Private Street Sign Design Guidelines

City Guidelines Regarding the Installation of Signs on Private Streets
Traffic Services Division of the Department of Public Works

Governing Document Reference:

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD), 2009 or latest edition and the Overland Park Municipal Code (OPMC), Title 12 – Traffic, Chapter 12.04.

MUTCD Requirements:

Standard: The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is incorporated by reference in 23 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 655, Subpart F and shall be recognized as the national standard for all traffic control devices installed on any street, highway, bikeway, or private road open to public travel in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 109(d) and 402(a). The policies and procedures of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to obtain basic uniformity of traffic control devices shall be as described in 23 CFR 655, Subpart F. In accordance with 23 CFR 655.603(a), for the purposes of applicability of the MUTCD:
A. Toll roads under the jurisdiction of public agencies or authorities or public private partnerships shall be considered to be public highways;
B. Private roads open to public travel shall be defined as private toll roads and roads (including any adjacent sidewalks that generally run parallel to the road) within shopping centers, airports, sports arenas, and other similar business and/or recreation facilities that are privately owned, but where the public is allowed to travel without access restrictions. Roads within private gated properties (except for gated toll roads) where access is restricted at all times, parking areas, driving aisles within parking areas, and private grade crossings shall not be included; and
C. Parking areas, including the driving aisles within those parking areas, that are either publicly or privately owned shall not be considered to be “open to public travel” for purposes of MUTCD applicability.

Section 1A.08 Authority for Placement of Traffic Control Devices
Standard: Traffic control devices, advertisements, announcements, and other signs or messages within the highway right-of-way shall be placed only as authorized by a public authority or the official having jurisdiction, or, in the case of private roads open to public travel, by the private owner or private official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning, or guiding traffic.

City of Overland Park Guidelines for Installation:

Generally, any intersection traffic control sign and/or street name signs located at the intersection of a public street and private street will be located within public right-of-way. Therefore, the City Of Overland Park will install and maintain signs controlling traffic coming from a private street onto a public street as indicated below:

1. Any regulatory intersection traffic control sign such as stop sign or yield sign based on City of Overland Park criteria for installation, unless the private street already has non-standard, decorative intersection traffic control signs;
2. Any street name signs indicating the name of the private street, if applicable, and the public street, unless the private street already has non-standard, decorative street name signs.
3. A “Private Street” sign installed facing traffic that might enter the private street from the public street.

Signing Standards:

Any regulatory traffic control sign such as stop sign or yield sign as well as any street name sign shall meet the size requirements as specified in the Traffic Sign Guidelines for stop and yield signs.

“Private Street” signs shall have a white legend and border on a green background and shall be 18” x 12” with 4” letter height.

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