These 2 New England States Don’t Allow Billboards

Drive around most states and you see billboards all over the roads. Vermont and Maine are different. These two New England states do not allow them at all.

Billboards are in incredible form of advertising, but placed in a residential neighborhood advertising alcohol, for example, can really cheapen the area!

Why Vermont Banned Billboards

Vermont banned them first. Back in 1968, the state passed a law that stopped big roadside signs for businesses or products located somewhere else. A lawmaker named Ted Riehle pushed for the change. He said Vermont’s mountains and open land bring in tourists. Too many signs would mess up the views and hurt that business. The old billboards came down over the next few years. Stores and restaurants can still put up signs on their own property. The state also uses small official signs to point drivers in the right direction.

Why Maine Banned Billboards

Maine did the same thing in 1977. The law started the next year and most of the old billboards had to come down. Maine wanted to protect its coast, forests, and quiet roads. Those places bring visitors just like Vermont’s mountains do. Businesses can still advertise right where they are located. A few other signs are allowed, like certain religious ones, but new commercial billboards are not.

Both states made the same choice. They decided their scenery was more important than extra ads. Tourism brings in a lot of money for both places, and the open views are a big reason people come. Drivers notice the difference right away. The roads feel less crowded and the land stays the main thing you see.

Vermont is called the Green Mountain State. The name comes from French words that mean green mountain. The state makes more maple syrup than anywhere else in the country, usually more than half of all the syrup produced in the U.S. Maine is known for its long coastline, lobster, and outdoor fun. Both states have lots of covered bridges and small towns that fit the quiet roads.

The ban has stuck for decades in both places. Visitors and locals often say it is one of the things that makes these states feel special. The views stay open and the drives feel calmer!