This document discusses advertising sign laws in NYC and examines the legality and public response to outdoor advertising. It notes that many billboards along highways and in commercial districts are illegal according to NYC zoning regulations. It describes efforts by groups like the NYC Street Advertising Takeover Project to remove illegal signs and replace them with art, sparking debate about whether the city should feature more art or ads. The document advocates working together to allow residents to submit art for display on billboards.

2. BRANDALSIM
REDEFINING ADVERTISING IN THE 21ST CENTURY
1. NYC OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN LAWS
2. BREAKING THE LAWS
3. PUBLIC RESPONSE
4. OUR FUTURE CITYSCAPE

3. TIMES SQUARE, NYC

4. WITHOUT ADS

5. PURPOSE
TO EXAMINE THE LEGALITY OF
PUBLIC ADVERTISING IN NYC AND
SHOW THAT NEW YORKERS WANT A
SAY IN SHAPING THEIR CITYSCAPE

7. NY ADVERTISING SIGN REGULATIONS
Since 1940, According to Article III, Chapter 2 of the Zoning Resolution
of the City of New York, advertising signs are not permitted in
residential districts and most commercial districts, specifically
within 200 feet of an arterial highway or of a public park with an
area of ½ an acre or more.
The Highway Beautification Act of 1965 limits billboards to
commercial and industrial zones created by states and
municipalities. It requires states to maintain "effective control" of
billboards or lose 5% of their federal highway dollars.

8. ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS
NYC Buildings Code Title 26, Subchapter 4
Unlawful to place or maintain a sign on any building or premises
unless a permit for the maintenance of such sign has been issued
by the department.
N.Y. ADC. LAW § 10-119 : NY Code - Section 10-119
Unlawful for any person to post any advertisement on any
personal property maintained on a city street.

10. ILLEGAL ADS ARE EVERYWHERE!

11. 210 7TH AVENUE

12. 1181 BROADWAY

13. According to the NY Times, most of the billboards
lining the Gowanus Expressway, the Henry
Hudson Parkway, and other city highways are
ILLEGAL.
Because of haphazard enforcement and willful
lawbreaking by sign companies, the rise of
billboards has gone on unchecked.

14. THE MAJOR TRANSGRESSORS
NPA Outdoor is one of the companies most hated by anti-advertising
groups.
They’ve plastered illegal signs on walls and buildings throughout the
City.
Contest Promotions is a similar company that has violated the same NY
laws.

15. IN 2009, THE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS PHYSICALLY REMOVED
AN ILLEGAL SIGN FROM A BUILDING FOR THE 1ST TIME.

16. EFFORTS TO REMOVE ILLEGAL SIGNS

18. NYC STREET ADVERTISING TAKEOVER

19. Do you agree with
the actions of
the NYC Street
Advertising
Takeover
Project?
Should our city
display more
art, or more
ads?
DEBATE QUESTIONS

21. ART EVERYWHERE U.S.
This summer, images by dozens of famous American artists will be
plastered on 50,000 displays from electronic billboards to bus
shelters.

22. TIMES SQUARE ARTS
The Times Square Advertising Coalition, in partnership with the public art
program Times Square Arts, collaborates with contemporary artists to
experiment and engage with one of the world's most iconic urban
places.
MIDNIGHT
MOMENT
TIMES SQUARE
TRANSFORMATION

23. LET’S WORK TOGETHER!
The way of the future is to incorporate more artwork into the advertising
industry by allowing residents to submit proposals for images they’d
like to see displayed on billboards.