761—119.6(321) Installation, maintenance, replacement and removal.
	119.6(1) Installation and maintenance of tourist-oriented directional signs. Except as provided in subrule 119.6(4), the department shall fabricate and perform all required installation, maintenance, removal and replacement of tourist-oriented directional signs that are located within the right-of-way.
	a. 	The department shall design the tourist-oriented directional sign and provide a scaled drawing of it to the applicant prior to sign fabrication.
	b. 	A tourist-oriented directional sign shall not be installed until the applicant has paid the department the initial fee specified in subrule 119.6(3).
	119.6(2) Installation and maintenance of trailblazing signs. If the destination is not located adjacent to the secondary road or city street intersecting the primary route, trailblazing signs are required. Trailblazing signs shall conform to requirements in the MUTCD.
	a. 	The department shall fabricate trailblazing signs and provide them to cities and counties for installation on secondary roads and city streets. Cities and counties are responsible for the installation and maintenance of trailblazing signs on routes under their jurisdiction.
	b. 	Trailblazing signs shall not be installed until the applicant has paid the department a fee for the cost of sign fabrication.
	c. 	Tourist-oriented directional signs shall not be installed until necessary trailblazing signs are in place.
	119.6(3)  Initial and renewal fees. The initial fee, payable once an application is approved, is $350 for each 72ʺ × 18ʺ sign placed along the primary highway and $26 for each trailblazing sign placed along a nonprimary highway. These fees include the cost of sign fabrication and installation but do not include any additional fees which may be required by local jurisdictions for the placement of trailblazing signs along local road systems. The annual renewal fee, payable on or before June 30 of each year, is $50 per sign, excluding trailblazing signs. This fee covers the administrative costs and normal maintenance.
	119.6(4) Seasonal destination. A tourist-oriented directional sign for a seasonal destination must either be masked or have a “closed” panel installed over the sign’s directional information when the destination is closed or when the hours of operation decrease below the minimum requirements during the off-season period. Either the department or the destination with the department’s permission shall perform the work. If the department performs the work, the approved applicant must pay the actual cost to install and remove the “closed” panel or to mask the sign.
	119.6(5) Required replacement.
	a. 	The department shall determine when a tourist-oriented directional sign is no longer serviceable and needs to be replaced. If such a determination is made, the destination must pay for the cost of a new sign and its installation prior to installation.
	b. 	The department is not responsible for theft of or damage to any tourist-oriented directional sign. If a sign requires repair or replacement due to theft or damage, the destination must pay the cost of the repair or replacement and installation. At the destination’s request, this cost may be spread over a 12-month period.
	119.6(6) Not-for-profit organizations. A not-for-profit destination is exempted from all fees and costs associated with the installation and maintenance of a single set of signs at a location determined by the department to be the most reasonable approach to the destination. If additional locations are requested by the not-for-profit organization, all fees and costs described in this chapter shall apply to the additional locations.
	119.6(7) Removal. The department shall remove a tourist-oriented directional sign if the destination no longer qualifies for tourist-oriented directional signing. As official signs, all tourist-oriented directional signs are the property of the department and shall not be given to applicants upon the signs’ removal.
[ARC 4436C, IAB 5/8/19, effective 6/12/19; ARC 6971C, IAB 4/5/23, effective 5/10/23]