale or lease of the property on which the sign is located.
(Source: P.A. 98-56, eff. 7-5-13.)
(225 ILCS 440/3.20)
Sec. 3.20. Municipal network sign. "Municipal network sign" means an official sign or a sign that:
(1) is located on property owned or controlled by a     local government that has a population of 2,000,000 or more and that has adopted zoning regulations consistent with this Act;
(2) is controlled under the direction of the local     government;
(3) complies with zoning regulations consistent with     this Act;
(4) is placed within a business area as defined in     Section 3.12 of this Act;
(5) is used to communicate emergency, public, and     commercial information; and
(6) is consistent with the intent of this Act and     with customary use of the local government as to the sign's installation and operation, including the size, lighting, and spacing of signs.
(Source: P.A. 98-56, eff. 7-5-13.)
(225 ILCS 440/4) (from Ch. 121, par. 504)
Sec. 4. 
		
		
		Signs shall not be erected or maintained along primary or Interstate
highways except those described in Sections 4.01 through 4.08.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/4.01) (from Ch. 121, par. 504.01)
Sec. 4.01. 
		
		
		Directional and other official signs, including, but not limited to,
signs pertaining to natural wonders, scenic and historical attractions,
which are required or authorized by law, and which comply with regulations
which shall be promulgated by the Department relative to their lighting,
size, number, spacing and such other requirements as may be appropriate to
implement this Act, but such regulations shall not be inconsistent with,
nor more restrictive than, such national standards as may be promulgated
from time to time by the Secretary of the Department of Transportation of
the United States, under subsection (c) of Section 131 of Title 23 of the
United States Code.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/4.02) (from Ch. 121, par. 504.02)
Sec. 4.02. Real estate signs. Real estate signs as defined in Section 3.19 of this Act. However, real estate signs must comply only with the provisions in Section 5 of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 98-56, eff. 7-5-13.)
(225 ILCS 440/4.03) (from Ch. 121, par. 504.03)
Sec. 4.03. On-premise signs. On-premise signs as defined in Section 3.17 of this Act. However, on-premise signs must comply only with the provisions in Section 5 of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 98-56, eff. 7-5-13.)
(225 ILCS 440/4.04) (from Ch. 121, par. 504.04)
Sec. 4.04. Off-premise signs. Off-premise signs which are erected in business areas after the effective date of
this Act and which comply, when erected, with Sections 5, 6 (subject to
provisions of Section 7) and 8 of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 98-56, eff. 7-5-13.)
(225 ILCS 440/4.05) (from Ch. 121, par. 504.05)
Sec. 4.05. 
		
		
		Signs in existence in a "business area", except signs which do not
comply with Section 5, subsection (b) of Section 6.02, subsection (a) of
Section 6.03 or Section 8 of this Act. For purposes of this Section, to be
"in existence" the supports and frame of a sign must be physically in
place: (a) on the effective date of this Act; or (b) on the date subsequent
to the passage of this Act when the area in which the sign is located
becomes subject to this Act or within six months thereafter, provided the
sign is located on property leased prior to the date the area becomes
subject to this Act and a copy of the lease is filed with the Department
within 30 days following such date, except that the six month period shall
not apply to those portions of a highway constructed on new alignment.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/4.06) (from Ch. 121, par. 504.06)
Sec. 4.06. 
		
		
		Signs affixed by public utilities to their poles and other facilities
for identification.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/4.07)
Sec. 4.07. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 79-1009. Repealed by P.A. 98-56, eff. 7-5-13.)
(225 ILCS 440/4.08) (from Ch. 121, par. 504.08)
Sec. 4.08. 
		
		Signs, displays and devices giving specific information in
the interest of the traveling public may be erected and maintained by the
Department within the right-of-way on the Interstate System and on other
freeways with full control of access in areas designated by the United
States Secretary of Transportation, pursuant to Title 23, U.S. Code,
Section 131 (f). Signs giving specific information regarding tourist oriented
businesses in the interest of the traveling public may also be erected and
maintained by the Department within the right-of-way on rural non-interstate
and non-freeway State highways.  Such signs, displays and devices shall
conform to national
standards promulgated by the Secretary pursuant to such authority.
(Source: P.A. 90-272, eff. 7-30-97.)
(225 ILCS 440/5) (from Ch. 121, par. 505)
Sec. 5. 
		No sign may be erected or maintained that:
(a) Imitates or resembles an official traffic sign, signal or device;
(b) Is erected, painted or drawn upon trees, rocks or other natural
features;
(c) Is structurally unsafe or in disrepair; or
(d) Is erected
adjacent to a scenic byway that is a primary or Interstate
highway
after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1996,
 except those signs described in
Sections 4.01, 4.02, 4.03, 4.06, and 4.08 of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 89-605, eff. 8-2-96.)
(225 ILCS 440/6) (from Ch. 121, par. 506)
Sec. 6. 
		
		
		Signs permitted under Section 4.04 must comply with the requirements of
Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 6.03.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/6.01) (from Ch. 121, par. 506.01)
Sec. 6.01. 
		Size of signs. 
		
No sign may be erected which exceeds 1,200 square feet in
area, 30 feet in height and 60 feet in length, including border and trim, but
excluding ornamental base or apron, supports and other structural members.
Except with respect to the repair, rebuilding, or replacement of any sign
lawfully erected before January 1, 1993, no sign may be erected after the
effective date of this amendatory Act of 1992 in any county with a population
under 2,000,000 that exceeds 800 square feet in area, excluding extensions and
cut-outs; the extensions and cut-outs may account for no more than an
additional 20% in sign surface area. The maximum size limitation shall apply to
each side of a sign or sign structure. A maximum of 2 signs may be erected in a
facing, in which event the facing shall be deemed to be one sign, the size of
which may not exceed the dimensions listed in this Section. Signs may be double
faced or be placed back to back or V-type
or triangular, provided that the angle between
sign
faces shall not exceed 90 degrees.
The area shall be measured by the
smallest square, rectangle, triangle, circle or combination thereof which will
encompass the entire sign.
(Source: P.A. 91-774, eff. 1-1-01.)
(225 ILCS 440/6.02) (from Ch. 121, par. 506.02)
Sec. 6.02. 
		Lighting.
(a) No sign may be erected which contains, includes or is
illuminated by any flashing, intermittent or moving light or lights, except
those giving public service information such as, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, time, weather, date and temperature.
(b) No sign may be erected or maintained which is not effectively
shielded so as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any
portion of the traveled way of any Interstate or primary highway or which
is of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or to impair the
vision of the driver of any motor vehicle.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/6.03) (from Ch. 121, par. 506.03)
Sec. 6.03. 
		Spacing.
(a) No sign may be erected or maintained in such a manner as to
obscure or otherwise physically interfere with an official traffic sign,
signal or device or to obstruct or physically interfere with the driver's
view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic within 1000 feet of
such sign, signal, device or point of intersecting or merging traffic.
(b) Along interstate highways and expressways no two sign structures on
the same side of the highway shall be erected less than 500 feet apart.
Along primary highways other than expressways no 2 sign structures on the
same side of the highway shall be erected less than 300 feet apart (100
feet inside incorporated municipalities). Except with respect to the
repair, rebuilding, or replacement of any sign lawfully erected before
January 1, 1993, after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1992,
along primary highways other than expressways, no 2 sign structures on the
same side of the highway shall be erected less than 500 feet apart (300
feet inside incorporated municipalities).  A sign structure may have one or
two facings with a maximum of two signs per facing. Back to back, V-type,
and side by side signs shall be treated as single sign structures.
Provided, however, that the foregoing spacing between structures
requirements shall not apply to structures which are separated or screened
by buildings, natural surroundings, or other obstructions in such manner
that only one sign facing located within such distance is visible at any
one time.
(c) Outside incorporated municipalities, no sign structure may be
erected along an interstate highway or expressway adjacent to, or within
500 feet of an interchange, rest area, or weigh station, such 500 feet to
be measured along the main-traveled way from the beginning or ending of
pavement widening at the exit from or entrance to the main-traveled way.
(Source: P.A. 87-1205.)
(225 ILCS 440/6.04) (from Ch. 121, par. 506.04)
Sec. 6.04. 
		
		
		The size, lighting and spacing provisions of Section 6 shall not be
construed to apply to, or to impose additional limitations upon, signs of
the types described in Sections 4.01, 4.02 and 4.03, nor shall such signs
be counted nor shall measurements be made from them for purposes of
determining compliance with spacing requirements.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/7) (from Ch. 121, par. 507)
Sec. 7. 
		
		
		In zoned commercial and industrial areas, whenever a State, county or
municipal zoning authority has adopted laws or ordinances, which include
regulations with respect to the size, lighting and spacing of signs, which
regulations are consistent with the intent of this Act and with customary
use, then from and after the effective date of such regulations, and so
long as they shall continue in effect, the provisions of Section 6 shall
not apply to the erection of signs in such areas.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/8) (from Ch. 121, par. 508)
Sec. 8. 
Within 90 days of July 1, 1972, or the owner being notified of a new controlled route subject to this Act being added, each
sign, except signs described by Sections 4.01, 4.02, and 4.03, must be registered with the Department
by the owner of the sign, on forms obtained from the Department.   Within
90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1975, each sign
located beyond 660 feet of the right-of-way located outside of urban areas,
visible from the main-traveled way of the highway and erected with the
purpose of the message being read from such traveled way, must be registered
with the Department by the owner of the sign on forms obtained from the
Department.  The Department shall require reasonable information to be
furnished including the name of the owner of the land on which the sign is
located and a statement that the owner has consented to the erection or
maintenance of the sign.  Registration must be made of each sign and shall be
accompanied by a registration fee of $5.
No sign, except signs described by Sections 4.01, 4.02, and 4.03, may be erected after the
effective date of this Act without first obtaining a permit from the
Department.  The application for permit shall be on a form provided by the
Department and shall contain such information as the Department may reasonably
require.  Upon receipt of an application and upon payment of the fee required under this
Section, the Department then issues a permit to the applicant for the erection
of the sign, provided such sign will not violate any provision of this Act. The Department shall have up to 45 days to complete its review and approve the permit application or notify the applicant of any and all deficiencies necessary for the Department's approval.  The applicant shall then have 45 days to correct the noted deficiencies, and the Department shall have 30 days from receipt of the notice of corrected deficiencies to make a final determination. If the application for permit has been denied, written notice of the decision shall state in detail why the application was denied. The
application fee shall be as follows:
(1) for signs of less than 150 square feet, $50;
(2) for signs of at least 150 but less than 300     square feet, $100; and
(3) for signs of 300 or more square feet, $200.
If a permit application is for a sign within an area subject to the Airport Zoning Act, the Department shall notify the applicant in writing that the review process will exceed the timelines set forth in the Section. Notwithstanding, the Department shall complete its own review of the permit application pending approval under the Airport Zoning Act.
In determining the appropriateness of issuing a permit for a municipal network sign, the Department shall waive any provision or requirement of this Act or administrative rule adopted under the authority of this Act to the extent that the waiver does not contravene the federal Highway Beautification Act of 1965, 23 U.S.C. 131, and the regulations promulgated under that Act by the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation. Any municipal network sign applications pending on May 1, 2013 that are not affected by compliance with the federal Highway Beautification Act of 1965 shall be issued within 10 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly. The determination of the balance of pending municipal network sign applications and issuance of approved permits shall be completed within 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly. To the extent that the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation or any court finds any permit granted pursuant to such a waiver to be inconsistent with or preempted by the federal Highway Beautification Act of 1965, 23 U.S.C. 131, and the regulations promulgated under that Act, that permit shall be void.
Upon change of ownership of a sign permit or sign registration, the new owner of the sign permit or sign registration shall notify
the Department to confirm the change of ownership and supply the necessary information in writing or on a form provided by the Department to transfer the permit or registration for
such sign at no cost within 120 days after the change of ownership. The Department shall acknowledge to the new sign owner, in writing or by electronic communication, the receipt of such request within 14 calendar days after receiving the necessary information and shall record the transferee as the new owner. Failure of the new sign owner to submit the necessary information to transfer the name of sign ownership on a sign permit within 120 calendar days may subject the permit to revocation. The Department shall issue a notice to the sign owner of failure to notify and inform the transferee of ownership that the transferee has 30 calendar days from receipt of notice to provide the necessary information required for the transfer of ownership.
Owners of registered signs shall be issued an identifying tag, which
must remain securely affixed to the front face of the sign or sign structure in
a conspicuous position by the owner within 60 days after receipt of the tag;
owners of signs erected by permit shall be issued an identifying tag which
must remain securely affixed to the front face of the sign or sign structure in
a conspicuous position by the owner upon completion of the sign erection or
within 10 days after receipt of the tag, whichever is the later.
When a sign owner intends to upgrade an existing legal permitted sign to a multiple message sign with a digital display, the Department shall not require a new sign permit. A permit addendum application requesting authorization for the upgrade shall be made on a form provided by the Department and shall be accompanied by a $200 fee, which shall not be subject to return upon rejection of the permit addendum application. As part of the permit addendum application, the Department shall not require a new land survey or other documentation that has previously been submitted and approved and is on file for the existing permit of the legal permitted sign.  Upon receipt of the permit addendum application, the Department shall have up to 30 days to complete its initial review and either approve the addendum to the existing permit or notify the applicant of any and all deficiencies necessary for the Department's approval. The applicant shall have 30 days to correct the noted deficiencies, upon which the Department shall have 30 days after receipt of the notice of corrected deficiencies to make a final determination. If the permit application addendum is denied, written notice of the decision shall state in detail why the application was denied. For purposes of this Section, legal nonconforming sign structures are not eligible for this upgrade.
A person aggrieved by any action of the Department in denying an application or revoking a permit or registration under this Act may, within 30 days after receipt of the notice of denial or revocation, apply to the Department for an administrative hearing pursuant to the Administrative Review Law.
(Source: P.A. 103-471, eff. 8-4-23.)
(225 ILCS 440/9) (from Ch. 121, par. 509)
Sec. 9. 
		
		
		In order to obtain compliance with this Act, the Department may after
July 1, 1973 acquire property and other rights by purchase, gift,
condemnation or otherwise. Just compensation shall be paid for the removal
of signs lawfully erected or lawfully in existence but not permitted to be
maintained under this Act. Just compensation shall include payment for the
taking from the owner of any sign required to be removed under this Act of
all right, title, leasehold and interest in such sign and for the taking
from the owner of the real property on which the sign is located of the
right to erect and maintain such sign. Nor does anything in this Section
require payment of compensation for the right to erect and maintain signs
to owners of real property on which no signs are located. Nothing in this
Act requires the Department to proceed to acquire property or other rights,
including signs, until federal funds to reimburse the State for not less
than 75% of the cost of acquisition of property or other rights for which a
federal share is payable are appropriated and allocated to the State for
that purpose.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/9.5)
Sec. 9.5. Eminent domain. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, any power granted under this Act to acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain is subject to, and shall be exercised in accordance with, the Eminent Domain Act.
(Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)
(225 ILCS 440/10) (from Ch. 121, par. 510)
Sec. 10. 
		The following signs are unlawful and a public nuisance:
(a) Signs erected after the effective date of this Act in violation
of this Act;
(b) Signs not registered in accordance with this Act or in accordance
with the regulations established by the Department;
(c) Signs without valid permits, as required by this Act or by regulations
established by the Department.
Each sign declared by this Section to be unlawful and a public
nuisance shall be removed or brought into compliance with this Act by the
owner, without compensation, within 30 days after receipt of notice by
certified mail from the Department, such notice period to be computed from
the date of mailing.  If the unlawful sign is affixed to a motor vehicle
or a trailer or other vehicle capable of being propelled by a motor vehicle,
it shall be removed by the owner, without compensation, within 24 hours
after verbal notice by the Department.  Any signs not so removed by the
owners or any such signs which are removed and re-erected illegally by the
owners shall become the property of the State and shall be removed and disposed
of by the Department or may be painted over by the Department.  The Department
is also granted authority to enter upon private property for these purposes.
If the name and address of the owner of the sign cannot be ascertained from
the records of the Department or from a visual inspection of the sign foregoing
notice provisions are not required and the Department shall take
immediate action to remove or paint over the sign.
(Source: P.A. 79-1009.)
(225 ILCS 440/11) (from Ch. 121, par. 511)
Sec. 11. 
		
		
		The Department, on behalf of the State of Illinois, may seek agreement
with the Secretary of Transportation of the United States under Section 131
of Title 23, United States Code, as amended, that this Act is in
conformance with that Section 131 and provides effective control of outdoor
advertising signs as set forth therein. If such agreement cannot be reached
and the penalties under subsection (b) of Section 131 are invoked, the
Attorney General of this State shall institute proceedings described in
subsection (1) of that Section 131.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/12) (from Ch. 121, par. 512)
Sec. 12. 
		
		
		The Department may accept any allotment of funds by the United States,
or by any agency thereof, appropriated to carry out the purposes of Section
131 of Title 23, United States Code, as amended from time to time. The
Department shall take such steps as may be necessary from time to time to
obtain from the United States, the appropriate agency thereof, funds
allotted and appropriated under that Section, for the purpose of paying the
federal share of the just compensation to be paid to sign owners and owners
of real property under the terms of subsection (g) of that Section 131 and
under this Act.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/13) (from Ch. 121, par. 513)
Sec. 13. 
		
		
		If any provision of this Act or application thereof to any person or
circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity does not affect other
provisions or application of this Act which can be given effect without the
invalid application or provisions, and to this end the provisions of this
Act are declared to be severable.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/14) (from Ch. 121, par. 514)
Sec. 14. 
		
		
		Nothing contained in this Act shall change, alter or otherwise affect
the power of the Department to provide for the preservation of the natural
beauty of areas through which highways are constructed as provided by
Section 4-201.15 of the "Illinois Highway Code", approved June 8, 1959, as
amended, including, but not limited to, removal of signs under that Code.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)
(225 ILCS 440/14.01) (from Ch. 121, par. 514.01)
Sec. 14.01. 
		
		The Department may establish rules and regulations
regarding implementation and enforcement of this Act, which regulations
are not inconsistent with the terms of this Act; provided however, that
the Department may not add to, or increase the severity of the
regulatory standards set forth in Section 6 of the Act, as now or
hereafter amended.
(Source: P.A. 79-1009.)
(225 ILCS 440/14.02)
Sec. 14.02. 
		Scenic byways; nomination.
(a) The Department shall limit its nominations for national
designation of scenic byways to roads or highways that:
(1) possess any of 6 intrinsic qualities as specified     by the United States Department of Transportation, including scenic beauty, natural quality, historic quality, cultural quality, archeological quality, or recreational quality;
(2) accommodate 2-wheel drive automobiles and,     wherever feasible, bicycle and pedestrian travel;
(3) are the subject of a complete corridor management     plan consistent with requirements of the United States Department of Transportation and developed with community involvement, which provides for the conservation and enhancement of the byway's intrinsic qualities as well as promotion of tourism and economic development;
(4) are the subject of written notice of pending     nomination given by a unit of local government of appropriate jurisdiction to businesses and property owners to be directly affected by national designation, which notice shall include the opportunity to submit written comments to the local government; and
(5) do not include sections of primary or Interstate     highways that, at the time of nomination, traverse business areas, unless the Department determines that any such section possesses one or more intrinsic qualities in such exceptional measure as to merit nomination for national designation.
(b) Before forwarding a nomination to the United States Department of
Transportation, the Department may request the appropriate unit of local
government to conduct a public hearing if it is determined that sufficient
numbers of property owners and businesses may be affected adversely by national
designation.
(c) The Department may request the United States Department of
Transportation to de-designate all or part of a scenic byway (i) if it is
determined that the intrinsic qualities that led to designation no longer
exist, (ii) if the approved corridor management plan is not being implemented
in accordance with its provisions, or (iii) in the event of termination of the
national scenic byways program or the absence of Congressional authorization
for funding of that program.  Before making such request, the Department or the
appropriate unit of local government petitioning for de-designation shall
hold a public hearing for the purpose of obtaining public comment on the
proposed de-designation.
(Source: P.A. 89-605, eff. 8-2-96.)
(225 ILCS 440/14.1)
Sec. 14.1. Applicability. The changes made to this Act by Public Act 98-56 shall not be applicable if the application would impact the receipt, use, or reimbursement of federal funds by the Illinois Department of Transportation other than the reimbursement of Bonus Agreement funds. Any permit granted pursuant to an inapplicable provision is void.
(Source: P.A. 98-56, eff. 7-5-13; 98-756, eff. 7-16-14.)
(225 ILCS 440/15)
Sec. 15. "An Act relating to the restriction, prohibition, regulation, and control of billboards and other outdoor advertising devices on certain lands adjacent to National System of Interstate and Defense Highways in Illinois", approved June 28, 1965, is repealed.
(Source: P.A. 98-756, eff. 7-16-14.)
(225 ILCS 440/16) (from Ch. 121, par. 516)
Sec. 16. 
		This Act takes effect July 1, 1972.
(Source: P.A. 77-1815.)