Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Minnesota Outdoor Advertising Control Act

The Minnesota Outdoor Advertising Control Act became effective June 7, 1971. The act requires that your advertising device have a state permit and be renewed each year.

  • No advertising device is allowed within the limits of any highway. Devices must be located entirely on private property.
  • Church and service club signs are exempt provided they are under eight square feet and are directional or contain information related to meeting.

Location

Advertising devices erected after June 7, 1971 are allowed only in the following locations (see Diagram 3):

  • On land zoned for business, industrial or commercial activities.
  • On unzoned land within 800 feet of a business area. (Business area defined as an unzoned area on which there is one or more permanent structures devoted to commercial or industrial activity, or on which a commercial or industrial activity is actually conducted whether or not a permanent structure is located thereon (see Diagram 3)

Prohibited areas

Spacing

  • Interstate and fully controlled freeways:
  • Unincorporated area: Signs must be 500 feet from the entrance or exit ramp widening.
  • Primary highways (see Diagram 1):
    • Incorporated areas: 100 feet between signs. (see Diagram 6)
    • Unincorporated zoned areas: 300 feet between signs; no signs within 300 feet of an intersection with another highway, public road or railroad. (see Diagram 2)
    • Unincorporated unzoned areas: 400 feet between signs; no sign within 300 feet of an intersection with another highway, public road or railroad. (see Diagram 2)

Diagrams

Click on images to see full-size PDF.

Diagram depicting restriction of advertising devices in unzoned commercial or industrial areas in Minnesota Statute Section 173.02 Subdivision 24
Diagram 1: Restriction of advertising devices in the vicinity of interstate or fully controlled access freeway intersection outside of incorporated cities - Minnesota Statute Section 173 Subdivision 4 (b)
Diagram depicting restriction of advertising devices in unzoned commercial or industrial areas in Minnesota Statute Section 173.02 Subdivision 24
Diagram 2: Measurement of spacing between advertising devices - Minnesota Statute Section 173.16 Subdivision 4
Diagram depicting restriction of advertising devices in unzoned commercial or industrial areas in Minnesota Statute Section 173.02 Subdivision 24
Diagram 3: Restriction of advertising devices in unzoned commercial or industrial areas in Minnesota Statute Section 173.02 Subdivision 24
Diagram depicting restriction of advertising devices in unzoned commercial or industrial areas in Minnesota Statute Section 173.02 Subdivision 24
Diagram 4: Restriction of advertising devices in the vicinity of national, state or local parks; historic sites; public picnic or rest areas - Minnesota Statute Section 173.08 Subdivision 2 (1)
Diagram depicting restriction of advertising devices in unzoned commercial or industrial areas in Minnesota Statute Section 173.02 Subdivision 24
Diagram 5: Restriction of advertising devices in the vicinity of church or school - Minnesota Statute Section 173.08 Subdivision (2)
Diagram depicting restriction of advertising devices in unzoned commercial or industrial areas in Minnesota Statute Section 173.02 Subdivision 24
Diagram 6: Restriction of advertising devices on the primary highways outside of unincorporated cities - Minnesota Statute Section 173.6 Subdivision 4 (e)