Austin bars and restaurants, this one’s for you. If your idea of compliance is a sticker on a kegerator and a prayer, 2026 will chew you up. TABC inspectors are still doing what they do best, and the required postings are not getting looser. The good news is you can ace this with a tight plan. Here’s a no-nonsense, Austin-tested cheat sheet with sizes, colors, bilingual rules, placements, and print specs that actually pass inspections the first time.
What Changed For 2026?
TABC updated several postings in recent years, then settled into a new normal that still applies in 2026. The complaint sign and human trafficking sign received updated versions in 2022, and the rules around handguns shifted after permitless carry. Bottom line for this year: if you run a 51 percent business, that red handgun sign is still a must at every entrance. Every on-premises location still needs the complaint sign and the pregnancy warning signs at restroom exits. Human trafficking signs remain required for certain liquor permit holders without a Food and Beverage Certificate. Templates and official language are available directly from TABC, so do not wing the wording or sizing. See TABC’s sign requirements page and industry notices for the latest downloads:
TABC Sign Requirements and
Industry Notice – New Required Signs.
Quick Must-Post List
If you just need the fast answer before your dinner rush:
- Display your TABC license or permit in a public, visible spot.
- Complaint sign near the entrance or point of sale – 8.5 x 3.5 inches – black ink – English.
- Pregnancy warning at each restroom exit – 8.5 x 11 inches – bilingual or black-only version allowed.
- Red 51 percent handgun sign at every entrance if you derive 51 percent or more of gross receipts from on-premises alcohol and you do not hold a Food and Beverage Certificate – “51%” in solid red at least 5 inches tall – other text at least 1 inch high – high contrast – block letters.
- Human trafficking sign for those same liquor permit holders without an FB certificate – 11 x 8.5 inches – bilingual – visible to the public and employees.
Optional but common: firearm notices for non-51 percent venues under Penal Code 30.05 or 30.06 and 30.07, and an Under 21 or Show ID sign by the door or bar.
Permit Or License Display
Your permit or license must live in a public, visible location. That means where customers and inspectors can see it without asking a bartender to move a tip jar. Wall mount by the main entrance or front counter works best. Do not frame it in tinted glass that turns the text into mystery ink. Keep it clean, current, and not blocked by merch or seasonal decor.
Complaint Sign Specs
This small sign triggers a lot of fails because owners print it the wrong size or bury it under a pile of QR codes. You need the TABC complaint sign posted where customers can easily see it, typically near your entrance or point of sale. Minimum size is 8.5 x 3.5 inches, printed in black ink in English. Use the latest TABC-provided layout so the hotline and web info are up to date. Keep it at eye level, not ankle level, and do not squeeze it onto a cluttered sticker museum. If customers cannot spot it in two seconds, an inspector will not be amused.
Pregnancy Warning At Restrooms
Post the health risks warning at each restroom exit. That means on or immediately next to the exit door so guests see it as they leave. The required size is 8.5 x 11 inches. TABC provides a bilingual English and Spanish version that uses red and black ink. A black-only version is allowed, but the content cannot change. If you go bilingual, the English and Spanish messages must match in content and hierarchy. Replace any faded copies. If the letters look washed out like a hangover, they will not pass.
Red 51 Percent Handgun Sign
If your business derives 51 percent or more of gross receipts from on-premises alcohol sales and you do not hold a Food and Beverage Certificate, you must post the red 51 percent handgun sign at every entrance. This is a hard requirement and a common inspection fail. Placement must be prominent and visible before entry, not after someone opens the door. Use a contrasting background and block letters with all text at least 1 inch high. The “51%” element must be printed in a solid red color at least 5 inches tall. Do not use pink, coral, or anything that looks like a Valentine’s card. Use real red with crisp edges. If your revenue mix flips and you become a 51 percent location, install the signs immediately. If you are not a 51 percent business, do not post the red sign, because that can trigger complaints and confusion.
Human Trafficking Sign
Certain liquor permit holders without a Food and Beverage Certificate must post the human trafficking sign. The required size is 11 x 8.5 inches, and it must be bilingual in English and Spanish. The updated version includes DPS contact details and modern hotline info. It must be visible to both the public and employees, so place one in a customer-facing area and another where staff will see it daily, such as the service corridor or break area. Use the latest TABC template and avoid artistic rewrites. This sign is not the place to flex your brand fonts.
Optional Firearm Notices For Non-51 Percent
If you are not a 51 percent business, TABC does not require a handgun notice. You can, however, restrict carry using Texas Penal Code signage if you choose. These are optional for TABC inspections, but they carry legal weight under state law and must follow exact specs to be enforceable:
Penal Code 30.05 – Unlicensed Carry Or No Firearms: Use this if you want to prohibit firearms on the property broadly. The sign must use the statutory text in English and Spanish, in contrasting colors, with block letters at least 1 inch tall, and be conspicuously posted at each entrance.
Penal Code 30.06 – No Concealed Carry: If you allow open carry but want to bar concealed carry by license holders, post the 30.06 notice with the exact statutory text in English and Spanish, letters at least 1 inch high, high contrast, at each entrance.
Penal Code 30.07 – No Open Carry: If you allow concealed carry but want to bar open carry, post the 30.07 notice with the same one inch letter and bilingual rules at each entrance.
If you want to ban both open and concealed carry by license holders, you need both 30.06 and 30.07. If you want to ban all firearms regardless of license, 30.05 does that. Do not mash them into one poster unless the language of each statute appears in full, at the right size, in both languages.
Minors And ID Messaging
A TABC Under 21 or Show ID notice is optional, but it reduces friction at the door and helps train staff. Place an age policy sign at the main entrance and near any service bar. Keep it clean, short, and unmistakable. Your team will thank you when the line hits 50 deep and the band kicks off.
Placement That Passes Inspections
Entrances: The red 51 percent sign must be at each entrance, visible before entry. That means at or immediately next to the door on the approach side. Do not tuck it behind tint or a poster wall. If you use double doors, post on the primary active leaf and consider duplication on the sidelight or adjacent wall panel for redundancy.
Restrooms: Pregnancy warnings at each restroom exit, on or right next to the exit door, at eye level. If your restrooms have multiple exits, post at every exit. Gender inclusive or single occupant restrooms still need the sign.
Point Of Sale and Door Areas: The complaint sign should live near your entrance or POS at customer eye level. Group it with your permit display only if both remain fully visible and readable. Avoid mounting behind host stands where bodies block it.
Public and Employee Visibility: Human trafficking signs must be visible to customers and employees. One near a guest-facing area, and one near a staff-only transition like the kitchen door, office door, or employee hallway solves it.
Height Targets: TABC does not specify a mounting height, but 54 to 66 inches to the centerline usually lands at eye level and avoids obstructions. Keep signs flat, square, and not bowed or taped over textured walls that create glare.
Print And Material Specs We Recommend
Color and Contrast: For anything with color requirements, treat them like brand standards. The “51%” must be a solid red. Do not print on red paper with pinkish toner. Use high-contrast backgrounds for legibility. If you are branding the rest of the sign, keep the required text area clean and compliant.
Text Style: Block letters read cleaner and are specifically called out for the 51 percent sign. Avoid thin fonts, scripts, or condensed faces that choke readability. Minimum letter heights apply to the 51 percent sign and Penal Code notices at 1 inch for text and 5 inches for the “51%.”
Durability: Bathrooms steam, patios bake, and entry doors take sunlight like a rotisserie. Use laminated heavy stock, rigid PVC, aluminum composite, or acrylic panels with UV-stable inks. For windows and doors, second-surface window decals with UV lamination work great and protect the print from fingernails and mops. Replace anything that fades, peels, or warps.
Finishing: If you are door mounting, predrill and use low-profile hardware. If you are glass mounting, use clean edges and alignment tape so everything sits square. If your surface is brick or textured stucco, pick rigid panels over decals for clean edges and lifelong adhesion.
Common Fails And How To Avoid Them
Wrong Size: Inspectors bring rulers. If your complaint sign is a cute 7 x 3 inch, it fails. If your 51 percent “51%” measures 4.5 inches tall, it fails. Print to spec the first time.
Bad Placement: The 51 percent sign belongs where patrons see it before entering, not five feet inside the vestibule, and not behind a beer neon. Pregnancy warnings go on the way out of the restroom, not on the mirror next to a lipstick ad.
Outdated Templates: The complaint and human trafficking signs were updated. Use the newest TABC downloads. Old content can be grounds for a correction notice.
Weak Contrast: Red on brick, gray text on smoked glass, or anything behind a tinted panel will tank readability. Go high contrast or add a white backing plate.
Wrong Audience: If you are not a 51 percent business, do not post the red 51 percent sign. That is a false alarm for guests and looks sloppy to regulators.
Missing Second Copy: Human trafficking signs must be visible to the public and to employees. Solve this with two placements so you do not argue visibility in the middle of a Friday rush.
One-Page Specs Table
| Sign | Who Must Post | Minimum Size | Colors | Language | Placement | Key Specs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit Or License | All on-premises sellers | Visible copy | N/A | N/A | Public, visible location | Keep current, not obstructed |
| Complaint Sign | All on-premises sellers | 8.5 x 3.5 in | Black ink | English | Prominent at entrance or POS | Use TABC 2022 update |
| Pregnancy Warning | All on-premises sellers | 8.5 x 11 in | Red and black, or black-only allowed | English and Spanish option | At each restroom exit | Bilingual layout must match content |
| Red 51 Percent Handgun | 51 percent businesses without FB certificate | Text 1 in high – “51%” at least 5 in high | “51%” in solid red – high contrast background | English main text | Prominently at each entrance, visible before entry | Block letters – do not under-size |
| Human Trafficking | Specified liquor permit holders without FB certificate | 11 x 8.5 in | High contrast per TABC template | English and Spanish | Visible to public and employees | Use updated DPS contact version |
| Under 21 or Show ID | Optional | Readable at 5 ft | High contrast | English or bilingual | Entrance and service bar | Helpful for staff training |
| PC 30.05 No Firearms | Optional for non-51 percent venues | Letters at least 1 in high | Contrasting colors | English and Spanish | At each entrance | Statutory text required |
| PC 30.06 No Concealed | Optional for non-51 percent venues | Letters at least 1 in high | Contrasting colors | English and Spanish | At each entrance | Full statutory text |
| PC 30.07 No Open Carry | Optional for non-51 percent venues | Letters at least 1 in high | Contrasting colors | English and Spanish | At each entrance | Full statutory text |
Bilingual Rules That Actually Matter
When TABC provides a bilingual option, the English and Spanish content must match in meaning and hierarchy. Do not shrink the Spanish paragraph to 6 point to save space or flip the order, and do not abbreviate. For human trafficking signs, both languages are mandatory. For pregnancy warnings, bilingual and black-only options are both allowed. For Penal Code firearm notices, both languages are mandatory if you want the signs to be enforceable. Consistent font weights and equal treatment of both languages help you avoid arguments at the door.
Proofing And Version Control
Before you print, compare your design to the latest TABC downloads. Check that phone numbers, URLs, and penalty language match exactly. Keep a digital master and a reprint schedule. In busy bathrooms, plan to reprint pregnancy warnings every 6 to 12 months. On sun-blasted glass, use UV-laminated window films and calendar a check every quarter. Nothing ruins a Saturday like an inspector flagging a peeling sign while your patio is slammed.
How To Check If You Are 51 Percent
Use the TABC Public Inquiry System to verify your business classification and whether you hold a Food and Beverage Certificate. If your gross receipts from on-premises alcohol cross the 51 percent threshold, the red handgun sign is required. If you hold an FB certificate, that is a strong indicator you are not a 51 percent business, but always confirm. Posting the wrong handgun sign invites complaints from guests and regulators alike.
Where To Get The Official Templates
TABC hosts current complaint, pregnancy warning, and human trafficking sign templates. Start here:
TABC Sign Requirements and the 2022 notice here:
Industry Notice – New Required Signs. For the red 51 percent handgun sign, follow the typography rules listed above and mirror the standard wording used statewide. For Penal Code 30.05, 30.06, and 30.07 notices, use the exact statutory text as published in the Texas Penal Code in English and Spanish with 1 inch letters.
Austin Setup Tips We Use In The Field
Glass Entrances: If you are posting on glass, second-surface decals mounted inside facing out last longer, resist vandalism, and still meet the before-entry visibility rule. Add a white flood layer so the red and black text reads against busy sidewalks.
Historic Brick And Textured Walls: Pick rigid panels with stand-off mounts. Foam tape on brick never ends well, especially in summer.
Shared Entrances: If you share an entry with another business, post your required signs on your leased frontage line or on your inside vestibule wall so guests see them before crossing into your space.
Music Venues: Touring posters love to cover required signage. Put your TABC set on a dedicated backer panel and tell promoters that panel is off-limits.
FAQ
Do restaurants with a Food and Beverage Certificate need the red 51 percent sign?
Typically no, because they are not 51 percent businesses. The red sign is for businesses deriving 51 percent or more of gross receipts from on-premises alcohol and that do not hold an FB certificate. Always verify your classification.
Can I print the pregnancy warning in English only?
TABC provides bilingual and black-only options. The bilingual option is common, and if you choose it the English and Spanish must match in content and hierarchy. If you choose the black-only version, follow the official TABC file.
Is the complaint sign required to be black ink only?
Yes. The complaint sign spec calls for 8.5 x 3.5 inches in black ink and English. Use the updated 2022 version.
Do I need human trafficking signs if I serve alcohol but have an FB certificate?
Many human trafficking posting requirements target specific liquor permit holders without an FB certificate. Check your permit type and TABC guidance to confirm whether your location is in scope.
Can I combine the 30.06 and 30.07 notices on one panel?
Yes, but each statute’s full text must appear in English and Spanish with 1 inch block letters and strong contrast, and the panel must be posted conspicuously at each entrance. Do not shrink the text to make it fit.
How many entrances need the red 51 percent sign?
Every entrance used by the public. If there are three public entrances, you need three signs, each visible before someone steps inside.
Can I brand these with my fonts and colors?
Keep required text areas compliant first. You can add your logo or a brand border, but do not change the required sizes, colors for required elements, text, or contrast. The “51%” must be solid red at least 5 inches tall, period.
Order TABC-Compliant Sign Kits
If you want this handled without a scavenger hunt, we fabricate complete TABC kits for Austin venues. You tell us your permit type and whether you are 51 percent, we size, print, laminate, and prepack everything with labeled placement notes. Options include rigid panels for brick, second-surface window decals for glass, and vandal-resistant hardware. We also carry Penal Code 30.05, 30.06, and 30.07 bilingual sets with the correct 1 inch letter height. Installation available across the Austin area, including late morning windows between prep and service. Call, click, or swing by the shop and we will set you up so the only thing your inspector can write down is “passed.”
Compliance resources: TABC Sign Requirements and TABC Industry Notice – New Required Signs. If you need custom layouts that still meet specs, ask us for production-ready proofs.