(a) Signs of a governmental unit, including but not limited to traffic control signs or devices, legal notices or warnings.

(b) A temporary sign on private property if:

(A) The sign does not exceed 12 square feet;

(B) The sign is not on a permanent base;

(C) The sign does not remain in place for a period of more than 60 days in a calendar year, except that a sign erected by a resident on the resident’s residential property may remain in place for longer than 60 days in a calendar year;

(D) No person receives compensation or anything of value as defined by the Department of Transportation by rule for displaying the sign; and

(E) The sign complies with ORS 377.720.

(2) The Department of Transportation may adopt rules that, for good cause shown, allow a person displaying a temporary sign to obtain a variance from the restrictions in subsection (1)(b) of this section. The department shall not consider the content of the sign in deciding whether to allow a variance.

(3) The department shall adopt rules for the approval and preservation of historic signs. Rules adopted under this subsection may not be based on or allow consideration of the content of the signs.

(4) The department shall adopt rules for the erection and maintenance of permanent signs that do not exceed six square feet and that provide messages for the safety or convenience of the public.

(5) ORS 377.700 to 377.844 do not apply to a sign erected or maintained within a city more than 660 feet from the nearest edge of the right of way of a state highway, unless the sign is designed to be viewed primarily from the state highway. [1971 c.770 §14; 1973 c.790 §6; 1975 c.336 §5; 1977 c.265 §3; 1987 c.336 §5; 1993 c.741 §58; 1999 c.877 §7; 2007 c.199 §10]