Electronic digital billboards began appearing along Nebraska highways as the 21st century opened. State, city and county laws and regulations govern how they may be used.
Federal Law
Congress in 1965 limited the number, size and placement of billboards along federal highways. In 1972, Nebraska took over regulation of billboards along its highways.
Nebraska law
State law generally forbids billboards beyond 660 feet from the right-of-way and regulates billboards inside that distance. Cities typically control billboards within their jurisdictions.
State regulations
The Nebraska Department of Roads says digital billboards must be at least 5,000 feet apart, may be visible only from one direction and must maintain each display for at least 10 seconds.
Omaha municipal code
Omaha and Lincoln codes duplicate the state limits above. Among other Omaha regulations: (1) digital billboards must be at least 700 feet from other off-premises signs; (2) no more than 8 percent of an outdoor advertising company's display sites may use digital billboards; (3) a company must remove three to five existing signs for each digital billboard it erects (depending on the location).
Lincoln Municipal Code
Lincoln permits digital billboards as close as 600 feet to static billboards. Digital billboards of 80 square feet or less may switch displays after one second. An outdoor advertising company must remove one to three existing signs for each digital billboard it erects.
Tags: digital billboards, advertising company, billboard erects, billboards along, billboards must
