diff --git a/src/c3nav/mapdata/migrations/0117_alter_dataoverlay_fill_color_and_more.py b/src/c3nav/mapdata/migrations/0117_alter_dataoverlay_fill_color_and_more.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..91bc6a36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/c3nav/mapdata/migrations/0117_alter_dataoverlay_fill_color_and_more.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# Generated by Django 5.1.3 on 2024-12-16 10:23
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+def change_empty_to_null(apps, schema_editor):
+    DataOverlay = apps.get_model('mapdata', 'DataOverlay')
+    DataOverlay.objects.filter(fill_color='').update(fill_color=None)
+    DataOverlay.objects.filter(stroke_color='').update(stroke_color=None)
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('mapdata', '0116_waytype_avoid_by_default_alter_waytype_description'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='dataoverlay',
+            name='fill_color',
+            field=models.CharField(blank=True, max_length=255, null=True, verbose_name='default fill color'),
+        ),
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='dataoverlay',
+            name='stroke_color',
+            field=models.CharField(blank=True, max_length=255, null=True, verbose_name='default stroke color'),
+        ),
+        migrations.RunPython(change_empty_to_null, migrations.RunPython.noop),
+    ]
diff --git a/src/c3nav/mapdata/models/overlay.py b/src/c3nav/mapdata/models/overlay.py
index 864daafd..8c465e79 100644
--- a/src/c3nav/mapdata/models/overlay.py
+++ b/src/c3nav/mapdata/models/overlay.py
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ from c3nav.mapdata.utils.json import format_geojson
 
 class DataOverlay(TitledMixin, AccessRestrictionMixin, models.Model):
     description = models.TextField(blank=True, verbose_name=_('Description'))
-    stroke_color = models.TextField(blank=True, null=True, verbose_name=_('default stroke color'))
+    stroke_color = models.CharField(max_length=255, blank=True, null=True, verbose_name=_('default stroke color'))
     stroke_width = models.FloatField(blank=True, null=True, verbose_name=_('default stroke width'))
-    fill_color = models.TextField(blank=True, null=True, verbose_name=_('default fill color'))
+    fill_color = models.CharField(max_length=255, blank=True, null=True, verbose_name=_('default fill color'))
     pull_url = models.URLField(blank=True, null=True, verbose_name=_('pull URL'))
     pull_headers: dict[str, str] = SchemaField(schema=dict[str, str], null=True,
                                                verbose_name=_('headers for pull http request (JSON object)'))
diff --git a/src/c3nav/mapdata/schemas/models.py b/src/c3nav/mapdata/schemas/models.py
index 8108b52b..295f59df 100644
--- a/src/c3nav/mapdata/schemas/models.py
+++ b/src/c3nav/mapdata/schemas/models.py
@@ -365,7 +365,10 @@ class DataOverlaySchema(TitledSchema, DjangoModelSchema):
     """
     Represents a collection of geometries to be displayed as an optional overlay to the map.
     """
-    pass
+    description: Optional[str]
+    stroke_color: Optional[str]
+    stroke_width: Optional[float]
+    fill_color: Optional[str]
 
 
 
@@ -384,7 +387,6 @@ class DataOverlayFeatureSchema(TitledSchema, WithGeometrySchema, DjangoModelSche
     point_icon: Optional[str]
     external_url: Optional[str]
     extra_data: Optional[dict[str, str]]
-    # TODO
 
 
 class SourceSchema(WithAccessRestrictionSchema, DjangoModelSchema):