                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

OUTDOOR ADVERTISING RESTRICTIONS; LIMITATIONS; VARIANCES (§ 4.1-1402)

A. No outdoor advertising regarding marijuana, marijuana products, or any
substance containing a synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol or synthetic derivative of
tetrahydrocannabinol shall be placed within 500 linear feet on the same side of
the road, and parallel to such road, measured from the nearest edge of the sign
face upon which the advertisement is placed to the nearest edge of a building or
structure located on the real property of (i) a church, synagogue, mosque, or
other place of religious worship; (ii) a public, private, or parochial school or
an institution of higher education; (iii) a public or private playground or
similar recreational facility; (iv) a substance use disorder treatment center;
or (v) a dwelling used for residential use.

B. However, (i) if there is no building or structure on a playground or similar
recreational facility, the measurement shall be from the nearest edge of the
sign face upon which the advertisement is placed to the property line of such
playground or similar recreational facility and (ii) if a public or private
school providing grades K through 12 education is located across the road from a
sign, the measurement shall be from the nearest edge of the sign face upon which
the advertisement is placed to the nearest edge of a building or structure
located on such real property across the road.

C. If, at the time the advertisement was displayed, the advertisement was more
than 500 feet from (i) a church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of religious
worship; (ii) a public, private, or parochial school or an institution of higher
education; (iii) a public or private playground or similar recreational
facility; (iv) a substance use disorder treatment center; or (v) a dwelling used
for residential use, but the circumstances change such that the advertiser would
otherwise be in violation of subsection A, the Board shall permit the
advertisement to remain as displayed for the remainder of the term of any
written advertising contract, but in no event more than one year from the date
of the change in circumstances.

D. The Board may grant a permit authorizing a variance from the distance
requirements of this section upon a finding that the placement of the
advertisement on a sign will not unduly expose children to advertising regarding
marijuana, marijuana products, or any substance containing a synthetic
tetrahydrocannabinol or synthetic derivative of tetrahydrocannabinol.

E. The distance and zoning restrictions contained in this section shall not
apply to any sign that is included in the Integrated Directional Sign Program
administered by the Virginia Department of Transportation or its agents.

F. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize billboard signs
containing outdoor advertising regarding marijuana, marijuana products, or any
substance containing a synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol or synthetic derivative of
tetrahydrocannabinol on property zoned agricultural or residential, or on any
unzoned property. Nor shall this section be construed to authorize the erection
of new billboard signs containing outdoor advertising that would be prohibited
under state law or local ordinance.

G. All lawfully erected outdoor signs regarding marijuana, marijuana products,
or any substance containing a synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol or synthetic
derivative of tetrahydrocannabinol shall comply with the provisions of this
subtitle, Board regulations, and Chapter 12 (&#xA7; 33.2-1200 et seq.) of Title
33.2 and regulations adopted pursuant thereto by the Commonwealth Transportation
Board. Further, any outdoor directional sign regarding marijuana, marijuana
products, or any substance containing a synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol or
synthetic derivative of tetrahydrocannabinol that is located or to be located on
highway rights of way shall also be governed by and comply with the Integrated
Directional Sign Program administered by the Virginia Department of
Transportation or its agents.

HISTORY: 2023, cc. 711, 712.