Section 3: Permit Renewal, Duration, and Transfer
Anchor: #i1000005Renewal of Outdoor Advertising Sign Permits
A sign permit must be renewed each year. All sign permits that were issued prior to September 6, 1985 require renewal annually on October 1. A sign permit issued after September 5, 1985 must be renewed on the anniversary date of its issuance. Permits that are not renewed will automatically expire. To renew the permit, the permit holder must:
- complete a Form ROW-OA-22, Permit Renewal Application for Outdoor Advertising Signs;
- the applicant's name is to be shown exactly as it appears on the Outdoor Advertising License and the previously issued sign permit;
- all items, including the location of each sign, must be complete;
- the application must be properly signed;
- submit a nonrefundable permit renewal fee of $40.00, made payable to the Texas Highway Beautification Fund; and
- return the completed renewal submission to the District
that issued the permit.
NOTE: A permit is not eligible for renewal if the sign has not been built. The sign owner may apply for a new sign permit for the location.
If the check or money order submitted in payment of the permit renewal is dishonored upon presentment by TxDOT , the permit renewal will be voided as of the date of renewal.
Anchor: #i1000062Duration of State Outdoor Advertising Sign Permits
A permit issued or renewed is only valid for the location indicated on the original permit application and only for the sign described on that application. A permit is valid for one year from the date it is issued by the District Engineer (or authorized representative), provided the sign is erected and maintained in accordance with the law and all applicable rules, unless it is canceled sooner. The permit will automatically terminate if:
- the State or political subdivision of the State acquires the sign for which the permit was issued;
- outdoor advertising license held by the permit holder is not renewed due to failure to maintain a valid bond or corporate franchise, expires for non-payment or is revoked;
- the permit is not renewed;
- the permit is canceled by the permit holder; or
- the sign is not built within one year of the permit issuance date.
City Permits
If a city has been certified by the State to exercise control of outdoor advertising signs under the Highway Beautification laws, a state permit is not required for signs within the city limits of that city, but the applicant must hold a Texas Outdoor Advertising License.
Before a sign may be erected inside a city, and sometimes the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) of a city, it may be necessary for the owner to obtain a sign permit from the city in addition to obtaining a sign permit from the State. Further information on Municipal Control of Signs is available.
Anchor: #i1000116Transfer of State Advertising Sign Permits
State sign permits cannot be transferred without TxDOT approval; only valid permits may be transferred.
In requesting transfer of a valid sign permit, the following actions must be taken:
- Form ROW-OA-16, Application for Transfer of Outdoor Advertising Sign Permits , must be completed and must have the notarized signatures of the seller and the buyer. If either party is a corporation, the notarized signature must be that of a corporate officer.
- A nonrefundable transfer fee of $25.00 for each permit to be transferred, not to exceed a total of $2,500.00, must be submitted. The fee should be made payable to the Texas Highway Beautification Fund and may be paid by either the seller or the buyer.
- The submission for transfer should be filed with the District serving the county in which the sign is located. Two copies should be submitted with the original. The District will retain the original. One copy will be sent to the transferor and one copy will be sent to the transferee.
The District Engineer, or designee, is authorized to approve the transfer of the sign permit(s) when the application has been found to be in compliance with State regulations.
The District will not approve the transfer unless both the seller and the buyer hold valid Outdoor Advertising Licenses at the time of approval. Each license must provide coverage for the county in which the sign is located.
The Director of the ROW Division can approve the transfer of one or more sign permits from a lapsed outdoor advertising license to a valid outdoor advertising license, with or without the signature of the transferor, if:
- legal documents showing the sale of the sign are provided, and
- documents are provided that indicate the transferor is dead or cannot be located.
A permit that has an unresolved permit violation will not be transferred. An unresolved permit violation means that a permit cancellation is impending or a cancellation is being held in abeyance pending the outcome of an administrative hearing.