# Sign Regulations in Auburn, Maine

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Auburn, Maine, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Auburn, Maine (ME)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maine/auburn
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/ME/Auburn/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH42SIAD)

## At a glance

Auburn, Maine regulates 24 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Standing (Freestanding) Signs in the General Business, General Business II, T5, T6, Industrial Zoning District zoning district are capped at 25 ft above grade tall and Aggregate projecting + standing as above, with a 12 ft from side lot lines unless permission granted by abutter setback (Sec. Sec. 60-638(c)(3)b,c,d). Most commercial signs in Auburn require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 16 | 4 ft | Changeable portion max 50% of total allowed sign area | — |
| Residence districts | 1 | — | 40 sq ft | — |
| Agriculture and Resource Protection District, Low Density Country Residential District, Rural Residence District, Suburban Residence District | 1 | — | 16 sq ft | — |
| General Business, General Business II, T5, T6, Industrial Zoning District | 7 | 25 ft above grade | 50% of window glass | — |
| Neighborhood Business (NB) Districts | 3 | 25 ft above grade | 15% of wall area | — |
| Business districts, Industrial districts | 3 | 25 ft above grade | 15% of wall area | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Street Number/Occupant Name Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | Sec. 60-638(a)(1) |
| Home Occupation/Boardinghouse/Lodginghouse/Tourist Home Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | Sec. 60-638(a)(2) |
| Institution Sign (public or semipublic buildings, funeral homes, charitable or religious institutions) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | Sec. 60-638(a)(3) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | Sec. 60-638(a)(4) |
| Construction Project Sign (Contractor/Architect/Engineer) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per contractor/architect/engineer | On premises | — | Sec. 60-638(a)(5) |
| Professional Name Plate Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | Sec. 60-638(a)(7) |
| Portable/Sandwich Board/Easel Sign (First Frontage) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 | Immediately in front of the building | — | Sec. 60-638(a)(10) |
| Portable/Sandwich Board/Easel Sign (Second Street Frontage) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 | Immediately in front of the building on second frontage | — | Sec. 60-638(a)(10)e |

### General Business, General Business II, T5, T6, Industrial Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign, Roof Sign | — | 15% of wall area | — | — | Not specified; limited by wall area aggregate | On or over wall/roof of buildings | — | Sec. 60-638(c)(2), 60-637(7) |
| Projecting Sign | — | Aggregate projecting + standing not to exceed 4 sq ft per foot of street to max 250 sq ft, or 1 sq ft per foot frontage whichever larger | — | — | 1 per street frontage (max 2) | On building, projecting (max 4' from wall) | — | Sec. 60-638(c)(3), 60-637(7) |
| Standing (Freestanding) Sign | 25 ft above grade | Aggregate projecting + standing as above | — | 12 ft from side lot lines unless permission granted by abutter | 1 per street frontage (max 2) | Within required front yard, not nearer than 12 ft from either side lot line (unless abutter permission) | — | Sec. 60-638(c)(3)b,c,d |
| Directory Sign | — | Up to 1 sq ft per establishment | — | — | 1 per entrance | Affixed to exterior wall at public entrance | — | Sec. 60-638(c)(4) |
| Window Sign (Interior) | — | 50% of window glass | — | — | — | On inside of window glass | — | Sec. 60-638(c)(5) |
| Standing Sign (Development Entrance) | — | Aggregate allowed area for premises in development | — | — | 1 per entrance | At public entrance to subdivision or planned unit development | — | Sec. 60-638(c)(7) |
| Changeable Message Sign | — | Changeable message portion max 50% of the maximum allowed sign area | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 60-637(2) |

### Neighborhood Business (NB) Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign, Roof Sign | — | 15% of wall area | — | — | Not specified; limited by wall area aggregate | On or over wall/roof of buildings | — | Sec. 60-638(c)(2), 60-637(7) |
| Projecting Sign | — | Aggregate projecting + standing sign area is HALF that permitted in business/industrial (i.e., 2 sq ft per foot of street, 125 sq ft max, or 0.5 sq ft per foot frontage whichever larger) | — | — | 1 per street frontage (max 2) | On building, projecting | — | Sec. 60-638(c)(3)a |
| Standing (Freestanding) Sign | 25 ft above grade | Aggregate with projecting as above | — | 12 ft from side lot lines unless permission granted by abutter | 1 per street frontage (max 2) | Within required front yard, not nearer than 12 ft from either side lot line unless abutter permission | — | Sec. 60-638(c)(3) a-d |

## Prohibited signs in Auburn

- No sign shall be erected until a sign permit has first been issued by the municipal officer charged with enforcement, unless otherwise provided.
- No sign shall contain any moving, flashing or animated lights, or visible moving or movable parts, except indicators of time and/or temperature or permitted changeable message signs as specified.
- A flashing sign or message with graphic, pictorial, animated, or photographic images is prohibited.
- Illuminated signs may only use a white, steady, stationary light or interior nonexposed lights, and must not cast light off the premises.
- An illuminated sign or lighting device shall not be placed or directed so that it constitutes a traffic hazard or nuisance through glare or reflection.
- No illuminated sign shall contain red, green or amber colors or lights if it would, in the opinion of the chief of police, constitute a driving hazard.
- No sign shall project beyond the property line of the lot on which it is placed.
- No sign may be located so as to obstruct a traffic control device or obscure the view of approaching or merging traffic.
- Wall, projecting and roof signs must be firmly affixed to the building and must not exceed specific projection limits (wall: 12 inches, projecting: 4 feet, roof: 4 feet above roofline).
- No sign advertising products, businesses, or activities no longer sold or carried on shall remain on the premises for more than six months after cessation.
- Temporary movable signs are not permitted except as specifically allowed.
- Nonconforming signs must not be enlarged, reworded, redesigned or altered in any way except to conform, with limited exceptions. Deteriorated signs exceeding 35 percent of replacement cost must not be repaired except to conform.
- Any exemption for a nonconforming sign terminates if it is abandoned for at least 12 consecutive months, advertises something no longer sold/carried on, or is not repaired or maintained within 30 days after notice.

## Signs exempt from permit in Auburn

- One sign not exceeding one square foot used to display the street number and/or name of the occupants of the premises.
- One nonilluminated sign not exceeding two square feet used to describe a home occupation, boardinghouse or lodginghouse, or tourist home located on the premises.
- One sign not exceeding 24 square feet on the premises of public or semipublic buildings, funeral homes and charitable or religious institutions. This sign may incorporate a bulletin board.
- One real estate sign not exceeding eight square feet relating to the sale, rental, or lease of the premises, to be removed within one week of transaction.
- One sign each for a building contractor, architect or engineer (not exceeding 16 square feet) relating to construction projects, to be removed within one week after the issuance of the certificate of occupancy.
- Building name and date sign and/or memorial tablet, not exceeding ten square feet, when cut into masonry, formed of bronze or similar noncombustible material.
- One professional name plate sign not exceeding eight square feet.
- Two signs, not exceeding 16 square feet each, describing farm products for sale on the premises, or one double-faced sign up to 16 square feet per side.
- Political signs, not exceeding 16 square feet (single-faced) or eight square feet per side (double-faced), erected no more than 30 days prior to election and removed within seven days after.
- One portable or sandwich board or easel sign per property, not to exceed four feet in height and six square feet per side, subject to other specified conditions; a second sign permitted on lots with frontage on a second street. These signs do not require a permit.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger signs, directional signs, noncommercial and temporary signs or street banners related to public or charitable purposes, as approved by the city clerk.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For developments subject to site plan review, the planning board may review and relax the number and location of signs. Modifications to sign requirements may be allowed as deemed necessary by the planning board to meet the objectives and intent of site plan review.
- For multitenant or condominium developments, the owner or property manager is responsible for allocating sign space upon the premises.
- Signs permitted pursuant to site plan review are referenced in both residential and business/industrial subsections.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 6 zoning districts in Auburn — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Auburn+ME&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-auburn

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