[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 23, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 23CFR750.154]

[Page 353-354]
 
                           TITLE 23--HIGHWAYS
 
 CHAPTER I--FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 750--HIGHWAY BEAUTIFICATION--Table of Contents
 
    Subpart B--National Standards for Directional and Official Signs
 
Sec. 750.154  Standards for directional signs.

    The following apply only to directional signs:
    (a) General. The following signs are prohibited:
    (1) Signs advertising activities that are illegal under Federal or 
State laws or regulations in effect at the location of those signs or at 
the location of those activities.
    (2) Signs located in such a manner as to obscure or otherwise 
interfere with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, signal, or 
device, or obstruct or interfere with the driver's view of approaching, 
merging, or intersecting traffic.
    (3) Signs which are erected or maintained upon trees or painted or 
drawn upon rocks or other natural features.
    (4) Obsolete signs.
    (5) Signs which are structurally unsafe or in disrepair.
    (6) Signs which move or have any animated or moving parts.
    (7) Signs located in rest areas, parklands or scenic areas.
    (b) Size. (1) No sign shall exceed the following limits:
    (i) Maximum area--150 square feet.
    (ii) Maximum height--20 feet.
    (iii) Maximum length--20 feet.
    (2) All dimensions include border and trim, but exclude supports.
    (c) Lighting. Signs may be illuminated, subject to the following:
    (1) Signs which contain, include, or are illuminated by any 
flashing, intermittent, or moving light or lights are prohibited.
    (2) Signs which are not effectively shielded so as to prevent beams 
or rays of light from being directed at any portion of the traveled way 
of an Interstate or primary highway or which are of such intensity or 
brilliance as to cause glare or to impair the vision of the driver of 
any motor vehicle, or which otherwise interfere with any driver's 
operation of a motor vehicle are prohibited.
    (3) No sign may be so illuminated as to interfere with the 
effectiveness of or obscure an official traffic sign, device, or signal.
    (d) Spacing. (1) Each location of a directional sign must be 
approved by the State highway department.

[[Page 354]]

    (2) No directional sign may be located within 2,000 feet of an 
interchange, or intersection at grade along the Interstate System or 
other freeways (measured along the Interstate or freeway from the 
nearest point of the beginning or ending of pavement widening at the 
exit from or entrance to the main traveled way).
    (3) No directional sign may be located within 2,000 feet of a rest 
area, parkland, or scenic area.
    (4)(i) No two directional signs facing the same direction of travel 
shall be spaced less than 1 mile apart;
    (ii) Not more than three directional signs pertaining to the same 
activity and facing the same direction of travel may be erected along a 
single route approaching the activity;
    (iii) Signs located adjacent to the Interstate System shall be 
within 75 air miles of the activity; and
    (iv) Signs located adjacent to the primary system shall be within 50 
air miles of the activity.
    (e) Message content. The message on directional signs shall be 
limited to the identification of the attraction or activity and 
directional information useful to the traveler in locating the 
attraction, such as mileage, route numbers, or exit numbers. Descriptive 
words or phrases, and pictorial or photographic representations of the 
activity or its environs are prohibited.
    (f) Selection method and criteria. (1) Privately owned activities or 
attractions eligible for directional signing are limited to the 
following: natural phenomena; scenic attractions; historic, educational, 
cultural, scientific, and religious sites; and outdoor recreational 
areas.
    (2) To be eligible, privately owned attractions or activities must 
be nationally or regionally known, and of outstanding interest to the 
traveling public.
    (3) Each State shall develop specific selection methods and criteria 
to be used in determining whether or not an activity qualifies for this 
type of signing. A statement as to selection methods and criteria shall 
be furnished to the Secretary of Transportation before the State permits 
the erection of any such signs under section 131(c) of title 23 U.S.C., 
and this part.