An EV charging station sign in Oregon is the MUTCD R10-6 series sign, formalized in the 11th Edition of the MUTCD effective January 18, 2024. The R10-6a "EV CHARGING ONLY" sign uses a green field with white legend and the new federally-standardized green pump-and-plug symbol that replaced the prior ad-hoc symbols. Standard size is 12 by 18 inches at conventional zones, mounted at 7 feet to bottom of sign per MUTCD §2A.18. Oregon's Statewide Transportation Improvement Program and the federal NEVI Program have driven a meaningful increase in EV charging deployment, and Oregon commercial property is now the highest-velocity sector for new EV signage installs.
Below is the R10-6 sign spec, what changed in the 11th Edition, how the sign coordinates with charging-station hardware, and the tow-authority addendum that keeps non-EV vehicles out of the stall.
What is the R10-6 sign and what changed in the 11th Edition MUTCD?
R10-6 is the EV charging designation sign. The 11th Edition of the MUTCD, effective January 18, 2024, formalized:
- The standardized green pump-and-plug symbol (replacing the prior collection of EV manufacturer-specific symbols)
- The 12 by 18 inch standard size at conventional zones
- The white-legend-on-green-field color scheme
- Sub-codes R10-6a (EV CHARGING ONLY) and R10-6b (EV CHARGING with time/hour restriction)
Source: 11th Edition MUTCD §2B.46 and FHWA Standard Highway Signs Tables. The 11th Edition adoption is a federal floor; states have adopted the changes at varying rates. Oregon adopted the 11th Edition through ODOT in mid-2024.
What does the R10-6a sign actually look like?
The standard R10-6a layout:
- Background: green
- Legend: white "EV CHARGING ONLY" or "ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING ONLY"
- Symbol: green-on-white pump-and-plug symbol on the left or above the legend
- Standard dimensions: 12 by 18 inches at conventional zones, 18 by 24 at multilane
The R10-6b time-restricted variant adds an hours line ("8 AM to 8 PM" or "DURING BUSINESS HOURS"). Some installations use a custom legend with charging-network branding (ChargePoint, EVgo, Tesla Supercharger), but the underlying R10-6 federal layout is the recommended baseline for compliance.
How does R10-6 integrate with the charging equipment?
EV charging stalls have a layered signage system:
| Layer | Sign | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical sign | R10-6a "EV CHARGING ONLY" | Stall designation visible from drive lane |
| Tow-warning supplement | "VIOLATORS TOWED PER ORS 98.812" | Enforcement authority for non-EV vehicles |
| Pavement marking | Green stall outline + "EV ONLY" stencil | Ground-level identification |
| Wayfinding | "EV CHARGING" with directional arrow | Direct EV drivers to the charging zone |
| Equipment-mounted | Charging-network branding | Charging instructions and pricing |
What about non-EV vehicles parking in EV stalls?
EV-stall blocking is a recurring complaint at commercial properties with limited charging infrastructure. The fix is layered enforcement:
- R10-6a sign at every EV stall
- Supplementary tow-warning sign reading "EV CHARGING ONLY -- NON-CHARGING VEHICLES TOWED PER ORS 98.812 -- [Tow Company Name and Phone]"
- Green-painted stall outline reinforcing the visual identification
- Property-management policy that EV stalls are tow-zone for any vehicle not actively charging
Oregon ORS 98.812 provides the tow authority. Some Oregon jurisdictions have proposed (but not yet adopted) state-level legislation specifically penalizing non-EV vehicles in EV stalls similar to ADA-stall enforcement. As of 2026, the enforcement rests on private-property tow authority via ORS 98.812.
What sheeting grade does an R10-6 sign need?
Best practice is ASTM D4956 Type III HIP minimum. The MUTCD does not specify a different sheeting grade for R10-6 vs other R-series signs -- the standard retroreflectivity requirements apply.
Practical considerations for EV signage:
- Most EV stalls are at primary entry locations or near building entrances where overhead lighting is good
- Coastal Oregon EV signage at the coast Tier-2 cities benefits from HIP Type IV or diamond grade because of moisture and longer-term sheeting fade
- Anti-graffiti laminate is recommended in downtown corridors
Where do EV signs mount relative to the charging equipment?
Standard placement:
- One R10-6a sign per EV stall on a 7 to 9 foot post in front of or beside the stall
- Mount height: 7 feet minimum to bottom of sign per MUTCD §2A.18
- Lateral offset: 12 to 24 inches behind the curb or wheel stop at the head of the stall
- Optional supplementary wayfinding sign at the entry to the EV charging zone
For multi-stall EV banks (4+ stalls in a row), one main wayfinding sign at the zone entry plus individual R10-6a signs per stall is the standard layout. The wayfinding sign reads "EV CHARGING -- 4 STALLS" with a directional arrow, and the per-stall signs reinforce the stall designation.
What about ADA-accessible EV charging?
The U.S. Access Board's Accessibility Guidelines for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (under development as of 2026) and the federal NEVI Program both require accessible EV charging stalls. Oregon-specific implementation through ODOT NEVI deployment requires:
- At least one accessible EV charging stall in any new public-facing charging deployment
- ADA-compliant access aisles and approach to the charging equipment
- R10-6a EV sign plus R7-8 ADA reserved-parking sign at the accessible EV stall
- Combined legend or two adjacent signs satisfying both the EV designation and the ADA requirement
The accessible EV stall is a layered designation that needs both R10-6 and R7-8 signage, not a substitute. We post both at every accessible EV stall on Cojo installs.
Industry Baseline Range
| Component | Cost per sign / per stall |
|---|---|
| 12 x 18 R10-6a EV charging sign HIP Type III | $38 to $58 |
| 18 x 24 R10-6b time-restricted EV sign | $58 to $96 |
| Supplementary tow-warning sign | $34 to $52 |
| Wayfinding sign for 4+ stall EV bank | $74 to $128 |
| Sign post and footing (installed) | $244 to $410 |
| Full per-stall EV signage (R10-6a + tow + post) | $336 to $548 |
Current Market Reality
R10-6 sign supply has lagged demand at multiple Oregon distributors since the 11th Edition adoption in 2024 -- lead times of 14 to 28 days are common at the small-format size, longer at multilane sizes. Reflective sheeting prices climbed 4 to 6 percent annually. The federal NEVI Program funding has driven a meaningful uptick in commercial-property EV charging deployment which has flowed through to signage demand. Bundling EV signage with charging-equipment install schedules typically resolves the lead-time issue.
Real install reference -- Hillsboro office park EV deployment
In March 2026, our crew installed EV charging signage on a 12,000 square foot Hillsboro office park as part of a 6-stall ChargePoint Level 2 EV deployment funded under the federal NEVI Program.
Spec delivered:
- 6 R10-6a "EV CHARGING ONLY" signs at 12 x 18 HIP Type III, one per stall
- 6 supplementary "VIOLATORS TOWED PER ORS 98.812" signs at each stall
- 1 R7-8 ADA accessible parking sign + R10-6a combined at the single accessible EV stall
- 1 wayfinding sign at the EV bank entry reading "EV CHARGING -- 6 STALLS"
- Green stall outlines and "EV ONLY" pavement stencils at all 6 stalls
- 7.5 foot post-mount on hot-dip galvanized 2.375 inch round posts
Total: $3,440 installed across the 6-stall bank. Non-EV stall blocking has been minimal since deployment -- roughly 1 to 2 events per month, typically resolved without towing through tenant communication.
Common EV charging signage mistakes
- Using a custom EV symbol instead of the 11th Edition standard pump-and-plug. Federal compliance and driver recognition both suffer.
- White-on-blue color scheme (older convention) instead of white-on-green per the 11th Edition.
- Single combined sign trying to satisfy R10-6, R7-8 ADA, and tow-warning -- legend gets too dense to read.
- Mount height under 7 feet on a post adjacent to the EV stall. Parked EVs block the sign.
- Skipping the supplementary tow-warning sign. Non-EV vehicles park without enforcement risk.
- Faded engineer-grade Type I sheeting on outdoor EV signs after 5 to 7 years.
For broader category context, see our parking sign buyer's guide hub, the MUTCD parking sign code cheatsheet for the full R-series reference, and the parking sign installation in Hillsboro city page for the Westside Tualatin Valley tech corridor where EV deployment is concentrated.
EV charging station sign FAQ
What is the MUTCD code for an EV charging sign? R10-6a "EV CHARGING ONLY" is the primary code, with R10-6b for time-restricted variants. The 11th Edition of the MUTCD (effective January 2024) formalized the green-field-with-white-legend layout and the standardized pump-and-plug symbol. Prior ad-hoc EV symbols are no longer the recommended baseline.
Can a non-EV vehicle parked in an EV charging stall be towed in Oregon? Yes on private property when the stall is properly signed with R10-6a plus a tow-warning supplement referencing ORS 98.812 and the tow contractor's name and phone. Public right-of-way EV stalls are governed by local jurisdiction enforcement rules. As of 2026, Oregon does not have a state-level fine specifically for non-EV vehicles in EV stalls similar to ADA-stall fines.
What size does an EV charging sign need to be? 12 by 18 inches at conventional zones (most private parking), 18 by 24 inches at multilane locations. Time-restricted variants ("EV CHARGING -- 8 AM to 8 PM") often need 18 by 24 to maintain legibility on the secondary line. Letter height is 1 inch per 30 feet of viewing distance per MUTCD §2A.13.
Do I need to combine the R10-6 EV sign with an ADA R7-8 sign at accessible EV stalls? Yes if the stall is designated accessible. The accessible EV stall needs both EV designation (R10-6a) and ADA reserved parking (R7-8), either as a combined legend or as two adjacent signs. The federal NEVI Program and Access Board EV charging guidelines both require accessible charging in new public-facing deployments.
Do I need a permit to install EV charging signs in Oregon? Most Oregon municipalities do not require a permit for parking-related signs on private commercial property. Portland Title 32 and Salem Chapter 79 cover sign permitting but exempt regulatory parking signs from most permit triggers. Coordinate with the EV charging-equipment installer to align sign placement with the charging-equipment locations.