RouteAllOversize Load Sign and Banner Requirements by State
Last verified September 25, 2026 against the state rules linked in each table.
An oversize load sign is a yellow banner with black letters reading OVERSIZE LOAD, mounted front and rear. The common size is 7 feet by 18 inches with 10-inch letters. Nine of the twelve states checked here name that size. Oklahoma allows a smaller 5-foot sign, and Montana sets no size at all.
This guide compares twelve state rules and links each one. Flags and lights are covered in the oversize load equipment checklist.
In one minute: buy two signs at 7 feet by 18 inches with 10-inch black letters on yellow. That size meets the minimum in most states here. Then check letter and stroke rules for Florida, Pennsylvania, Utah and Washington, because those four set their own numbers.
How big must an oversize load sign be?
Most states require at least 7 feet long by 18 inches high, with letters at least 10 inches tall. Oklahoma accepts 5 feet by 14 inches with 8-inch letters. Georgia accepts 6 feet by 1 foot. Montana sets a letter height of 8 inches and no sign size.
The table below shows how far the rules spread: from a 5-foot minimum to an exact 7-foot size.
| State | Sign size | Letters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Exactly 5 ft by 10 in, or exactly 7 ft by 18 in | 8 in (1-in stroke) on the small sign, 10 in (1.41-in stroke) on the large | 2 CCR 601-4 |
| Florida | At least 7 ft by 18 in | 12 in, stroke at least 1.5 in | 14-26.012 |
| Georgia | At least 6 ft by 1 ft | At least 8 in high and 4 in wide | 672-2-.07 |
| Illinois | About 7 ft by 18 in | About 12 in; 10 in minimum | 92 IAC 554.419 |
| Montana | No size set | At least 8 in | ARM 18.8.510B |
| New York | At least 7 ft by 18 in | At least 10 in, 1.41-in stroke | 17 NYCRR 154-1.13 |
| Ohio | At least 7 ft by 18 in | At least 10 in, 1.41-in stroke | 5501:2-1-04 |
| Oklahoma | At least 5 ft by 14 in | At least 8 in, 1⅛-in stroke | OAC 730:50-5-15 |
| Pennsylvania | At least 7 ft by 18 in | At least 10 in, 2-in stroke | 67 Pa. Code 179.10 |
| Rhode Island | At least 7 ft by 18 in | At least 10 in, about 1.4-in stroke | 290-RICR-40-00-1.5 |
| Utah | Exactly 7 ft by 18 in | 10 in, 1⅝-in stroke | R909-2-20 |
| Washington | At least 7 ft by 18 in | At least 10 in, stroke 1.4 to 1.5 in | WAC 468-38-155 |
A 5-foot sign that is legal in Oklahoma is too small in Florida, Georgia, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah and Washington. You must not carry one sign size across state lines without checking.
When do you have to display the sign?
It depends on the state. Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island require the sign on permitted moves. Florida, Illinois, Montana, Ohio and Utah all name 10 feet wide as a trigger. Seven states also require you to remove or cover the sign once the load is legal.
The table shows each trigger and whether the sign comes down after the move.
| State | Required when | Take it down? | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Any over-legal load, except overweight-only loads and longer combination vehicles | Not stated | 2 CCR 601-4 |
| Florida | Over 10 ft wide, 80 ft long or 14 ft 6 in high | Not stated | 14-26.012 |
| Georgia | Over 8 ft 6 in wide, 13 ft 6 in high and 100 ft long (the rule says "and") | Yes, removed | 672-2-.06 |
| Illinois | Over 10 ft wide, 14 ft 6 in high or 75 ft long | Not stated | 92 IAC 554.419 |
| Montana | Over 10 ft wide | Yes, removed | ARM 18.8.510B |
| New York | Over legal width, or over 65 ft long | Not stated | 17 NYCRR 154-1.8 |
| Ohio | Over legal length, 10 ft wide or more, or over 14 ft 6 in high | Not stated | 5501:2-1-04 |
| Oklahoma | Every permitted oversize move | Yes: must not show on a legal vehicle | OAC 730:50-5-15 |
| Pennsylvania | Every permitted oversize vehicle, unless the permit says otherwise | Yes, removed or covered | 67 Pa. Code 179.10 |
| Rhode Island | Nondivisible-load permit moves | Yes, removed or covered after delivery | 290-RICR-40-00-1.5 |
| Utah | Over 10 ft wide, 14 ft 6 in high and 105 ft long (the rule says "and") | Yes: covered, removed or face down | R909-2-20 |
| Washington | When the special permit requires it | Yes, removed or retracted | WAC 468-38-155 |
Georgia and Utah both write their triggers with "and" between the numbers. Read literally, that means all three limits at once. Your permit states which condition applies, so follow the permit.
Width is the trigger that matters most. The oversize load width limits by state guide lists where legal width ends.
RouteAll reads the permit you upload and drives the route it names. It does not check your sign. The permit and the state rule decide what goes on the load.
What does Colorado require on an oversize load sign?
Colorado allows exactly two sign sizes. One is 5 feet by 10 inches with 8-inch letters and a 1-inch stroke. The other is 7 feet by 18 inches with 10-inch letters and a 1.41-inch stroke. Both use black letters on yellow, and the sign applies to any over-legal load.
Colorado also lets the wording match the load.
- Wording: "Wide Load", "Long Load" or "Oversize Load", whichever applies to the load.
- Overweight-only loads do not need the sign.
- Longer combination vehicles are excluded from this rule.
Colorado's pilot vehicles use the same two sizes, mounted on the roof. The rule is 2 CCR 601-4, section 405.7.
What does Montana require on an oversize load sign?
Montana requires an OVERSIZE LOAD sign once the load is over 10 feet wide. Letters must be at least 8 inches high, black on yellow. The rule sets no sign size. Mount one sign at the front and one at the rear of the load, at any height where traffic can see it.
Montana is the one state here that ties lights to the sign.
"On the power unit, flashing amber lights, a minimum of five inches in diameter, 50 candlepower, 60 to 90 flashes per minute, shall be mounted at each end of the oversize load sign and visible 360 degrees." — ARM 18.8.510B(1)(b). Verified September 25, 2026.
A revolving light or strobe may replace those two lights. Montana may also require pilot vehicles instead of signs and lights. Take the sign down when the load is no longer oversize.
Where does the sign go?
One sign goes on the front of the truck, on the bumper or the cab roof. The other goes at the rear of the load or the towed unit. Several states add height, visibility and wording rules.
- New York: 2 to 5 feet above the road, readable from 400 feet behind. Night moves need high-intensity reflective sheeting.
- Utah: the bottom of the sign 5 feet or less above the road where possible, with the rear sign at the rearmost point.
- Florida: if one sign is on the roof, the other goes at the rear of the load or towed unit.
- Washington: signs must not cover lights or license plates.
- Georgia: the wording is "OVERSIZED LOAD", and orange is allowed as well as yellow.
- Pennsylvania: the sign must show only the words "OVERSIZE LOAD".
What size is a pilot car sign?
Most escort signs are smaller than the load sign. Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio use 5 feet by 12 inches with 8-inch letters. Washington uses 5 feet by 10 inches, roof-mounted. Rhode Island requires 10-inch letters on its 5-foot escort sign.
Two states set escort rules that differ from the rest.
- Texas: 5 to 7 feet long, 12 to 18 inches high, 8 to 10-inch letters, under 43 TAC 219.11. It must not be shown at any other time.
- California: a yellow OVERSIZE sign of at least 440 square inches, with 6-inch letters, mounted at least 48 inches up (Vehicle Code 27904.5).
Florida escorts carry two spare 7 foot by 18 inch load signs. The pilot car requirements by state guide covers escort lights and equipment.
What about Texas, California and Arizona?
This guide could not verify the load-vehicle sign rule for Texas or California. Only their escort sign rules were confirmed, and they appear above. Arizona requires a sign at 9 feet wide or more. Its size is set in a drawing in the rule, which this guide could not verify.
Arizona also requires the sign to be hidden from traffic when you are not hauling the load. Read the permit for all three states before you order a sign.
There is no federal sign rule. 49 CFR 393.87 sets flag size only, at 18 inches square.
Before you roll
Buy the 7-foot by 18-inch sign with 10-inch letters, because nine of the twelve states name it. Then check the letter and stroke rules for Florida, Pennsylvania, Utah and Washington. Take the sign down when you run legal, because seven of the twelve states require it.
Common questions
Can one oversize load sign work in every state?
Not if you read every rule literally. Florida says 12-inch letters and Utah says 10-inch letters. Washington limits the stroke to 1.5 inches, and Pennsylvania says 2 inches. A 7-foot by 18-inch sign with 10-inch letters meets the size rule in most states, so check the letters for each state.
Do I take the sign down when I run legal?
In seven of the twelve states checked, yes. Georgia, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah and Washington require the sign removed, covered or retracted. Utah also allows turning it face down. Oklahoma forbids showing the sign on a legal vehicle at all.
Is there a federal oversize load sign rule?
No. The federal rule, 49 CFR 393.87, covers warning flags only. Flags must be at least 18 inches square, red or orange fluorescent. Sign size, letters and triggers are all set by each state, so the state rule and your permit decide.
What size letters go on an oversize load banner?
Usually at least 10 inches high. That is the minimum in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah and Washington. Oklahoma, Georgia and Montana accept 8 inches. Florida names 12 inches, and Illinois suggests about 12 inches with 10 as the minimum.
Further reading
Sources
- Colorado, 2 CCR 601-4, section 405.7, warning signs.
- Florida, Fla. Admin. Code R. 14-26.012, safety requirements.
- Georgia, R. 672-2-.06 and R. 672-2-.07.
- Illinois, 92 Ill. Admin. Code 554.419.
- Montana, ARM 18.8.510B, signs and lights.
- New York, 17 NYCRR 154-1.8 and 154-1.13.
- Ohio, Ohio Admin. Code 5501:2-1-04 and ODOT Form OS-1A.
- Oklahoma, OAC 730:50-5-15.
- Pennsylvania, 67 Pa. Code 179.10.
- Rhode Island, 290-RICR-40-00-1.5.
- Utah, Utah Admin. Code R909-2-20.
- Washington, WAC 468-38-155.
- Arizona, R17-6-303. Texas escort signs, 43 TAC 219.11. California pilot cars, Vehicle Code 27904.5.
- Federal flags, 49 CFR 393.87.
RouteAll reads the permit you provide. It does not issue permits or guarantee compliance. The driver remains responsible for the load. Twelve states were verified for this guide; rules change, so verify against the permit and the issuing state before every move.