Section 201.02. Definitions.

  The words and phrases defined in s. 84.30 (2) , Stats., have the same meaning in this chapter unless a different definition is specifically provided. In this chapter:

(1)  "Back-to-back", "side-by-side","bottom-on-top" and "V-shaped" signs means signs which are physically contiguous and which share a common structure, in whole or in part, or are located not more than 15 feet apart at their nearest point in cases of "back-to-back" or "V-shaped" signs.

(2)  "Department" means the department of transportation.

(3)  A sign shall be presumed to be designed, erected or intended to be read from the main-traveled way if an advertising message on the sign is readable from the main-traveled way by a person having normal visual acuity traveling at the speed limit.

(4)  "Grandfathered sign" means a sign that lawfully existed in a business area on March 18, 1972, and that does not conform to the size, spacing or lighting restrictions of s. 84.30 (4) , Stats.

(5)  "Illegal sign" means a sign erected after March 18, 1972, without a permit, a sign that is erected or maintained in a manner that violates any requirement of a permit, this chapter, or s. 84.30 , Stats., a non-conforming sign that has lost its nonconforming status, or a grandfathered sign that has lost its grandfathered status.

(6)  "License" means a license to engage in the business of outdoor advertising.

(7)  "Nonconforming sign" means any of the following:

(a) A sign that lawfully existed on March 18, 1972, outside of a business area.

(b) A sign that was lawfully erected after March 18, 1972, that subsequently did or does not conform to the requirements of s. 84.30 , Stats., or this chapter.

(8)  "Off-premises" or "off-property sign" means a sign that is not an on-premises sign.

(9)  "On-premises" or "on-property sign" means a sign at a business location advertising a business that is conducted on the property and that is located in the immediate vicinity of the business. "Immediate vicinity" in this subsection means the sign is within the area bounded by the buildings, driveways and parking areas in which the activity is conducted or within 50 feet of that area. "Immediate vicinity" does not include any area across a street or road from the area where the business is conducted or any area developed for the purpose of erecting a sign.

(10)  "Permit" means a permit issued by the department to erect or maintain a sign at a defined location under a specific paragraph of s. 84.30 (3) , Stats.

(11)  "Primary highway" means any highway, other than an interstate highway, at any time officially designated as a part of the federal-aid primary system or national highway system by the department and approved by the appropriate authority of the federal government.

(12)  "Visible" means the sign, or any part of the sign structure, can be seen from the main-traveled way of a highway by a person of normal visual acuity, regardless of whether the sign is designed, erected or intended to be read from the main-traveled way.

(13)  "Zoned" includes the establishment of districts without restrictions on use.

Cr. Register, October, 1976, No. 250 , eff. 11-1-76; renum. from Hy 19.005 and am. (2), Register, July, 1980, No. 295 , eff. 8-1-80; renum. (4) to be (13), cr. (intro.) and (4) to (12), Register, April, 2001, No. 544 , eff. 5-1-01.

Note

See 23 USC 131 (t). The DOT Bureau of Planning, P. O. Box 7913, Madison, WI 53717 maintains a list of highways that are primary highways as defined herein. Information regarding which highways are primary highways under this section may also be obtained from the sign permit coordinator in any DOT region office. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1