The highway right-of-way, in advance of the intersection from which the business or site will be accessed. Businesses or sites which are open to the general public for at least 20 hours per week and which are located in rural areas may be eligible, provided the signs will not direct motorists more than ten miles away from the signed intersection. Businesses and sites which are located directly along the highway may not qualify for this program if passing traffic is able to recognize the business before passing the intersection or the business has adequate highway frontage to place its own sign. All fabrication and installation of TODS signs is performed by the department. Applicants will be billed prior to installation, with the most common charge being $700 for a set of two. Annual renewal fees are $50/sign but are not charged for the smaller wayfinding signs installed along city streets or secondary road systems. Details and restrictions can be viewed in the administrative rules for the program.
The application and installation process may take up to four months, so plan accordingly. All applications are subject to review by an independent committee comprised of representatives from public agencies and tourist-related organizations.
Example 1: Up to three individual signs can be attached to a single structure to give directions to the attractions.
Example 2: A TODS can include the name of the attraction, mileage, and directional arrow.
Example 3: TOD signs are 72 inches long and 18 inches high. Lettering is white on a blue background with white border.
Frequently Asked Questions
List items for Tourist Oriented Directional Signs (TODS) - Frequently Asked Questions
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TODS are installed by the department in advance of the intersection from which the business or site is accessed. The business and intersection must be located outside the urban area for a city with a population of 5000 or more. There may be cases where sign congestion or hard surfaces adjacent to the shoulder interfere with the ability to install the signs. Interchanges are not eligible for TODS; the program is limited to at-grade intersections.
The department adopted a revised rule chapter in 2023 making it easier for businesses to qualify. If your business is open to the general public for at least 20 hours per week, there is a good chance that it will be eligible for the program. The business cannot restrict entry based on age, and should offer a product, service, or experience to any visitor. Manufacturing plants, trucking terminals, distribution centers, etc., probably will not qualify unless public tours are available during the operating times.
The program is limited to signing for businesses and sites which are located within ten miles of the intersection where the signs will be placed. However, if a business or site is located adjacent to the highway and visible to traffic, it may not qualify from one or both directions, depending upon how visible it is from each direction. These businesses should instead rely on effective on-premise signing installed on private property.
The signs are designed by the department, but applicants are given a chance to approve or reject the design. However, the message should be limited to just identifying the business or site. If the name isn’t very descriptive of the nature of the activity or business, an extra word or two can sometimes be added. The department must adhere to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) in the design of the signs and messages are limited to two lines and 15 to 18 characters per line, depending upon whether font size is reduced. This doesn’t mean that you can fill up to the maximum allowed; the message should simply identify the business or site.
A set of two signs will cost $700. If one direction only is approved, the cost will be $350. If smaller, wayfinding type signs (known as “trailblazers”) are needed, an additional fee – usually $26 – will be required. There is an annual fee of $50/sign due each July 1st. If your signs are installed in April, May, or June, the renewal fee will not be assessed. Non-profit organizations are not charged with fees.
A standard-sized TODS is 72” long and 18” high. Sometimes limited green space along the shoulder merits an odd-sized sign so that it will fit without causing safety concerns.
Yes, if your business or site is within qualifying range. However, the department discourages the use of signs which will send a motorist backtracking to get to the business or site. In certain cases, the department can approve a sign for one direction at one intersection and an opposite direction from a different intersection.
Yes, as long as your season is at least four weeks in length. Small panels which display a "CLOSED" message may be required, covering the arrow portion of your sign during the off-season.
Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding TODS, contact Iowa DOT's Right-of-way agent Stephanie Anderson.
