Montana Title 75. Environmental Protection § 75-15-123. Acquisition of outdoor advertising rights--compensation

(1) The department may acquire by gift, purchase, agreement, exchange, or eminent domain existing outdoor advertising and property rights pertaining to advertising that was lawfully in existence on June 24, 1971, and that by virtue of 75-15-111(1) is nonconforming. Eminent domain must be exercised in accordance with Title 70, chapter 30.

(2) Just compensation must be paid for outdoor advertising and property rights pertaining to the advertising acquired through the process of eminent domain. The department may remove outdoor advertising found to be in violation of 75-15-112 or 75-15-132 without payment of compensation.

(3) Except as provided in 75-15-131 and 75-15-132, a sign may not be required to be removed unless at the time of removal or discontinuance there are sufficient funds, from whatever source, appropriated and immediately available to pay the just compensation required under this section and unless at that time the federal funds required to be contributed under 23 U.S.C. 131(g), with respect to the outdoor advertising being removed, have been apportioned and are immediately available to this state.