[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 23, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 23CFR750.153]

[Page 374-375]
 
                           TITLE 23--HIGHWAYS
 
 CHAPTER I--FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 750--HIGHWAY BEAUTIFICATION--Table of Contents
 
    Subpart B--National Standards for Directional and Official Signs
 
Sec. 750.153  Definitions.

    For the purpose of this part:
    (a) 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 the Interstate or Federal-aid primary 
highway.
    (b) Main traveled way means the through traffic lanes of the 
highway, exclusive of frontage roads, auxiliary lanes, and ramps.
    (c) Interstate System means the National System of Interstate and 
Defence Highways described in section 103(d) of title 23 U.S.C.
    (d) Primary system means the Federal-aid highway system described in 
section 103(b) of title 23 U.S.C.
    (e) Erect means to construct, build, raise, assemble, place, affix, 
attach, create, paint, draw, or in any other way bring into being or 
establish.
    (f) Maintain means to allow to exist.
    (g) Scenic area means any area of particular scenic beauty or 
historical significance as determined by the Federal, State, or local 
officials having jurisdiction thereof, and includes interests in land 
which have been acquired for the restoration, preservation, and 
enhancement of scenic beauty.
    (h) Parkland means any publicly owned land which is designated or 
used as a public park, recreation area, wildlife or waterfowl refuge or 
historic site.

[[Page 375]]

    (i) Federal or State law means a Federal or State constitutional 
provision or statute, or an ordinance, rule, or regulation enacted or 
adopted by a State or Federal agency or a political subdivision of a 
State pursuant to a Federal or State constitution or statute.
    (j) Visible means capable of being seen (whether or not legible) 
without visual aid by a person of normal visual acuity.
    (k) Freeway means a divided arterial highway for through traffic 
with full control of access.
    (l) Rest area means an area or site established and maintained 
within or adjacent to the highway right-of-way by or under public 
supervision or control for the convenience of the traveling public.
    (m) Directional and official signs and notices includes only 
official signs and notices, public utility signs, service club and 
religious notices, public service signs, and directional signs.
    (n) Official signs and notices means signs and notices erected and 
maintained by public officers or public agencies within their 
territorial or zoning jurisdiction and pursuant to and in accordance 
with direction or authorization contained in Federal, State, or local 
law for the purposes of carrying out an official duty or responsibility. 
Historical markers authorized by State law and erected by State or local 
government agencies or nonprofit historical societies may be considered 
official signs.
    (o) Public utility signs means warning signs, informational signs, 
notices, or markers which are customarily erected and maintained by 
publicly or privately owned public utilities, as essential to their 
operations.
    (p) Service club and religious notices means signs and notices, 
whose erection is authorized by law, relating to meetings of nonprofit 
service clubs or charitable associations, or religious services, which 
signs do not exceed 8 square feet in area.
    (q) Public service signs means signs located on school bus stop 
shelters, which signs:
    (1) Identify the donor, sponsor, or contributor of said shelters;
    (2) Contain public service messages, which shall occupy not less 
than 50 percent of the area of the sign;
    (3) Contain no other message;
    (4) Are located on schoolbus shelters which are authorized or 
approved by city, county, or State law, regulation, or ordinance, and at 
places approved by the city, county, or State agency controlling the 
highway involved; and
    (5) May not exceed 32 square feet in area. Not more than one sign on 
each shelter shall face in any one direction.
    (r) Directional signs means signs containing directional information 
about public places owned or operated by Federal, State, or local 
governments or their agencies; publicly or privately owned natural 
phenomena, historic, cultural, scientific, educational, and religious 
sites; and areas of natural scenic beauty or naturally suited for 
outdoor recreation, deemed to be in the interest of the traveling 
public.
    (s) State means any one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, 
or Puerto Rico.
    (t) Urban area means an urbanized area or, in the case of an 
urbanized area encompassing more than one State, that part of the 
urbanized areas in each such State, or an urban place as designated by 
the Bureau of the Census having a population of five thousand or more 
and not within any urbanized area, within boundaries to be fixed by 
responsible State and local officials in cooperation with each other, 
subject to approval by the Secretary. Such boundaries shall, as a 
minimum, encompass the entire urban place designated by the Bureau of 
the Census.

[38 FR 16044, June 30, 1973, as amended at 40 FR 21934, May 20, 1975]