As used in these rules, the following definitions apply unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
- (1) “Advance Logo Plaque” means a separately attached plaque mounted on the Advance Logo Sign showing the brand, symbol, trademark, name, or combination of these, for a business on a Conventional State Highway.
- (2) “Advance Logo Sign” means a sign bearing separately affixed individual Advance Logo Plaques for eligible businesses erected in advance of intersections on a Conventional State Highway.
- (3) “Advance Museum Sign” means a sign with the registered business name of a qualified museum or historic site erected in advance of intersections on a Conventional State Highway.
- (4) “Advance TOD Sign” means a sign with the registered business name of a qualified TOD erected in advance of intersections on a Conventional State Highway.
(5) "Attraction" means any business of regional significance that provides the general public with an amusement, cultural, historical, or leisure activity to the public. The following terms shall be used to further define Attraction:
- (a) “Amusement” means an activity or business open to the public for enjoyment, fun or relaxation.
- (b) “Cultural” means an activity or business relating to local and/or Oregon artistic pursuits, agritourism activities or businesses illustrating local Oregon specialized agricultural or livestock products and processes, production and sale of freshly harvested produce, or cultivation and sale of seasonal agricultural products, handicrafts, artisan demonstrations, or local gift/souvenir shops.
- (c) "Historical" means a business or activity based on history reflecting the past events of the area where the business or activity is signed.
- (d) “Leisure” means any business or activity that people engage in during their free time as by means of agreeable exercise, amusement, exploration or relaxation.
- (e) "Regional significance" means a travel experience that is important to Oregon visitor interests and the state of Oregon tourism industry.
- (6) "Business" means a facility which has met the qualifications for the placement of a Logo, TOD or Museum Sign.
- (7) “Business Identification Sign Panel” in the MUTCD is the same as Advance, Intersection, Mainline or Ramp Logo Plaque.
- (8) “Conventional State Highway” means any highway that is classified by ODOT as either a State, Regional, or District highway that is not an Expressway, Freeway or Interstate as defined in sections (13), (15), and (26) of this rule.
- (9) "Council" means the Travel Information Council created by ORS 377.835.
- (10) “Cultural District” means a cluster of like agritourism businesses in a concentrated area of no less than six city blocks in size and with no less than four like businesses. Cultural Districts may include Antique, Brewery, Distillery and Winery Districts.
- (11) “Directional Legend” means a word message relating to or showing direction such as the Exit number, Next Right, or Left 1/4 Mile.
- (12) “Dual Logo Plaque” means an Advance, Intersection, Mainline or Ramp Logo Plaque with two distinctive brand symbols displayed on one plaque on a “Gas” or “Food” Advance, Intersection, Mainline or Ramp Logo Sign where the two businesses are located in the same business. Dual Logo Plaques shall be discontinued as of January 2026. Businesses with Dual Logo Plaques installed prior to the revision of this rule in January 2026 may retain both names or logos until the plaque is replaced due to the expiration of the plaque or a name change of the business.
- (13) "Engineer" means the State Traffic Engineer of the Department of Transportation.
- (14) "Expressway" means a divided highway usually having two or more lanes for exclusive use of traffic in each direction and incorporating partial control of access.
- (15) “Fee Schedule” means a posted schedule of the permit fees that will be paid by businesses for Logo, TOD and Museum Signs on a yearly basis, the replacement fees assessed when a Logo customer changes their plaque design or a TOD or Museum customer changes their registered business name, or the reinstallation fees that will be paid by a business that had their plaques or signs removed due to non-payment of fees.
- (16) “Freeway” means a divided highway with full control of access.
- (17) “General Service Sign” means a single word legend or approved symbol as an alternative to the word legend located in advance of an exit or interchange to be used when Logo Signs are not available. Only Gas, Food, Lodging and Camping single word legends or the approved symbols shall be used. General Service Signs shall only be used on Interstate or Expressway highways. General Service Signs may be used in conjunction with Specific Service Signs for eligible types of services that are not represented by a Specific Service Sign.
- (18) “Historic District” means a cluster of like businesses in a concentrated area of no less than six city blocks in size and with no less than four like businesses.
- (19) “Historic Site” means a property currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places or designated as nationally significant by the United States Department of the Interior.
- (20) "Immediate Area" means the region around a business to a distance of 50 miles.
- (21) "Interchange" means a major road junction where vehicles can by means of access roads, bridges and underpasses, change from one road to another.
- (22) “Intersection” means the area where two or more roadways join or cross at the same elevation.
- (23) “Intersection Logo Plaque” means a separately attached plaque mounted on the Intersection Logo Sign showing the brand, symbol, trademark, name, or combination of these, for a business on a Conventional State Highway.
- (24) “Intersection Logo Sign” means a sign bearing separately affixed individual Intersection Logo Plaques for eligible businesses erected on, opposite, or at the intersection of a Conventional State Highway.
- (25) “Intersection Museum Sign” means a sign with the registered business name of a qualified museum or historic site erected on, opposite, or at the intersection of a Conventional State Highway.
- (26) Intersection TOD Sign” means a sign with the registered business name of a qualified TOD erected on, opposite, or at the intersection of a Conventional State Highway.
- (27) “Interstate” means the part of the federally funded system of highways connecting the major cities, regions of the state and other states and is the highest level of mobility at the highest speed for a long uninterrupted distance for through traffic, has full access control and grade separations at major intersections.
- (28) “Interstate Oasis” means a business near an Interstate, Expressway, and Freeway but not within the Interstate right-of-way, designated by the Council after meeting the eligibility criteria of these rules, that provides products and services to the public, 24-hour access to public restrooms, and parking for automobiles and heavy trucks.
- (29) “Logo Sign” means a sign located on highway right of way and includes Advance Logo Sign, Intersection Logo Sign, Mainline Logo Sign, and Ramp Logo Sign.
- (30) “Mainline Logo Plaque” means a separately attached plaque mounted on the Mainline Logo Sign showing the brand, symbol, trademark, name, or combination of these, for a business on an Interstate, Expressway or Freeway.
- (31) “Mainline Logo Sign” means a sign bearing separately affixed individual Mainline Logo Plaques for eligible businesses erected in advance of exit ramps and interchanges on an Interstate, Expressway or Freeway.
- (32) “Meal” means a combination of food items that are prepared and cooked on the licensed premises that includes one principal item and one side dish. Examples of principal items are fish, steak, chicken, pasta, and sandwich. Examples of side dishes are potatoes, potato salad, rice, french fries, beans and vegetables.
- (33) “Museum” means a business applying for Museum Signs on a Conventional State Highway. A museum must be a building, place, or institution devoted to the acquisition, conservation, study, exhibition, and educational interpretation of objects having scientific, historical, or artistic value.
- (34) “MUTCD” means the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways adopted in OAR 734-020-0005.
- (35) “ODOT” means the Oregon Department of Transportation.
- (36) "Owner" means a holder of fee title.
- (37) “Permit” means a signed agreement between an approved business and the Travel Information Council for each Logo, TOD and/or Museum Sign.
- (38) “Ramp Logo Plaque” means a separately attached plaque mounted on the Ramp Logo Sign showing the brand, symbol, trademark, name, or combination of these, for a business on an Interstate, Expressway or Freeway.
- (39) “Ramp Logo Sign” means a sign bearing separately affixed individual Ramp plaques for eligible businesses erected on, opposite, or at the terminus of an exit ramp of the Interstate, Expressway or Freeway.
- (40) “Registered Business Name” means an identification trademark, logo or a word message of the business’s name. The logo or trademark shall be reproduced in the colors and general shape consistent with customary use. A logo that resembles an official traffic control device shall not be used. Scanning graphics for the purpose of obtaining information shall not be displayed. Additional messages not directly related to the Registered Business Name such as Car Wash, Drive-thru, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner shall not be displayed. Businesses that changed their Registered Business Name to add these messages and approved prior to the revision of this rule in January 2026 may retain those messages until the plaque is replaced.
- (41) "Responsible Operator" means a person or entity other than an owner who operates a business and who has authority to enter into an agreement relative to matters covered by these rules.
- (42) “RV” means recreational vehicle.
- (43) “Service Legend” means the word message displayed in reflective white on the Mainline Logo or Ramp Logo sign that are limited to “Gas,” “Food,” “Lodging,” “Camping,” or “Attraction” and on the Advance Logo or Intersection Logo Sign that are limited to “Gas,” “Food,” “Lodging,” or “Camping.”
- (44) “Specific Service Sign” means a guide sign that provides road users with business identification and directional information for eligible services. Eligible service categories shall be limited to Gas, Food, Lodging, Camping, Attraction, Tourist Oriented Directional and Museum.
- (45) “Supplemental Message” means an approved word message displayed horizontally along the bottom of an Advance, Intersection, Mainline and/or Ramp Logo Plaque presenting approved essential motorist information. Supplemental Messages promoting the availability of products, amenities, or services that are not directly related to the Service Legend shall not be displayed on the Logo Plaque. Businesses with messages not directly related and approved prior to the revision of the rule in January 2026 may retain those messages until the plaque is replaced.
- (46) “Tourist Oriented Directional or TOD” means an Attraction business applying for signs on a Conventional State Highway.
- (47) "Traffic Control Devices" means any sign, signal, marking or device placed, operated or erected by authority under ORS 810.210, for the purpose of guiding, directing, warning or regulating traffic.
- (48) "Trailblazer" means a small sign with a Service Legend, or the name, direction and distance to the business. Trailblazers are used when larger signs cannot be used due to sign space limitations.
Statutory/Other Authority
ORS 377.787
Statutes/Other Implemented
ORS 377.710, 377.790-377.830, 377.833-377.836 & 377.838 – 377.845
History
TIC 2-2025, amend filed 12/09/2025, effective 01/01/2026
TIC 1-2019, amend filed 11/13/2019, effective 11/13/2019
TIC 2-2018, amend filed 09/20/2018, effective 10/01/2018
TIC 1-2014, f. & cert. ef. 11-5-14
TIC 2-2010, f. & cert. ef. 6-11-10
TIC 1-2009, f. & cert. ef. 4-3-09
TIC 1-2007, f. & cert. ef. 3-1-07
TIC 1-2000, f. 4-14-00, cert. ef. 5-1-00
TIC 3-1995, f. & cert. ef. 11-8-95
TIC 1-1980, f. & ef. 5-5-80
TIC 2-1979, f. & ef. 9-28-79
TIC 1-1979(Temp), f. & ef. 7-26-79