Scenic Utah is a state-wide nonprofit working to protect and enhance the scenic qualities of our communities, landscapes, and roadways.
Scenic Utah launched in 2018 as a bold statewide effort to reduce visual pollution, reclaim our vanishing vistas, and encourage action to protect Utah’s beloved and globally renowned scenery. We are a 501(c)(3) working to focus policy attention on the visual environment, encourage civic engagement, and promote change through education, advocacy, and accountability.
The outdoor advertising industry often highlights that billboards are a medium that cannot be turned off or ignored. However, public opinion research indicates that a significant portion of Utah residents view billboards unfavorably; for example, 75% of Utahns agree that billboards are an eyesore in their communities. Given this widespread sentiment, many argue that local communities should have the authority to regulate the placement and proliferation of billboards, including the option to remove them when they are no longer desired. Despite this, the outdoor advertising industry has been influential in shaping state policy. Over the years, Utah has enacted various laws that limit the ability of local governments to regulate outdoor advertising, which some believe has resulted in economic and social consequences for communities throughout the state.
Beyond billboards, we keep our eyes on other ‘scenic preservation’ issues.
The fight for scenic preservation starts here. Join us to make a difference—every action counts
July 30th 2024
Outdoor advertising companies across the country are cajoling and enticing communities to allow conversion of static billboards to digital formats. To...
November 1st 2023
Thanks to state laws, removing a billboard in Utah is nearly impossible. Utah billboard owners demand huge ‘just compensation’ payments for buying out...
October 1st 2023
With deep roots in the past, a modern-day billboard campaign in Orem targets advertisers. In the 1920s, a group of women’s associations, including...