Section 306C.19. Removal after notice.

  Any advertising device erected or maintained after July 1, 1972, in violation of this division or the rules promulgated by the department, is a public nuisance and may be removed by the department upon thirty days’ notice, by certified mail, to the owner of the advertising device and to the owner of the land on which the advertising device is located. The notice shall require such owners to remove the advertising device if it is prohibited, or to cause it to conform to this division or rules promulgated by the department if it is not prohibited.

  1.  If the owner of the advertising device or the landowner fails to act within thirty days as required in the notice, the advertising device shall be deemed to be forfeited and the department may enter upon the land and remove the advertising device. Such entry after notice, shall not be deemed a trespass and the department may be aided by injunction to abate the nuisance and to insure peaceful entry.

  2.  The cost of removal, including fees, costs and expenses which arise out of an action brought by the department to insure peaceful entry and removal, may be assessed against the owner of the advertising device. If the owner of the advertising device fails to pay the fees, costs, or expenses within thirty days after assessment, the department may commence an action to collect the fees, costs, or expenses, which when collected shall be paid into the highway beautification fund.

[C73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §306C.19]

83 Acts, ch 186, §10068, 10201

Nuisances in general, chapter 657