Oklahoma Billboard Control and Removal Program

In order to comply with the Oklahoma Highway Beautification Act, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (DOT) initiated a billboard control and removal program to regulate billboard maintenance and removal along federal-aid highways. In order to do so, the Oklahoma DOT created a public inventory of billboards along Oklahoma's scenic highways. The inventory both helped target illegal billboards and ensured that complying billboard revenues are correctly collected by the state. In addition, the inventory empowers communities to help regulate local outdoor advertising and increase their property values. Law firms are contracted by the Oklahoma DOT when legal action is necessary to remove illegal billboards. The program was funded with federal funds through a financing option accorded by the Federal Transportation Equity Act-21.

The goal of the Oklahoma Billboard Control and Removal Program is to comply with the requirements of the Oklahoma Highway Beautification Act by removing non-permitted billboards and regulating the installation of new billboards.

The Oklahoma Billboard Control and Removal program removed thousands of illegal and nonconforming billboards from Oklahoma's scenic highways. The removal of these billboards helped restore property values and improve the aesthetics of Oklahoma's scenic highways. In addition, consultants created an inventory to manage conforming billboards. The inventory is periodically updated, allowing the program to maintain a low cost.