(1) A permit from the department shall be required for the erection or maintenance of the following advertising devices:

(a) Each nonconforming advertising device as defined in section 43-1-403 (12);

(b) Each directional advertising device as defined in section 43-1-403 (4), except that the following advertising devices shall not require permits:

(I) Advertising devices which are no larger than eight square feet and which advertise farms, ranches, or nonprofit educational, veterans', religious, charitable, or civic organizations; or

(II) Directory signs no larger than thirty-two square feet, the sole purpose of which is to provide direction to individual farms or ranches by way of individual signs, each of which is no larger than eight square feet.

(c) Each advertising device allowed pursuant to section 43-1-404 (1)(d) and (1)(e). Renewals of such permits are subject to the provisions of section 43-1-409.

(2) (a) (I) Any other provision of law notwithstanding, the department shall issue a permit to erect or maintain an advertising device on a bus bench or bus shelter located either within the right-of-way of any state highway or on land adjacent to or visible from the right-of-way of any state highway if the local governing body having authority over the state highway pursuant to section 43-2-135 has approved such advertising device. The state shall accept the local permit as a state approved permit if the approval procedure of the local governing body included a determination that the advertising device does not restrict pedestrian traffic and is not a safety hazard to the motoring public.

(II) Except for safety requirements for bus benches or bus shelters located within the right-of-way of any state highway, the department shall not impose any additional requirements or more strict requirements in connection with permits for advertising devices on a bus bench or bus shelter than those imposed by the local governing body unless specifically required by federal law.

(III) The department shall implement this subsection (2) with the purpose of promoting the use of bus transportation.

(b) This subsection (2) shall not apply if the department receives written notification from the applicable federal authority that compliance with this subsection (2) will directly cause denial of federal moneys that would otherwise be available or would otherwise be inconsistent with federal law, but only to the extent necessary to prevent denial of the moneys or to eliminate the inconsistency with federal law.