Rail Trail Operators Inc chairman Neville Grubb said draft signs had been made after consultation with the Department of Conservation and Otago Central Rail Trail Charitable Trust.
He wanted business owners interested in being listed on 120cm by 80cm signs to register with the group before August.
"We want to remind everyone that placement of a business name on signs is available.
"The uniform signs will be positioned in certain places along the trail and include business information as well as a map and references to location," he said.
A set number of signs at specific places have been allowed by Doc, and may be the only way in which rail trail-associated businesses can legally advertise on the trail.
Mr Grubb, of Clyde-based company Trail Journeys, said Doc and the operators group had this month come to an agreement about signs on the trail, resolving an earlier dispute.
Last year, Doc and business owners battled over illegal signs on the rail trail, which is Crown-owned land administered by the department.
Some business owners had erected signs for services available along the 150km trail, although Doc demanded they be removed.
The agreement between parties said there would be no other advertising on the trail and existing signs would be removed once uniform signs were installed.
Mr Grubb said many of the signs in dispute had already been taken down by owners.
He said uniform signs, designed to combat the previous ad-hoc approach, would be in place by the end of December when all others would be removed.
"We are looking at businesses registering their interest by the end of July, confirming and paying [$50-$75] for placement on signs by the end of August, and signs being manufactured and installed before the end of December.
"Those are our deadlines, although the signs could be up before then," he said.
Doc had agreed the operator group could use sides of existing kiosks along the trail to list businesses and services in the area alongside maps indicating their location.
Mr Grubb said about 10 kiosks were in place.
Businesses in more remote areas would be listed on separate uniform signs erected alongside the trail. These would also approved by Doc.
The operator group would own and pay for signs, as well as be responsible for their maintenance, validity of information, and physical condition. It planned to review signs annually.
