# Sign Regulations in Cumberland Town, Maine

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Cumberland Town, Maine (ME)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maine/cumberland-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/14881613#14881613)

## At a glance

Cumberland Town, Maine regulates 18 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Highway Commercial (HC), Village Center Commercial (VCC), Mixed-Use (MUZ), Office Commercial South (OC-S), Office Commercial North (OC-N), Village Office Commercial I (VOC I), Village Office Commercial II (VOC II), Village Mixed-Use (V-MUZ), Industrial (I), Rural Industrial (RI) zoning district are capped at 25 ft or zone height limit, whichever is less tall and 30 sq ft, with a May not obstruct sight lines; may not be at/near edge of public way. setback (Sec. § 315-63G(2-4), § 315-63I(1,3-5)). Most commercial signs in Cumberland Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Resource Protection District, Stream Protection District, Limited Residential District | 5 | 20 ft above ground | 12 sq ft aggregate | — |
| Highway Commercial (HC), Village Center Commercial (VCC), Mixed-Use (MUZ), Office Commercial South (OC-S), Office Commercial North (OC-N), Village Office Commercial I (VOC I), Village Office Commercial II (VOC II), Village Mixed-Use (V-MUZ), Industrial (I), Rural Industrial (RI) | 8 | 25 ft above ground or height of structure (whichever is less) | 30 sq ft | — |
| Town Center District (TCD) | 2 | 25 ft above ground or height of structure, whichever is less | 30 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 32 sq ft (4 ft x 8 ft) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Resource Protection District, Stream Protection District, Limited Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign (On-premises Goods and Services) | 20 ft above ground | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 per premises | On premises. | — | § 226-31.A, § 226-31.F, § 226-31.G |
| Name Sign | 20 ft above ground | 12 sq ft aggregate | — | — | 2 per premises | On premises. | — | § 226-31.B, § 226-31.F, § 226-31.G |
| Residential Sale/Rent/Lease Sign | 20 ft above ground | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises. | — | § 226-31.C, § 226-31.F, § 226-31.G |
| Trespassing/Hunting Sign | 20 ft above ground | 2 sq ft | — | — | No restriction | On premises. | — | § 226-31.D, § 226-31.F, § 226-31.G |
| Public Safety Sign | 20 ft above ground | — | — | — | No restriction | On premises. | — | § 226-31.E, § 226-31.F, § 226-31.G |

### Highway Commercial (HC), Village Center Commercial (VCC), Mixed-Use (MUZ), Office Commercial South (OC-S), Office Commercial North (OC-N), Village Office Commercial I (VOC I), Village Office Commercial II (VOC II), Village Mixed-Use (V-MUZ), Industrial (I), Rural Industrial (RI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 25 ft above ground or height of structure (whichever is less) | 30 sq ft | — | — | 2 per business per lot | On building | — | § 315-63G(2-3), § 315-63I(1,3-5) |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft or zone height limit, whichever is less | 30 sq ft | — | May not obstruct sight lines; may not be at/near edge of public way. | 2 per business per lot | On lot, not in right-of-way. One at entrance, one at building. | — | § 315-63G(2-4), § 315-63I(1,3-5) |
| Projecting Sign | 25 ft above ground or height of structure (whichever is less); must clear ground by 8 ft | 30 sq ft | — | — | Counts toward total allowed | Attached to wall at angle | — | § 315-63 Definitions; § 315-63G(2-3), § 315-63I |
| Awning Sign | 25 ft above ground or height of structure (whichever is less) | 30 sq ft | — | — | Counts toward total allowed | On the face of an awning above a window or door | — | § 315-63H(2), § 315-63I |
| Changeable Copy Sign (Non-digital) | 25 ft above ground or height of structure (whichever is less) | 30 sq ft | — | — | Counts toward total allowed | On lot | — | § 315-63H(3), § 315-63I |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On home occupation structure, or entrance if not visible | — | § 315-63H(4), § 315-63I |
| Temporary On-Premises Sign | 25 ft above ground | 30 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 315-63D(1)(a)[1], § 315-63I(6) |
| Subdivision Sign | 25 ft above ground | 30 sq ft | — | — | 2 | At entrance to subdivision | — | § 315-63 Definitions, § 315-63I |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Athletic Field Sign | — | 32 sq ft (4 ft x 8 ft) | — | — | — | On athletic field fence | — | § 315-63H(1) |
| Directional/Instructional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On-premises | — | § 315-63D(1)(a)[7] |
| Temporary Off-Premises Noncommercial Sign | — | 32 sq ft (4 ft x 8 ft) | — | Must meet specified distance requirements. | — | Public right-of-way (subject to state rules) | — | § 315-63D(1)(a)[2], § 315-63H(6), § 315-63I(6) |
| Portable Sign/Sandwich Board Menu Board | — | 8 sq ft (2 ft x 4 ft) | — | — | Counts as one sign | On premises | — | § 315-63 Definitions |
| Agricultural Sign (Temporary On-Premises/Off-Premises) | — | — | — | — | — | On or off premises | — | § 315-63D(1)(a)[4] |

## Prohibited signs in Cumberland Town

- No sign shall be erected, attached, suspended or altered until a permit has been issued to the person or owner in control of the sign.
- No sign, whether new or existing, shall be permitted that causes a sight, traffic, health or welfare hazard or results in a nuisance due to illumination, placement, display, or manner of construction.
- No advertising or identification sign, whether permanent or temporary, shall be erected on any premises other than the premises where the activity to which the sign pertains is located, except as permitted under listed exemptions.
- No individual sign shall contain more than 30 square feet of sign area in designated commercial/industrial zones, or more than 25 square feet in all other districts.
- No individual sign shall have a height greater than 25 feet above the ground level or the maximum height allowed for the principal structure, and shall not extend above the roofline or parapet.
- No sign or structure shall be placed near the edge of any public way to obstruct sight lines or encroach in the airspace of a public right-of-way, except as specifically permitted.
- Freestanding signs may have no more than two faces, and if the angle between faces is 45 degrees or greater, the sign is considered two separate signs.
- Freestanding flags intended to call attention to a business or property in the manner of a sign are not permitted; only one flag displaying a logo, 'open', or a country/state flag may be attached to a permitted sign.
- The following sign types are prohibited: temporary off-premises commercial signs; wind-activated signs; helium or inflated signs; banner or streamer signs; window signs; billboards; any sign located within a public right-of-way, except as otherwise permitted by law or ordinance; roof-mounted facade signs; vehicular signs continuously in the same location, or used to circumvent the ordinance; internally illuminated signs; electronic message center signs; contractor signs within the public right-of-way.
- Internally illuminated signs are prohibited.
- Colored lights are not permitted for any externally illuminated sign.
- Temporary off-premises commercial, temporary off-premises noncommercial, and temporary on-premises signs shall not be externally illuminated.
- Signs must not emit glare beyond the premises.
- Signs must be maintained in safe, clean, and sound condition and may not endanger public health/safety or physical/scenic/natural beauty.
- Any sign which no longer advertises or identifies a bona fide business, product, activity, or public notice must be removed within 14 days after cessation.
- The most restrictive or highest standard shall govern where requirements are in variance with other laws or regulations.

## Signs exempt from permit in Cumberland Town

- Temporary on-premises signs are exempt from the permit application process.
- Temporary off-premises noncommercial signs are exempt from the permit application process.
- Historical designation signs are exempt from the permit application process.
- Temporary on-premises or off-premises agricultural signs are exempt from the permit application process; permanent on-premises agricultural signs require a permit.
- Signs relating to or controlling the use of private property are exempt from the permit application process.
- Signs associated with one-day sales such as yard/garage/tag sales are exempt from the permit application process.
- Directional or instructional signs are exempt from the permit application process.
- Municipal signs are exempt from the permit application process.
- Normal maintenance and repairs are permitted for existing nonconforming signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All new, replacement, temporary, and permanent signs proposed for erection or display require a permit/application except for exempted sign types.
- A graphic representation showing a comprehensive detailed presentation of all signage proposed for a particular lot or lots is defined as a 'signage plan' in the ordinance, implying requirement for such a plan, but specific instances of mandatory signage plan submittal are not listed in the provided sections.
- For parcels on which more than one sign is permitted, only one application is required.
- Applicants may request and the Board of Appeals may grant a variance (waiver) related to the size of a sign.
- Appeals of permit denials are reviewed by the Board of Adjustment and Appeals.

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

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