(a) An outdoor advertising device shall not be erected or maintained within six hundred sixty feet (660′) of the nearest edge of the right-of-way and visible from the main traveled way of the interstate or primary highway systems in this state except the following:

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 54-21-103

  • Highway: includes public bridges and may be held equivalent to the words "county way" "county road" or "state road". See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Main traveled way: means the traveled way of a highway on which through traffic is carried. See Tennessee Code 54-21-102
  • Sign: means an outdoor sign, light, display, device, figure, painting, drawing, message, placard, poster, billboard, or other thing which is designed, intended, or used to advertise or inform any part of the advertising or informative contents of which is visible from any place on the main traveled way of an interstate system or primary system. See Tennessee Code 54-21-102
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Utility signs: means warning signs, notices, or markers that are customarily erected and maintained for operational and public safety purposes by publicly or privately owned utilities, railroads, ferries, airports, or other entities that provide utility or transportation services. See Tennessee Code 54-21-102
  • Visible: means capable of being seen, whether or not readable, without visual aid by a person of normal visual acuity. See Tennessee Code 54-21-102
(1) Outdoor advertising devices located in areas that are zoned industrial or commercial under authority of local government law and whose size, lighting, and spacing are consistent with customary use as determined by agreement between the state and the secretary of transportation of the United States; and
(2) Outdoor advertising devices located in unzoned commercial or industrial areas as may be determined by agreement between the state and the secretary of transportation of the United States.
(b) The following types of signs are not subject to regulation as outdoor advertising devices under subsection (a):

(1) Official signs and notices, including directional signs, authorized or required by law;
(2) On-premises devices;
(3) Signs other than outdoor advertising devices that:

(A) Have a sign face that does not exceed twenty square feet (20 sq. ft.) in total area; and
(B) Do not contain any flashing, intermittent, or moving lights;
(4) Landmark signs lawfully in existence on October 22, 1965, as authorized under 23 U.S.C. § 131 and 23 C.F.R. § 750.710; and
(5) Utility signs.
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