Signs Near Arkansas Highways: How ARDOT's Outdoor Advertising Rules Work
If your business sits near a busy Arkansas highway, you already have something valuable: thousands of drivers passing by every day. A good sign turns that traffic into customers. But before you put up a sign that faces the highway, you need to know the rules. At ACE Signs in Little Rock, we help businesses across Arkansas plan signs that get seen and stay within those rules.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) controls outdoor advertising along many of the state's main roads. Some signs need a state permit. Some are not allowed at all. And some, like the sign on your own building, are treated very differently from a billboard.
This guide explains how ARDOT's outdoor advertising rules work in plain language. It covers who makes the rules, which roads they apply to, and what limits you should plan around. If you are starting a new project, our team can also help you plan business signs in Little Rock and across Arkansas.
Who Makes the Rules for Highway Signs in Arkansas?
Arkansas's highway sign rules started with a federal law, the Highway Beautification Act of 1965. It required states to control billboards and junkyards along major highways. Arkansas responded with Act 640 of 1967, and the State Highway Commission implemented the program in 1972.
Today, ARDOT's Beautification Section runs the state's Billboard Control Program. Its job is to:
Issue permits for billboards in areas where they are allowed
Collect permit fees
Find illegal signs and billboards and arrange for their removal.
The same section also runs two programs that help businesses get noticed without a billboard. Logo signs are the blue panels on freeways that show gas, food, lodging, and attractions at the next exit. Tourist-Oriented Directional Signs (TODS) perform a similar function on rural roads and scenic byways. Both charge yearly fees and are limited to certain types of businesses.
Which Roads Are Covered: The 660-Foot Rule
The rules apply to signs along Interstates and primary highways. The key number to remember is 660 feet. Under both federal and Arkansas law, signs within 660 feet of the edge of the highway right-of-way are tightly controlled.
In that zone, billboards and other off-premise signs are generally allowed only in areas that are:
Zoned commercial or industrial by a local government, or
Unzoned commercial or industrial areas, as agreed between the state and the federal government
Scenic byways are a big exception. Arkansas law states that the 660-foot allowance does not apply to highways designated by the State Highway Commission as scenic byways. ARDOT posts a list of scenic byways where new billboards are prohibited, plus a county-by-county route map book, on its Beautification Section page.
The right-of-way itself is off limits. In an October 2025 news release, ARDOT reminded Arkansans that state law allows only official directional, informational, and regulatory highway signs on state highway property. ARDOT crews remove other signs, and owners can pick them up at their nearest ARDOT Area Maintenance Office.
On-Premise Signs vs. Billboards
This is where many business owners get good news. Federal law treats signs that advertise activities on the same property very differently from billboards. These are called on-premise signs. Think of a monument sign or channel letters on your own building or lot.
An off-premises sign, such as a billboard, advertises a business elsewhere. ARDOT's permit program is built around these signs. Signs that advertise the sale or lease of the property they stand on also fall into their own category.
Even so, an on-premises sign still has to comply with your city or county sign code. It must also stay out of the highway right-of-way.
Billboard Permits and Fees
If you plan to put up a billboard or other off-premise sign near a controlled highway, you need an ARDOT permit first. ARDOT's current fee sheet lists:
Application fee: $40
Renewal: every two years, $20 for an "A" tag or $30 for a "B" tag
The billboard permit application, updated in 2025, is posted on the Beautification Section page.
ARDOT also sets standards for sign size, spacing between billboards, and lighting. Rules like these can be updated, so call the Beautification Section at (501) 569-2088 to confirm the current standards for your site before you design.
Don't Forget Local Sign Rules
ARDOT's rules are only one layer. Your city or county may have its own sign code that covers height, size, setbacks, lighting, and electronic message boards. A sign that faces a highway may need a local permit even when it doesn't need a state one.
Before you order a sign near a highway, take these steps:
Find out what kind of road it is. Check ARDOT's route maps to see if the highway is controlled or a scenic byway.
Measure your distance. Know where the right-of-way ends and whether your sign falls within 660 feet.
Decide whether it's on-premises or off-premises. This one choice changes which rules apply.
Check local zoning. Ask your city or county about its sign code and permit process.
Also, talk to a sign professional early. A sign company that handles permitting can spot problems before you pay for a design that won't be approved.
How ACE Signs Can Help
Sign rules can feel confusing, but you don't have to sort them out alone. At ACE Signs, our project management team coordinates surveys, permitting, approvals, shipping, and installation. Then our in-house crew handles sign installation from start to finish.
Because we design, build, and install signs in-house, we can plan your project around ARDOT's rules and your local sign code from day one. That means fewer surprises, fewer delays, and a sign that starts working for your business as soon as it goes up.
Ready to get noticed from the highway the right way? Let ACE Signs handle the details. Contact ACE Signs today to start your project.
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