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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 24. Transportation And Motor Vehicles
Agency 30. Department of Transportation
Chapter 551. Integrated Directional Signing Program Participation Criteria
9/27/2026

24VAC30-551-30. General criteria for the Tourist-Oriented Directional Signs (TODS) Program.

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 for the purposes of installing TODS assemblies.

B. A facility will be eligible to participate as a TODS - Category I if it is open to the general public; a substantial portion of the facility's products or services are of significant interest to tourists; the facility 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 the facility meets the following criteria:

1. 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;

2. 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;

3. Is open a minimum of six hours per day, five days per week during the normal season of operation for this type of business (generally 12 weeks), except this requirement shall not apply to certain facilities such as auditoriums, civic centers, farmer's markets, drive-in theaters, stadiums, or flea markets;

4. For a winery, brewery, distillery, or cidery, offers tours of the production process during the posted hours of operation;

5. Is licensed and approved by the appropriate state or local agencies, or both, regulating the particular type of business or activity;

6. For a camping business, meets LOGO Signing Program criteria to be eligible for participation;

7. 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; and

8. Signs and complies with the terms of an IDSP participation agreement.

C. 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:

1. 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

2. Meets the 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.

D. A facility independently meeting all of the qualifications for a gas service under the TODS category II criteria that also offers alternative fuel stations as approved by the Virginia Department of Energy may display the appropriate VDOT and Federal Highway Administration approved generic symbol for alternative fuel stations (see 24VAC30-551-95 for additional information).

E. The following table lists acceptable sites for TODS:

TODS PROGRAM ACCEPTABLE SITES
Category I

Cultural

Art or craft center
Gallery
Museum

Historic site
Historic district

Recreational

Amusement or theme park
Aquarium
Arboretum
Arena
Auditorium
Boat landing or marina
Botanical garden
Campground
Camp
Civic center
Drive-in theater
Equestrian center
State fairgrounds

Golf course
Natural attraction
Natural resource agency(1)
Pavilion
Racetrack
Park - national
Park - municipal
Park - privately owned
Park - regional
Park - state
Ski resort
Stadium
Water-oriented business
Zoo

Retail Tourism

Agribusiness
Antique business
Auction house
Bed and breakfast
Brewery
Cidery
Distillery
Farm market

Farmer's market
Flea market
Nursery or greenhouse
Regional retail facility
Restaurant(2)
Winery

Schools

College or university - main campus
College or university - satellite campus

Trails

Civil War trail
Virginia wine trail(3)
Others as approved by VDOT

Other

Conference center
Power plant
Research facility
Tourist information center
Welcome center

TODS PROGRAM ACCEPTABLE SITES
Category II

All Types

Gas, food, lodging

(1) VDOT shall waive the minimum 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.

(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.

(3) Each winery on a wine trail qualifying for the TODS program must meet the hours of operation and licensing requirements for the TODS program. The driving distance between one winery and the next wine trail facility shall not be greater than 15 miles. To be eligible for participation in the TODS program, the first and last facilities on a wine trail must be located within 15 miles of the intersection of a non-controlled access state primary or secondary system highway where the initial TODS panel is to be located.

F. 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. This list of excluded sites is not all-inclusive. Omission from this list does not imply qualification for signing under this category.

TODS PROGRAM EXCLUDED SITES

Business and Commercial

Adult entertainment facility
Funeral home
Industrial park or plant
Media facility
Movie theater(1)

Office park
Radio station
Television station
Truck terminal

Governmental

Local jail
Local police or sheriff's office
Post office

Medical

Drug rehabilitation facility
Extended care facility
Fraternal home
Hospital
Humane facility
Infirmary

Mental facility
Nursing home
Retirement home
Sanitarium
Treatment center
Veterans facility

Miscellaneous

Animal shelter
Cemetery
Mobile home park

Subdivision
Veterinary facility

Religious

Cathedral
Chapel
Church
Mosque

Shrine
Synagogue
Temple
Other religious sites

(1) Indoor movie theaters with auditorium style seating, such as a multiplex, are considered to be local attractions and are not eligible for signing as a regional attraction. This exclusion does not apply to indoor movie theaters with food service that provides table seating.

Statutory Authority

§§ 33.2-210 and 33.2-1220 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 24, eff. September 6, 2006; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 26, eff. September 9, 2026.

Website addresses provided in the Virginia Administrative Code to documents incorporated by reference are for the reader's convenience only, may not necessarily be active or current, and should not be relied upon. To ensure the information incorporated by reference is accurate, the reader is encouraged to use the source document described in the regulation.

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