Article 502 Outdoor Advertising Companies

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

AFFILIATE. An outdoor advertising company having a controlling interest in another outdoor advertising company or in which such other outdoor advertising company has a controlling interest. In addition, where a person or entity has controlling interests in two or more outdoor advertising companies, such outdoor advertising companies shall be considered affiliates of each other. A "controlling interest" means actual working control, in whatever manner exercised, including without limitation, control through ownership, management, debt instruments or negative control, as the case may be, as defined in rules of the department.

OUTDOOR ADVERTISING COMPANY. A person, corporation, partnership or other business entity that as a part of the regular conduct of its business engages in or, by way of advertising, promotions or other methods, holds itself out as engaging in the outdoor advertising business.

OUTDOOR ADVERTISING BUSINESS. The business of selling, leasing, marketing, managing, or otherwise either directly or indirectly making space on signs situated on buildings and premises within the city of New York available to others for advertising purposes, whether such advertising directs attention to a business, profession, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold, or offered on the same or a different zoning lot and whether such sign is classified as an advertising sign pursuant to section 12-10 of the zoning resolution.

SIGN. A sign as defined in section 12-10 of the zoning resolution except that such term shall not include any sign subject to regulation by the department of transportation.

SIGN LOCATION. A building or premises on which an outdoor advertising company is entitled to sell, lease, market, manage or otherwise either directly or indirectly make space on signs available to customers, irrespective of whether a sign exists on such building or premises.

UNDER THE CONTROL OF AN OUTDOOR ADVERTISING COMPANY in reference to a sign, sign structure, or sign location. That space on such sign, sign structure, or at such sign location that is sold, leased, marketed, managed or otherwise either directly or indirectly made available to others for any purposes by such outdoor advertising company.

On and after a date to be provided by rule, it shall be unlawful for an outdoor advertising company to engage in the outdoor advertising business or, by way of advertising, promotions or other methods, hold itself out as engaging in the outdoor advertising business unless such company is registered in accordance with this code and the rules of the department. Such rules shall establish a procedure pursuant to which the department may require the single registration of an outdoor advertising company and its affiliates. An outdoor advertising company and its affiliates made subject to single registration shall be considered a single outdoor advertising company for purposes of this code.

Application for registration or the renewal of registration shall be made on forms to be furnished by the department, may be made through electronic means, and shall contain such information as the department shall prescribe. Registration shall remain in force for two years and may be renewed. The fee for such registration and for the renewal of such registration shall be established by rule and may be based on the number of signs in the registered inventory.

Each outdoor advertising company shall post a bond or provide another form of security to the city in an amount to be determined by the department by rule to cover:

1. All costs incurred by the city pursuant to this code for painting over, covering, rendering ineffective or for the removal and storage of an illegal sign or sign structure under the control of such outdoor advertising company; and
2. All fines or civil penalties imposed against such company pursuant to this chapter.

The department may revoke, suspend or refuse to renew the registration of an outdoor advertising company or impose fines or other penalties where it is determined by the commissioner, after notice and the opportunity to be heard, that (i) such company has made statements that it knew or should have known are false in any application or certification filed with the department, (ii) such company has failed to comply with section 28-502.4 of this code or the rules adopted pursuant to its provisions by failing to file a listing of signs, sign structures and sign locations under its control as specified in such section within the time and in the manner required by department rules or by filing an incomplete listing of signs, sign structures and sign locations under its control as specified in such section, (iii) such company has been found liable for or has admitted to violations of the zoning resolution under section 28-502.6 of this code committed on three or more occasions within a 36 month period, where such violations relate to the erection, maintenance, attachment, affixing, painting or representation in any other manner on a building or premises of advertising signs, as defined in section 12-10 of the zoning resolution, at locations where the display of such advertising signs is not permitted under the zoning resolution or at locations where the display of such advertising signs violates the size, height, or illumination provisions of the zoning resolution, and such signs are located within a distance of nine hundred linear feet from and within view of an arterial highway or within 200 linear feet (60 960 mm) from and within view of a public park with an area of one half acre or more, (iv) such company has failed to pay any civil penalties imposed or amounts owed to the city pursuant to section 28-502.6 of this code or article 503 of this chapter or, (v) such company has violated the department's rules pertaining to outdoor advertising companies. No application for registration by an outdoor advertising company or any affiliate thereof shall be accepted for filing by the department for a period of five years after revocation of or the refusal to renew the registration of such outdoor advertising company pursuant to this code. The department shall not accept or process any applications for permits to install, erect or alter signs pursuant to this code or for the maintenance of signs pursuant to section 28-501.1 of this code where such applications are filed by or where such signs are under the control of an outdoor advertising company or any affiliate thereof after the registration of such outdoor advertising company has been revoked or not renewed or during the term of any period of suspension of such registration. The commissioner may settle any proceeding in which the revocation, suspension or renewal of an outdoor advertising company's registration is at issue upon such terms and conditions as he or she may deem appropriate including but not limited to the agreement of an outdoor advertising company to remove signs along with supporting sign structures as a condition for the dismissal of such proceeding.

An outdoor advertising company shall provide the department with a list with the location of signs, sign structures and sign locations under the control of such outdoor advertising company in accordance with the following provisions:

1. The list shall include all signs, sign structures and sign locations located (i) within a distance of 900 linear feet (274 m) from and within view of an arterial highway; or (ii) within a distance of 200 linear feet (60 960 mm) from and within view of a public park with an area of ¹/₂ acre (5000 m) or more.
2. The commissioner may, by rule, expand the scope of such list to include the reporting of other signs, sign structures and sign locations, as specified in such rule.

The list shall be in such form, containing such information and filed at such periodic intervals or upon such other conditions, as the department shall prescribe by rule.

Such list shall also indicate the work permit identification numbers for the erection, alteration or installation of such signs pursuant to chapter 1 of this title and for the maintenance of such signs pursuant to article 501, unless a permit is not required pursuant to such provisions, as well as the name and license number of the master or special sign hanger who hung or erected each such sign.

Such list shall be accompanied by (i) a certification by an architect or engineer, co-signed by a responsible officer of the outdoor advertising company, that all signs reported on such list are in compliance with the zoning resolution; (ii) copies of proof that the sign complies with the zoning resolution and a certification by the sign's owner that to the best of the certifier's knowledge and belief the information provided is accurate, or (iii) a written opinion by the department, stating that the sign to which the opinion refers complies with the zoning resolution. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this code, where, in accordance with the department's rules, the department renders an opinion, determination or decision relating to whether a sign is nonconforming or whether it is located in proximity to an arterial highway as defined by the zoning resolution, such decision, determination or opinion will be appealable to the board of standards and appeals in accordance with applicable law. If a timely appeal to such board is taken, the department shall not issue a notice of violation with respect to such sign pending a determination of such appeal by such board.

The commissioner shall make all listings filed pursuant to this article accessible to the public.

On and after a date to be prescribed by rule, the commissioner shall require that each outdoor advertising company display, in a manner to be provided by rule, on each sign under its control or on the building or premises where each sign under its control is located or both, (i) the name and registration number of such company and, (ii) unless a permit is not required, the work permit identification number for the installation, alteration or erection of the sign pursuant to chapter 1 of this code and, if applicable, for the maintenance of the sign pursuant to article 501.

Outdoor advertising companies that violate the zoning resolution, this code, the 1968 building code or rules of the department shall be subject to criminal and civil penalties in accordance with this article.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an outdoor advertising company shall be liable for a civil penalty in accordance with this article if a sign under its control has been erected, maintained, attached, affixed, painted on, or in any other manner represented on a building or premises in violation of any provision of the zoning resolution, this code, the 1968 building code or rules adopted pursuant thereto relating to signs.

It shall be unlawful for an outdoor advertising company to sell, lease, market, manage or otherwise make available to others for advertising purposes space on a sign that has been erected, maintained, attached, affixed, painted on or in any other manner represented on a building or premises in violation of any provision of the zoning resolution, this code, the 1968 building code or rules adopted pursuant thereto or to enter into any agreement for such purpose.

On and after a date to be provided by rule, it shall be unlawful for an outdoor advertising company to sell or otherwise transfer control of a sign or sign location or of any right of such company to sell, lease, market, manage or otherwise make space on a sign or at a sign location available to others for advertising purposes to an outdoor advertising company that is not registered in accordance with this article and the rules of the department.

An outdoor advertising company that violates any of the provisions of this article shall be subject to a civil penalty of, for a first violation, not more than fifteen thousand dollars and, for a second or subsequent violation, not more than twenty-five thousand dollars. Each day's continuance shall be a separate and distinct violation.

Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, an outdoor advertising company shall, upon being found guilty, be subject to fines or imprisonment or both pursuant to this code if a sign under its control has been erected, maintained, attached, affixed, painted on, or in any other manner represented on a building or premises in violation of any provision of the zoning resolution, this code, the 1968 building code or rules adopted pursuant thereto relating to signs.