Lamar Adver. Co. v. Cnty. of L. A.

*1297 In 2008, a billboard owned by Lamar Advertising Company was blown over in a windstorm. Lamar rebuilt the billboard and was cited by the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning (Department) for violating County zoning ordinances. Lamar appealed the order. A Department hearing officer denied the appeal, and Lamar filed a petition for writ of mandate in the trial court. The trial court denied the petition. Lamar now appeals the ensuing judgment. Lamar argues that it was authorized to rebuild the billboard without interference by local authorities. We find no error and affirm.

*1298 FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

1. The Erection of the Billboard

In 1967, the Department of Public Works granted a permit to Lamar's predecessor to erect a billboard in an unincorporated area of Acton in Los Angeles County (County) alongside the Antelope Valley Freeway. 1 Lamar later acquired ownership of the billboard. The structure consisted of ten wooden telephone poles supporting a sixty-foot advertising face.

In 1995, the County adopted an ordinance banning billboards in the area where Lamar's billboard was located. (Los Angeles County Code (LACC), § 22.44.126.) Under the…