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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>359838</law_id><section_number>33.2-1229</section_number><catch_line>Penalties for violation</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>33.2-1219</reference><reference>33.2-1221</reference><reference>33.2-1228</reference><reference>33.2-1530</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="77" identifier="33.2">Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="2" identifier="II">Modes of Transportation: Highways, Bridges, Ferries, Rail, and Public Transportation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="10" identifier="12">Outdoor Advertising in Sight of Public Highways</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Policies and Regulations</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Notwithstanding any other provision of <span class="dictionary">law</span>, any person, firm, or corporation that violates any provision of this article or applicable regulations that fails to take corrective action within 30 days as specified in a written notice from the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner of Highways</span> shall be subject to any or all of the following penalties: <a id="paragraph-1338817" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/33.2-1229/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> A civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> of not more than $250 per violation. Each day during which the violation continues after a final determination by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner of Highways</span> of such violation shall be deemed a separate violation; <a id="paragraph-1338818" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/33.2-1229/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> <span class="dictionary">Revocation</span> by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner of Highways</span> of any permit for the sign; or <a id="paragraph-1338819" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/33.2-1229/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Removal of the sign by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner of Highways</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner of Highways</span> may collect the costs of the removal from the owner of the sign. <a id="paragraph-1338820" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/33.2-1229/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any person aggrieved by the action of the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner of Highways</span> in enforcing the provisions of subsection A may <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> the decision of the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner of Highways</span> in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title; purpose" href="/2.2-4000/">2.2-4000</a> et seq.). <a id="paragraph-1338821" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/33.2-1229/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner of Highways</span> may remove signs without giving a corrective action notice as provided in subsection A (i) for any violation of subdivision 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Certain advertisements or structures prohibited" href="/33.2-1216/">33.2-1216</a> or of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Pasting advertisements prohibited in certain instances" href="/33.2-1223/">33.2-1223</a> or (ii) if the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner of Highways</span> determines that the sign poses a risk to <span class="dictionary">highway</span> safety. <a id="paragraph-1338822" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/33.2-1229/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner of Highways</span> may recover all civil penalties authorized in subsection A in any manner permitted by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, including (i) the placement of a tax <span class="dictionary">lien</span> on the owner&#x2019;s real property upon which the sign is located and (ii) the use of the Setoff Debt Collection Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Contingent effective date) Definitions" href="/58.1-520/">58.1-520</a> et seq.). <a id="paragraph-1338823" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/33.2-1229/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> All civil penalties collected under this section shall be paid into the <span class="dictionary">Highway</span> <span class="dictionary">Maintenance</span> and Operating Fund established pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Highway Maintenance and Operating Fund" href="/33.2-1530/">33.2-1530</a>. <a id="paragraph-1338824" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/33.2-1229/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2012, cc. 760, 818, &#xA7; 33.1-377.1; 2014, c. 805.</history><metadata><court_decisions><item key="0"><name> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. Bruce &amp; Tanya &amp; Assocs., Inc. v. Bd. of Supervisors of .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </name><case_number>1:17-cv-01155 (LMB/TCB)</case_number><citation>355 F. Supp. 3d 386</citation><date>2018-11-16</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/7333812/bruce-tanya-assocs-inc-v-bd-of-supervisors-of-fairfax-cnty/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. Leonie M. Brinkema, United States District Judge .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>District Court, E.D. Virginia</court_html></item></court_decisions></metadata></law>
