33.1-379 - Prohibition of such signs. - Virginia Statutes

§ 33.1-379. Prohibition of such signs.

It shall be unlawful for any person to erect or maintain alongside, or inplain view of, any public highway any false or misleading sign of any kind orcharacter purporting to furnish travel information relating to place ordirection. It shall be unlawful for any person to erect or maintainalongside, or in plain view of, any public highway any sign of any kind orcharacter purporting to furnish travel information relating to merchandise orservices unless the design of such sign, the information thereon, and thelocation thereof, be approved in writing by the Commonwealth TransportationCommissioner; provided, however, that the provisions of this section as tomerchandise and service shall not:

(1) Apply to or restrict the right of any person to post, display, erect ormaintain on any store, dwelling house or other building, together with somuch land therewith as shall be necessary for the convenience, use andenjoyment thereof, or on any mercantile appliances, contrivances or machineryannexed or immediately adjacent thereto, any sign advertising goods,merchandise, property, real or personal, business services, entertainment oramusements actually and in good faith manufactured, produced, bought, sold,conducted, furnished or dealt in on the premises;

(2) Limit or restrict the publication of official notices by or under thedirection of any public or court officer in the performance of his officialor directed duties;

(3) Limit or restrict notice of sale by a trustee under a deed of trust, deedof assignment, or other similar instrument; or

(4) Apply to or restrict the right of any property owner, his agent, lesseeor tenant to maintain any sign offering to the public farm products,including livestock of every kind, or board or lodging or similarentertainment, or of the sale, rental or lease of the property.

Nothing in this section shall limit the right of any person, firm orcorporation to erect signs which advertise natural scenic attractions in theCommonwealth.

(Code 1950, § 33-325; 1970, c. 322.)