SF 485

1st Engrossment - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 04/04/2025 09:25 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to transportation and tourism; establishing statewide moratorium on new
billboards; declaring existing billboards nonconforming uses; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2024, section 462.357, subdivision 1c; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 173.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.
new text end

new text begin The legislature recognizes Minnesota is a state that is known for its natural beauty and
its economy benefits from tourism. Billboards significantly undermine that beauty and make
the state less attractive to tourists. The legislature finds that Minnesota already has a large
number of billboards, and it is in the public interest to establish a moratorium on new
billboards in order to provide natural and economic benefits to the state.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [173.28] NEW BILLBOARDS PROHIBITED.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section, "billboard" means an advertising
device as defined in section 173.02, subdivision 16, except that it includes advertising
devices visible to any person, whether they are in a motor vehicle or not, but does not include
an advertising device that pertains to any business, product, person, activity, event, or service
that is primarily conducted, sold, manufactured, offered, or located on premises where the
sign is located.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Ban on new billboards. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, after
the effective date of this section, no state agency or political subdivision may issue a permit
for or otherwise authorize a new billboard anywhere in the state. An ordinance, charter
provision, or policy that conflicts with this section is void and not enforceable.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Existing billboards are nonconforming. new text end

new text begin Existing billboards are nonconforming
uses subject to sections 394.36 and 462.357, subdivision 1e.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 462.357, subdivision 1c, is amended to read:

Subd. 1c.

Amortization prohibited.

Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision,
a municipality must not enact, amend, or enforce an ordinance providing for the elimination
or termination of a use by amortization which use was lawful at the time of its inception.
This subdivision does not apply to new text begin billboards as defined in section 173.28, new text end adults-only
bookstores, adults-only theaters, or similar adults-only businesses, as defined by ordinance.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end