{"data":{"id":"us-va/24vac30-551-30","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"24VAC30-551-30","heading":"General criteria for the Tourist-Oriented Directional Signs (TODS) Program","body":"A. TODS assemblies may only be installed within public right- of-way maintained by VDOT and will be excluded from any cities and towns of 5,000 or more population and Arlington County and Henrico County. VDOT will not acquire rights-of-way or easements, or otherwise enter into agreements for the purposes of installing TODS assemblies.\n\nB. A facility will be eligible to participate as a TODS—Category I if it is open to the general public; a substantial portion of its products or services are of significant interest to tourists; it derives its major portion of income or visitors during the normal business season from road users not residing in the area of the facility, defined as within 15 miles; the facility falls within one of the acceptable TODS sites; and it meets the following criteria:\n\n1. Is located within 15 miles of the intersection of a nonlimited access state primary system highway where the initial TODS panel is to be located at the nearest primary intersection along the selected route;\n\n2. Has the name of the facility prominently displayed on the premises in such a manner that it is readily visible to motorists from the public highway on which the business is located;\n\n3. Is open a minimum of six hours per day, five days per week during at least a 12-consecutive-week period each year, except this requirement shall not apply to certain facilities such as arenas, auditoriums, civic centers, farmer's markets, farm markets, wineries and flea markets;\n\n4. Is in continuous operation at least six hours per day, five days per week during its normal season or the normal operating season for the type of business;\n\n5. Is licensed and approved by the appropriate state or local agencies, or both, regulating the particular type of business or activity;\n\n6. For camping businesses, meets Specific Travel Services (Logo) Signing Program criteria to be eligible for participation;\n\n7. Complies with all applicable laws concerning the provision of public accommodations without regard to age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, or accessibility by the physically handicapped;\n\n8. Agrees to abide by all rules, regulations, policies, procedures and criteria associated with the program; and\n\n9. Agrees that in any cases of dispute or other disagreement with the rules, regulations, policies, procedures and criteria or applications of the program, the decision of the State Traffic Engineer shall be final and binding.\n\nC. In addition to the facilities listed as acceptable TODS sites, gas, food and lodging establishments may participate in the TODS Program as a TODS—Category II site provided they meet all of the TODS—Category I criteria with the exception that the following criteria apply:\n\n1. Is located within three miles of the intersection of a nonlimited access state primary or secondary system highway where the initial TODS panel is to be located; and\n\n2. Meets the Specific Travel Services (Logo) Signing Program—Category II criteria for its respective type of facility and agrees to be bumped in accordance with the bumping policy for a Category II facility.\n\nD. The following table lists acceptable sites for TODS:\n\nTODS PROGRAM ACCEPTABLE SITES\n\nCategory I\n\nCultural\n\nArt/craft center\n\nGallery\n\nMuseum\n\nHistoric building\n\nHistoric cemetery\n\nHistoric site\n\nHistoric district\n\nRecreational\n\nAmphitheater\n\nAmusement park\n\nAquarium\n\nArboretum\n\nArena\n\nAuditorium\n\nBoat landing/marina\n\nBotanical garden\n\nCampground\n\nCamp\n\nCivic center\n\nColiseum\n\nConcert hall\n\nEquestrian center\n\nFairground\n\nGolf course\n\nNatural attraction\n\nNatural resource agency(1)\n\nPavilion\n\nRace track\n\nPark - national\n\nPark - municipal\n\nPark - privately owned\n\nPark - regional\n\nPark - theme\n\nSki resort\n\nStadium\n\nWater-oriented business\n\nZoo\n\nRetail Tourism\n\nAgribusiness\n\nAntique business\n\nAuction house\n\nBed and breakfast\n\nBrewery\n\nDistillery\n\nFarm market\n\nFarmer's market\n\nFlea market\n\nNursery/greenhouse\n\nRegional retail facility\n\nRestaurant(2)\n\nWinery\n\nSchools\n\nColleges \u0026 universities (main campus or satellite campus   facilities)\n\nTrails\n\nDGIF Birding \u0026 Wildlife\n\nCivil War\n\nVirginia Wine\n\nOthers as approved by VDOT\n\nOther\n\nConference center\n\nPower plant\n\nResearch facility\n\n(1) VDOT shall waive requirements and conditions of   participation in the TODS Program as may be necessary to provide adequate   signage for facilities maintained by the agencies within Virginia's Natural   Resources Secretariat. The requirements and conditions that may be waived   include, but are not limited to, (i) the required proximity of a facility to   an initial sign structure and (ii) the limitation that signage be provided   only at the nearest primary highway.\n\n(2) Shall not be a franchise or part of a national chain. Food   Category II can be a franchise or part of a national chain.\n\nE. The following sites are excluded from participation in the TODS Program. The exclusion relates only to qualification under these categories. These facilities may participate if qualifying under another acceptable category.\n\nTODS PROGRAM EXCLUDED SITES\n\nBusiness/commercial\n\nAdult entertainment facility\n\nFuneral home\n\nIndustrial park or plant\n\nMedia facility\n\nMovie theater\n\nOffice park\n\nRadio station\n\nTelevision station\n\nTruck terminal\n\nGovernmental\n\nLocal jail\n\nLocal police/sheriff's office\n\nPost office\n\nMedical\n\nDrug rehabilitation facility\n\nExtended care facility\n\nFraternal home\n\nHospital\n\nHumane facility\n\nInfirmary\n\nMental facility\n\nNursing home\n\nRetirement home\n\nSanitarium\n\nTreatment center\n\nVeterans facility\n\nMiscellaneous\n\nAnimal shelter\n\nCemetery/columbarium\n\nMobile home park\n\nSubdivision\n\nVeterinary facility\n\nReligious\n\nCathedral\n\nChapel\n\nChurch\n\nMosque\n\nShrine\n\nSynagogue\n\nTemple\n\nOther religious sites","path":["Title 24. Transportation And Motor Vehicles","Agency 30. Department of Transportation","Chapter 551. Integrated Directional Signing Program (IDSP) Participation Criteria"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title24/agency30/chapter551/section30/","current_through":"2026 Regular Session (effective July 1, 2026)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T04:54:30Z","sha256":"93ff2446e59d1eaa23611e63cd94ba69e624bbe5e595e77fc7647283b3e69d1b","source_id":"us-va-vac","stale":false,"prev":"us-va/24vac30-551-20","next":"us-va/24vac30-551-40"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}