Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster in Dallas, Texas (2026)
Federal inspectors can assess civil penalties of up to $30,168 per violation if your Dallas restaurant lacks the mandatory Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) poster from the U.S. Department of Labor (also known as the ‘Know Your Rights’ workplace poster). This is a federal requirement enforced by the Wage and Hour Division. Key facts:
- 12 data fields — ApronPrep auto-fills 10
- $0–$0 government filing fees (poster is free)
- Varies processing time — must be displayed immediately
Analyzed from Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster
83% from one compliance interview
Manual entry or document upload required
Why You Need a Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster
The Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) poster is a federal workplace posting mandate, not a local ordinance. It is required by the U.S. Department of Labor under the EPPA of 1988 (29 U.S.C. §§ 2001-2009). In Dallas, Texas, this is enforced by the federal Wage and Hour Division alongside the state-mandated Texas Payday Law poster. The EPPA poster is one of approximately 8-12 required federal and state workplace notices for most Texas employers, covering laws like the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and others. These posters must be physically displayed in a conspicuous place where all employees can readily see them, such as a break room or near time clocks.
Failing to display the correct, up-to-date EPPA poster can trigger a Department of Labor investigation during a routine inspection or in response to an employee complaint. Penalties for poster violations, while not always the primary fine, create legal exposure and can compound other violations discovered. Consequences include:
- Civil money penalties: While specific EPPA poster fines are less common, inspectors can issue fines for other related violations, such as up to $2,374 per violation for child labor or $1,000+ for willful FLSA violations.
- Cease-and-desist / operational risk: A finding of non-compliance can expand into a full audit of wage practices, leading to orders for back wages and liquidated damages (which can double the owed amount).
- Lease and insurance implications: Commercial leases often require tenants to comply with all laws. Evidence of labor law violations can complicate lease renewals and may affect general liability or workers' compensation insurance underwriting.
Legal code: Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Davis-Bacon Act, Service Contract Act
Recent update: The Department of Labor issued updated versions of several required federal posters, including the EPPA notice, in 2026, reflecting current contact information and regulatory references.
Who Needs a Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | All restaurants with one or more employees are covered employers under the federal EPPA and must display the poster per 29 C.F.R. § 801.6. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Bars and nightclubs with employees fall under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and are subject to EPPA posting requirements. |
| Food Truck | Required | Mobile food service operations with employees are covered by the EPPA and must display the poster in the vehicle or at a central posting location. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Any coffee shop or café with employees is an employer engaged in commerce under the FLSA and must comply with federal EPPA posting rules. |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (12 Fields)
10 of 12 auto-filledBusiness Has Employees
booleanSelect 'Yes' if your business has any employees, including part-time, full-time, or seasonal workers; select 'No' only if you are a sole proprietor or partnership with no hired staff.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'No' when you have any paid employees, which incorrectly triggers a compliance exception and can lead to penalties upon a DOL audit.
Number of Employees
numberEnter the total count of all individuals on your payroll, including part-time and full-time staff, but excluding owners or partners with no employment contract.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering an inaccurate count or excluding part-time workers, which can misrepresent your business size and affect regulatory reporting thresholds.
Primary Workplace Address
addressEnter the physical street address where your employees primarily report for work and where the poster must be displayed; use the official address on file with your state business registry.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a P.O. Box, a home address for a remote owner, or an incorrect suite number, which fails to specify the actual worksite for poster placement verification.
Has Multiple Work Locations
booleanSelect 'Yes' if you operate more than one physical site where employees work (e.g., a second kitchen, a food truck base, a catering office); select 'No' for a single establishment.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'No' when you have satellite locations, which can lead to non-compliance at undisclosed sites and potential fines per location.
Poster Display Location Description
textDescribe the exact spot where the poster is or will be posted, such as 'employee break room bulletin board,' 'kitchen notice area near time clock,' or 'main office hallway visible to all staff.'
COMMON MISTAKE: Vague descriptions like 'in the back' or 'somewhere visible,' which do not satisfy the DOL's requirement for a conspicuous place frequented by employees.
Currently Has EPPA Poster Displayed
booleanSelect 'Yes' if you already have any version of the Employee Polygraph Protection Act poster physically displayed at your worksite; select 'No' if you need to acquire and post it.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'Yes' when the poster is stored in an office drawer or not yet displayed, misrepresenting current compliance status.
Current Poster Is Official DOL Version
booleanSelect 'Yes' only if your displayed poster is the official 2026 version from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) website; outdated or third-party versions do not comply.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'Yes' for an old poster from prior years or a generic labor law poster set, which lacks current mandatory language and can result in non-compliance.
Poster Download Date
dateEnter the date you downloaded the official EPPA poster PDF from the DOL website, in MM/DD/YYYY format; this date should be on or after January 1, 2026, for the current version.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a date from a previous year or leaving it blank, which provides no proof of acquiring the updated 2026 poster required by federal law.
Poster Display Date
dateEnter the date you physically posted the EPPA poster at your worksite, in MM/DD/YYYY format; this should be the same as or after your download date.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a future date or a date before the download date, which creates an illogical timeline and raises red flags during compliance checks.
Confirms Understanding of Display Requirements
booleanSelect 'Yes' to affirm you understand the poster must be displayed in a conspicuous place frequented by employees and where employment notices are customarily posted.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'Yes' without verifying the location meets DOL standards, leading to unintentional non-compliance if the poster is placed in an inaccessible area.
ApronPrep auto-fills 10 of 12 fields from a single compliance interview — no re-typing, no guessing what the government expects.
Top 5 Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster Mistakes
1. Displaying an Outdated or Incorrect Poster Version
Using a poster from before 2002 that lacks the updated contact information for the Wage and Hour Division is a direct violation. Inspectors treat this as failure to post, which can result in a notice of violation and corrective action orders. Always download the current 'Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster (WH-1462)' directly from the U.S. Department of Labor's website to ensure compliance.
2. Posting in an Inaccessible or Non-Prominent Location
Placing the poster in a back office, break room, or any area not frequented by all employees defeats its purpose. The law requires it to be posted where employees and applicants can readily see it. Post it alongside other federal labor law notices, like the FLSA and OSHA posters, in a common area such as near the time clock or in the main hallway to avoid citations.
3. Failing to Provide the Notice in Required Languages
If a significant portion of your Dallas workforce is not proficient in English, posting only the English version may not satisfy the 'readily see and examine' requirement. This can lead to complaints and investigations. For Spanish-speaking staff, you must also display the Spanish version of the poster ('Ley de Protección del Polígrafo para los Empleados (WH-1462S)') in an equally prominent location.
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Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster by City in Texas
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas | ||
| Houston | ||
| San Antonio |
Timeline: 1-2 Business Days (Download & Post)
Download the Correct Federal Poster
Access the official "Employee Polygraph Protection Act" poster (Form WH-1462) from the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Wage and Hour Division website. This is a free, federal requirement. Ensure you are downloading the 2026 version, which includes any updated language. Downloading the poster from an unofficial source can lead to outdated or non-compliant versions.
Print the Poster in Required Format
Print the downloaded PDF file on letter-size paper (8.5" x 11"). The DOL requires the poster to be legible, so ensure your printer has sufficient ink/toner. You can print it in black and white or color. Have a standard printer and paper ready. Laminating the poster is recommended for durability but is not a legal requirement.
Post in a Conspicuous Location
Physically post the printed EPPA notice in a prominent place where employees and applicants can readily see it, such as a break room, near time clocks, or with other required labor law posters. For Texas businesses in Dallas, this must be alongside other mandatory federal and state posters (like the Texas Payday Law notice). The #1 mistake is forgetting to post it after downloading it, which is the actual compliance step.
Other Requirements You'll Need
This is one of 13 requirements for opening a restaurant in Texas.
ADA Compliance Self-Certification
federal
Alarm System Permit/Registration
local
Application for Employer Identification Number
federal
Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation (Corporation)
state
See all co-required forms and how they connect to your compliance dossier.
See All RequirementsTimelines vary significantly based on the source. Downloading an official poster from the U.S. Department of Labor website is immediate. If you order a printed copy from a commercial vendor, shipping typically takes 3–7 business days. There is no governmental 'processing' time, as the EPPA poster is a federal workplace notice required for immediate display.
There are no government filing fees for the poster itself, as official downloads are free from the U.S. Department of Labor. Your costs will come from printing the downloaded file or purchasing a laminated copy from a private vendor, which can range from $5 to $20. This requirement has no associated fee with the city of Dallas or the state of Texas. Not legal advice — verify poster requirements with the U.S. Department of Labor.
Yes, the physical poster itself is transferable to a new business location. The EPPA is a federal notice, not a location-specific permit. However, moving your business may trigger other local requirements, such as applying for a new City Business License/Registration or a Certificate of Occupancy, which have separate processes and fees. Contact the Dallas Planning Department to confirm all relocation requirements.
The EPPA poster itself does not have a formal renewal. You must replace it only if the federal law is amended and the Department of Labor issues an updated version. The most recent mandatory update was in 2023. It is a one-time compliance action, unlike permits such as an Alarm System Permit/Registration, which typically requires annual renewal. Monitor the Department of Labor's website for any future updates.
There is no dedicated 'inspection' for the EPPA poster. Compliance is typically verified during broader investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, which can occur in response to a complaint or during a routine audit. The inspector will check if the current, official poster is displayed in a conspicuous area accessible to all employees. Failure to display it can result in citations and penalties under the EPPA.
About This Data
This guide is generated from ApronPrep's compliance dossier system, which uses 53 parallel AI authority experts to discover requirements, then downloads actual forms and generates field-level intelligence for each one.
For Texas specifically, we have analyzed compliance dossiers for 3 cities (Dallas, Houston, San Antonio), generating Rich FILs (Form Intelligence Layers) with 12 form fields analyzed for this requirement. Fee data is sourced from actual county department fee schedules, not estimates.
Our data is verified against official government sources and updated when regulatory changes are detected. If you find an error, please report it — accuracy is our core commitment.
Sources
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Davis-Bacon Act, Service Contract Act
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