COUNTY SIGN ORDINANCES S.B. 351 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS






Senate Bill 351 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Senator Jud Gilbert, II
Committee: Transportation

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Highway Advertising Act to permit a county to enact an ordinance to regulate signs and sign structures or enact zoning codes to establish commercial or industrial areas, if a township within the county had not enacted such an ordinance.


The Act permits a city, village, township, or charter township to enact ordinances to regulate and control the size, lighting, and spacing of signs and sign structures. Those entities may not permit a sign or sign structure that otherwise is prohibited by the Act or require or cause the removal of lawfully erected signs or sign structures subject to the Act without the payment of just compensation.


In addition, the Act provides that a city, village, township, or charter township vested with authority to enact zoning codes has full authority under its own zoning codes or ordinances to establish commercial or industrial areas, and those actions taken by a city, village, township, or charter township are accepted for the purposes of the Act. (Under the Act, various provisions apply to signs in unzoned commercial or industrial areas.) Zoning that is not part of a comprehensive plan and is taken primarily to permit outdoor advertising structures is not accepted for purposes of the Act.


The bill also would permit a county to enact an ordinance or zoning code under those provisions. A county ordinance that regulated the size, lighting, and spacing of signs and sign structures would apply only if a township within the county had not enacted an ordinance as described above.


MCL 252.304 Legislative Analyst: Curtis Walker

FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.


Date Completed: 5-30-07 Fiscal Analyst: David Zin

Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb351/0708