Ad policy
What can and cannot run on a city truck
Roadway Ad Network is opening city by city to sell private advertising space on city refuse trucks. A city's written policy always comes first. These are our defaults.
What we accept
Commercial advertising for lawful local businesses and organizations.
- Home services
- Legal services
- Healthcare
- Auto
- Real estate
- Restaurants
- Retail
- Education
- Nonprofits
- Public agencies
Not accepted by default
Excluded for every advertiser. A city may be stricter.
- Alcohol
- Tobacco and vaping
- Cannabis
- Adult content
- Firearms
- Gambling
- Political, candidate or ballot-measure ads
- Religious ads
- Advocacy or issue ads
- Payday lending and pawn
- Profanity
How ads are accepted
The city's policy comes first
A city's written policy always comes first. These are our defaults, and a city may use a stricter list.
The same way for every ad
Roadway runs the process and applies the policy to every ad the same way. We do not accept or reject ads because we like or dislike the message.
Approval is not endorsement
Approval means your ad meets the written policy. It does not mean the city or Roadway endorses your business or what you sell.
Who is behind this
Roadway Displays is a private company. Ads on city trucks will be paid advertising from private businesses.
What every ad must show
- Contractors
- Your California license number (Business and Professions Code 7030.5). Contractors without a valid license cannot advertise.
- Attorneys
- The name of the responsible attorney or law firm and a real office address. No guarantees of results (SB 37, effective January 1 2026). California law (Business and Professions Code 6157.2) requires the name of at least one lawyer licensed in California or the responsible law firm, and the city, town or county of at least one bona fide office or the address of record with the State Bar.
- Insurance agents
- Your license number.
- Healthcare
- No Medicare Advantage plan marketing.
- Every ad
- A business a customer can identify and reach. No false or misleading claims.
Illustration
Illustration. Not a booked placement. Panel sizes are set by each city.
Your compliance. You are responsible for your own legal compliance. We check for these items. We do not give legal advice.
How review works
- 1
You upload your artwork
Send art that fits the panel specs.
- 2
Roadway checks it
We check the file and the category.
- 3
The city's policy
In each city, every ad will be checked against that city's written ad policy before it runs.
- 4
A logged decision
We log the decision with a reason. If your ad is not approved, you get a written reason from a fixed list and can resubmit a corrected version.
Ad policy questions
What can't be advertised on a city garbage truck?
By default: alcohol, tobacco and vaping, cannabis, adult content, firearms, gambling, political, candidate or ballot-measure ads, religious ads, advocacy or issue ads, payday lending and pawn, and profanity. These are excluded for every advertiser so that no one is treated differently. A city may use a stricter list.
What kinds of businesses can advertise?
Commercial advertising for lawful local businesses and organizations: home services, legal services, healthcare, auto, real estate, restaurants, retail, education, nonprofits and public agencies. See who it's for.
Can a cannabis dispensary, bar or brewery advertise on city trucks?
Not by default. Cannabis and alcohol are on the default excluded list for every advertiser, and a city may use a stricter list.
Are political ads allowed on city garbage trucks?
No. Political, candidate and ballot-measure ads, religious ads, and advocacy or issue ads are excluded by default for every advertiser.
Do contractors need a license number on a truck ad?
Yes. Contractors show their California license number (Business and Professions Code 7030.5). Contractors without a valid license cannot advertise.
What does an attorney ad have to include?
The name of the responsible attorney or law firm and a real office address, with no guarantees of results (SB 37, effective January 1 2026).
Who reviews my ad?
Roadway checks the file and the category, and in each city every ad will be checked against that city's written ad policy before it runs. We log the decision with a reason.
What happens if my ad is not approved?
You get a written reason from a fixed list and can resubmit a corrected version.
Does approval mean the city endorses my business?
No. Approval means your ad meets the written policy. It does not mean the city or Roadway endorses your business or what you sell. Roadway Displays is a private company, and ads on city trucks will be paid advertising from private businesses.
Who is responsible for my ad's legal compliance?
You are. We check for the required items, but we do not give legal advice.
Last updated October 3, 2026. Version 2026-10-03.
Not sure your ad fits?
Type your headline into the mockup tool. It flags categories city trucks don't carry by default. Or tell us about your ad with the form.
Think an ad breaks these rules? Email ads@roadwaydisplays.com.