|
Outdoor Advertising Signs
Special Signs
The District of Columbia imposed a permanent moratorium upon the issuance of any permits for the erection or construction of a "Special Sign." Only 32 Special Signs are legally allowed to exist in the District. A Special Sign is not a billboard - at least in legal terms (see below for information on billboards). These legal Special Signs are similar to liquor licenses in that they can be bought and sold and can be moved from location to location within limited boundaries as defined the the Act below.
Addresses for the 32 special signs along with current photos are located below.
Billboards
The D.C. Construction Codes, specifically Chapter 31A of Title 12A of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, govern the construction and permitting of all outdoor signs. Under Section 3107.7.6.1, only those billboards in existence as of January 1, 1972 are authorized to remain in place. However, no changes in size or location are allowed for authorized billboards. If a billboard were to be demolished, unlike Special Signs, it could not be rebuilt or relocated to another site.
DCRA is been trying to piece together the history behind this moratorium. From what we’ve been able to gather, billboards were first constructed in the District in early 1931. Their appearance caused an outcry by residents concerned that billboards were a blight on the city’s aesthetics. By the end of 1931, the District’s government had banned the construction of any new billboards in the city. The only billboards that could remain were those contained on the “Authorized List of Billboards, Three-sheet Poster Boards, and Wall Signs,” dated November 30, 1931.
That authorized list was updated about once a decade until the early 1970s. Unfortunately, after contacting the National Archives, the D.C. Archives, the Commission of Fine Arts, and the National Capital Planning Commission, we have been unable to find a copy of that authorized list.
However, we are currently creating an inventory of all legally authorized outdoor signs in the District. Once we have created an accurate inventory, we will be sending out inspectors to investigate any signs that are posted, but for which we do not have any permitting information on file. For those signs deemed to be illegal, we will issue notices to the owners of the property and the sign requiring the sign’s removal.
Reporting Illegal Signs
If you have questions about any other type of sign, such as billboards, building signs or construction signs, call the Permit Center at (202) 442-4589.
To apply to transfer the location or change the copy of a Special Sign, complete this form*.
If you suspect a billboard or other outdoor advertising sign is unauthorized, please email signs.dcra@dc.gov and include the location, a photograph of the sign, and any details on the sign that indicate the sign's owner. If you use Twitter or Facebook, you can also send us pictures via those social networks.
Photos and Details on Special Signs
| Street Address |
|
Street Address |
| 901 6th Street, NW |
|
635 Massachusetts Avenue, NW |
| 819 7th Street, NW |
|
6 New York Avenue, NE |
| 72 Florida Avenue, NE |
|
64 New York Avenue, NE |
| 730 11th Street, NW |
|
301 New York Avenue, NE |
| 1001 11th Street, NW |
|
400 New York Avenue, NW |
| 2007 18th Street, NW |
|
500 New York Avenue, NW |
| 30 E Street, NW |
|
607 New York Avenue, NW |
| 111 Massachusetts Avenue, NW |
|
640 New York Avenue, NW |
| 1620 South Capitol Street, SE |
|
1234 W Massachusetts Avenue, NW |
| 450 H Street, NW |
|
1600 New York Avenue, NW |
| 802 H Street, NW |
|
1850 New York Avenue, NE |
| 1926 I Street, NW |
|
3350 New York Avenue, NE |
| 1720 New York Avenue, NE |
|
1230 South Capitol Street, SE |
| 200 K Street, NW |
|
1911 E New York Avenue, NE |
| 3330 New York Avenue, NE |
|
2400 East Capitol Street, NE |
| 1234 E Massachusetts Avenue, NW |
|
1911 W New York Avenue, NE |
|
