Transport Authority Requires Permission for Roadside Sales Signs

Seasonal strawberry and blueberry sales signs that appear along roads in summer could pose traffic hazards, prompting the Transport Authority to require prior permission for their installation. Permission is mandatory in road protection zones: up to 50 metres from the edge of main roads and up to 30 metres on other roads. The Estonian Farmers Association views the permit process as unnecessary bureaucracy that could take longer than the berry season itself.

The Transport Authority reminds people ahead of summer that independently installing signs and advertisements by the road is prohibited in Estonia without the appropriate permit. The rule applies to both large enterprises and smaller local sellers who want to attract passers-by to buy strawberries or visit farm shops.

The sign must not distract drivers

Siim Jaksi, head of the supervision department of the Transport Authority's road maintenance service, explained that the problem lies not in the sign's existence but in its location. "A strawberry or cucumber sign is not a problem because it exists. The problem arises when the sign is positioned somewhere a driver notices it too late. This can lead to unexpected braking, dangerous searches for a way off the road, or other traffic hazards," Jaksi said.

Permission is required for advertisements and signs installed in road protection zones. On main roads, this zone extends up to 50 metres on either side of the road edge; on other roads, up to 30 metres. Even an authorised sign must not mislead drivers, obscure traffic signs, dazzle or distract them in any other way.

Submitting an application involves four steps

Jaksi described the permit application process as follows: first, you must select a suitable location; then obtain the landowner's consent if it is not your own land. Next, you need to design the advertisement and submit an application on the Transport Authority's website. The authority assesses whether traffic safety conditions are met at the chosen location. A sign installed without permission must be removed at the authority's request.

"The purpose of legislation and permit requirements is not to obstruct people's trading, but to ensure the sign is located in a safe place," Jaksi emphasised. The Transport Authority does not charge for signs along state roads, though local governments may set fees under their own advertising regulations for signs along local roads.

Farmers: the bureaucracy is excessive

Timo Varblas, a member of the board of the Estonian Farmers Association, believes the required permit process is overly burdensome. "By the time you apply for a permit and wait for approval, the short berry season could already be over, and the berries have to be sold and eaten anyway," Varblas noted. He suggests the Transport Authority create clear guidelines showing suitable locations and sign design requirements, rather than requiring a formal application each time.

Those who pick berries from the forest and sell their harvest immediately at the roadside without any signs operate at their own risk; the Transport Authority has no requirements for them.