Billboards and Supergraphics

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your letters and emails regarding billboards in the City of Los Angeles.
I share your frustration regarding the proliferation of supergraphics and digital billboards. That is why I introduced a motion in October directing the Los Angeles fire, planning and building and safety departments to report to Council on the potential safety hazards of supergraphics. I also seconded Council President Eric Garcetti’s motion to instruct the City Attorney and Building and Safety to report on the City’s settlement agreement relating to digital billboards.
The City Council also voted unanimously on December 17th, 2008 to adopt a three-month moratorium on all off-site sign permits, which meant that no new billboards or supergraphic signs (on the sides of tall buildings) will be approved for three months.
The moratorium is designed to give the Planning Department time to develop a new comprehensive ordinance that regulates the approval and installation of billboards. (To see the staff report, click here. Unfortunately, some companies have flaunted the city’s ban, or Interim Control Ordinance (ICO), by erecting new billboards and supergraphics. Department of Building and Safety inspectors are aggressively citing these offenders. The City Attorney has assured me that the offenders and property owners will be prosecuted fully for violating the ICO.
On a statewide level, Assemblymember Mike Feuer introduced a bill that would impose a statewide, two-year ban on new digital advertisements, pending the release of national studies on traffic safety around these lighted billboard displays. I support this bill’s adoption by the legislature this session. If you have any questions on this issue, please contact me at tom.labonge@lacity.org Again, thank you for contacting my office about this important issue.

Tom