# Sign Regulations in Augusta, Maine

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Augusta, Maine (ME)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maine/augusta
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/30486636#30486636)

## At a glance

Augusta, Maine regulates 13 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Ground Graphics in the CB, CC, CD, GS, IA, KBD2, MED, PD zoning district are capped at 25 ft (CB, CC, CD, IA, KBD2, MED, PD); 15 ft (GS) tall and 120 sq ft (CB, CC, KBD2, MED); 200 sq ft (CD, PD, IA); 50 sq ft (GS), with a 10 ft (side/rear) setback (Sec. § 300-516D(1)(a), D(2)-(8), E, H(5)-(6), H(7)-(9), I, O). Most commercial signs in Augusta require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CB, CC, CD, GS, IA, KBD2, MED, PD | 6 | 35 ft above grade for roof graphics | 500 sq ft max. (and subject to formula above) | — |
| BP, RBV, RC, RD, WP, RV | 5 | 35 ft for roof graphic | 500 sq ft max | — |
| PD2, RA, RB1, RB2, RPDS, RR, RR2, RRES | 5 | 35 ft above grade for roof graphics | 500 sq ft max | — |
| KBD1, KL | 4 | 35 ft above grade (roof graphics) | 50 sq ft (KBD1, KL) | — |
| All shoreland overlay zoning districts | 2 | 35 ft above grade (roof graphics) | Shall have same number as underlying base zoning district. Size: 12 sq ft (All shoreland except GD); For GD see underlying base zoning district. | — |
| Residential Zones, Business Professional | 2 | — | 6 sq ft (Residential and Shoreland, other than GD); 20 sq ft (KBD1, KBD2, BP, WP); 32 sq ft (CB, CC, CD, MED, PD, PD2, IA, RR, RRES, RPDS, RV, RR2) | — |
| KBD1, KBD2, RD | 1 | 40 in | 24 in wide x 30–40 in tall | — |
| All base zoning districts | 1 | 35 ft above grade (roof graphics) | 500 sq ft (max 30% of facade if signable area exceeds 50% facade) | — |
| All zoning districts | 2 | 18 ft or roofline, whichever is less | 50 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 24x18 in (individual); 48x96 in (multiple contractors on project board) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### CB, CC, CD, GS, IA, KBD2, MED, PD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Graphic | 25 ft (CB, CC, CD, IA, KBD2, MED, PD); 15 ft (GS) | 120 sq ft (CB, CC, KBD2, MED); 200 sq ft (CD, PD, IA); 50 sq ft (GS) | — | 10 ft (side/rear) | One per street or highway frontage | One on each street or highway on which the premises has frontage | — | § 300-516D(1)(a), D(2)-(8), E, H(5)-(6), H(7)-(9), I, O |
| Wall or Roof Graphic | 35 ft above grade for roof graphics | 500 sq ft max. (and subject to formula above) | — | — | Aggregate area as permitted; may be divided among 2+ signs | On walls/roofs adjacent to each street, parking (15+ spaces), or highway frontage | — | § 300-516E(1)-(5), J, I |
| Projecting Graphic | Cannot project above roofline or 18 ft above grade (whichever is lower); must not extend above 3rd story windowsill | 50 sq ft | — | — | One per street/highway frontage (if no ground graphic displayed) | One per street/highway frontage if no ground graphic displayed | — | § 300-516F |
| Awning or Marquee Graphic | — | — | — | — | One per street or highway frontage | One per street or highway frontage | — | § 300-516G |
| Manual Changeable Copy Ground Graphic | — | — | — | — | Same as ground graphics | Same as ground graphics | — | § 300-516H(5) |
| Electronic Message Center Ground Graphic | — | — | — | — | Same as ground graphics | Same as ground graphics | — | § 300-516H(6) |

### BP, RBV, RC, RD, WP, RV

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Graphic | 15 ft | 15 sq ft (BP, RC, RD, WP, RV); 50 sq ft (RBV) | — | 10 ft (side/rear) | One per premises per street/highway | Only one on one street or highway on which the premises has frontage | — | § 300-516D(1)(b), D(2)-(8) |
| Wall or Roof Graphic | 35 ft for roof graphic | 500 sq ft max | — | — | Per signable area allocation | On walls/roofs adjacent to street, parking (15+), or highway frontage | — | § 300-516E |
| Projecting Graphic | 18 ft or roofline (whichever is less); no higher than 3rd story windowsill | 50 sq ft | — | — | One per qualifying frontage | One per street/highway frontage if no ground graphic | — | § 300-516F |
| Awning or Marquee Graphic | — | — | — | — | One per street or highway frontage | One per street or highway frontage | — | § 300-516G |
| Manual Changeable Copy Ground Graphic | — | — | — | — | As allowed for ground graphics | Same as ground graphic | — | § 300-516H(5) |

### PD2, RA, RB1, RB2, RPDS, RR, RR2, RRES

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Graphic | 15 ft | 15 sq ft (BP, RA, RB1, RB2, RPDS, RR, RR2, RRES, PD2) | — | 10 ft (side/rear) | One maximum, if no other signs | Only one, and only if no other street graphics are on the premises | — | § 300-516D(1)(c), D(2)-(8), I |
| Wall or Roof Graphic | 35 ft above grade for roof graphics | 500 sq ft max | — | — | Subject to signable area and aggregate item-of-info limit | On walls/roofs adjacent to each street, parking area (15+ spaces), or highway frontage | — | § 300-516E, I |
| Projecting Graphic | 18 ft or roofline maximum; not above 3rd-story windowsill | 50 sq ft | — | — | One per qualifying frontage (if no ground graphics) | One per street/highway frontage if no ground graphic is used | — | § 300-516F, I |
| Awning or Marquee Graphic | — | — | — | — | One per street or highway frontage | One per street or highway frontage | — | § 300-516G, I |
| Manual Changeable Copy Ground Graphic | — | — | — | — | Same as ground graphics | Same as ground graphics | — | § 300-516H(5), I |

## Prohibited signs in Augusta

- No person shall place bills or other advertising matter on any post, pole or tree within any street in the City.
- No person shall place political signs or political advertising matter on or over any park, school lot, traffic circle or other public property within the compact or built-up section of the City.
- No person shall place, deposit or throw any advertisement, handbill or other written material upon any unoccupied motor vehicle in any parking area used in connection with the Augusta Civic Center and owned or leased by the City, or upon the grounds within such parking area, or within any public way within the City.
- Graphics which, by color, location, or design, resemble or conflict with traffic control signs or signals are prohibited.
- Above-roof graphics are prohibited.
- Any street graphic not permitted by this chapter is prohibited.
- A street graphic may not be animated or give the illusion of animation and may not have exposed bare-bulb or flashing illumination.
- Projecting graphics may not extend vertically above the windowsill of a third story.
- Wall and roof graphics may not include electronic or digital changeable copy.

## Signs exempt from permit in Augusta

- Street graphics required by law, including E911 assigned addresses with numbers and letters 12 inches in height or less.
- Public notices or other street graphic required by a governmental entity.
- Any street graphic integrated into or on a coin-operated machine, vending machine, gasoline pump, parking lot cart corral, or telephone booth.
- A street graphic that cannot be viewed and read by a person with 20/20 vision from a public or private right-of-way or access road.
- A street graphic no larger than four square feet placed at the entrance and/or exit of a property to a public or private right-of-way that conveys directional information.
- A single street graphic offering for sale the real estate on which it is displayed, within specified size limitations per zone.
- A street graphic less than two square feet in size posting a property for no trespassing, no hunting, no fishing, or other similar restrictions.
- A ground graphic posted in the public right-of-way categorized as an official business direction sign (OBDS), subject to additional conditions and Maine DOT rules.
- A street graphic carried by a person.
- A street graphic where the items of information measure two inches in height or less on any door used to access a business.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No person shall erect or display a street graphic unless the Code Enforcement Officer has issued a permit for the street graphic or the street graphic is exempted from the permit requirement.
- A person proposing to erect or display a street graphic shall file an application for a permit with the Code Enforcement Officer, who may require sketch drawings and details needed to establish compliance.
- There is no reference in this section of a requirement for a Master Sign Plan, but individual permits and applications with supporting material (e.g., drawings) are required except for exempted signs.

## 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 10 zoning districts in Augusta — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Augusta+ME&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-augusta

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maine/augusta