The city of Austin is taking legal action against what the city has described as an unauthorized billboard on Bee Caves Road, with one of two potential upcoming court dates set for Jan. 7.

Diving in deeper

An Austin Development Services Department representative confirmed Aug. 18 that the billboard’s owners, Media Choice, had not taken the appropriate action required in the city’s Notice of Violation within 14 days of its issuance July 30.

Following this, the city is pursuing legal action on two municipal court cases:
  • A land use violation for the property owner, scheduled for a Jan. 7 bench trial
  • A Notice of Violation for a Structure Violation, for both the property owner and billboard owner Media Choice; although scheduled for a Dec. 17 hearing, the judge postponed consideration of the case but a new court date was not scheduled as of press time
Diving in deeper

The billboard at 8414 Bee Caves Road, Austin, is owned by Media Choice, an advertising company based in Westlake that offers billboards across the country, according to its website.


As of Dec. 18, a pullout for the Bee Caves Road billboard on the business’ website states: “We didn't break laws, we changed them! SB2038.”



A bill passed in the 1960s gave cities control of areas just outside city limits called the extraterritorial jurisdiction, or ETJ, to regulate development outside city boundaries that could impact city residents. Residents in the ETJ, while subject to those regulations, do not have the ability to vote in municipal elections. Passed by the Texas Legislature in 2023, Senate Bill 2038 was an attempt from the state to address “concerns related to the rights of residents and property owners” in the ETJ when it comes to regulation, according to the bill’s statement of intent.

With SB 2038, landowners gained the right to petition or host a special election to leave the ETJ, a process that did not formerly exist, according to the statement of intent.


The property owner of the land where the Bee Caves Road billboard is located did petition for release from the ETJ on Oct. 7, but it wasn’t released from the ETJ until Nov. 21—both of which were months after the original citation was issued, according to the city.

For this reason, the city is still pursuing the two cases against the billboard and property owner, according to a city representative.

Media Choice did not respond to requests for comment.