Bell v. Township of Stafford

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

HANDLER, J.

This case engenders first amendment and freedom of speech concerns arising from the efforts of a municipality to regulate through its zoning powers the use of billboards as a form of out-door advertising. The controversy arose from the Township of Stafford’s (“Township” or “Stafford”) enactment and enforcement of an ordinance declaring that “[billboards, signboards, and off-premises advertising signs and devices are prohibited within any zoning district of the Township.”

Three separate billboards owned by Wesley K. Bell (“Bell”), trading as…