# Sign Regulations in Eliot, Maine

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Eliot, Maine (ME)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maine/eliot
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/ME/Eliot/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=SPBLAUSRE_CH45ZO_ARTXISI)

## At a glance

Eliot, Maine regulates 16 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Wall Sign (Per Establishment in Shared Parcel)s in the Commercial/Industrial District, Commercial-Industrial Zone zoning district are capped at Not higher than the eave line or parapet wall of the principal building tall and 50 square feet (Sec. Sec. 45-528(d); Sec. 45-531(3)). Most commercial signs in Eliot require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial/Industrial District, Commercial-Industrial Zone | 3 | Not higher than the eave line or parapet wall of the principal building | 50 square feet | — |
| Any District | 4 | — | 15 square inches (6 inches x 30 inches) | — |
| All Districts | 1 | — | 2 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 20 feet | 3 square feet | — |

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

### Commercial/Industrial District, Commercial-Industrial Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Common Structure | — | 10 square feet per sign face, 100 square feet maximum total size | — | — | No more than 1 sign per use | Adjacent to town way or interior street. | — | Sec. 45-528(c) |
| Wall Sign (Per Establishment in Shared Parcel) | Not higher than the eave line or parapet wall of the principal building | 50 square feet | — | — | 1 per establishment | Exterior of building housing the establishment | — | Sec. 45-528(d); Sec. 45-531(3) |
| Neon or Tubular Gas-filled Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 45-530(b) |

### Any District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign (Freestanding or Projecting, Nonilluminated) | — | 15 square inches (6 inches x 30 inches) | 6 inches by 30 inches | — | — | — | — | Sec. 45-532(d) |
| Sale or Rental Sign (Nonilluminated or Wall Sign) | — | 6 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 45-532(g) |
| Construction Sign (Temporary) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 45-532(c) |
| Political or Promotional Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 45-532(a) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 45-531(1) |
| Projecting Sign | Not higher than eave line or parapet wall | — | Shall not extend horizontally more than 4 feet from building wall | — | — | Adjacent to or projecting over a pedestrian way; must not be higher than eave/parapet | — | Sec. 45-531(2) |
| Wall Sign | Not higher than eave line or parapet wall | — | — | — | — | Attached to building wall | — | Sec. 45-531(3) |
| Parallel Sign | Not higher than eave line or parapet wall | — | — | — | — | Attached parallel to building wall | — | Sec. 45-531(3) |
| Residential Identification Sign (Freestanding, Projecting, or Wall Sign) | — | 3 square feet | — | — | 2 per premises | On the same lot with any single-family dwelling | — | Sec. 45-532(e) |
| Road Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 45-534 |
| Offsite Sign (By Variance Only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 45-529 |
| General Illuminated Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 45-530(a), (c) |

## Prohibited signs in Eliot

- Signs with flashing lights or moving parts are prohibited.
- Gas-filled light tubes may not be exposed to public view; such tubes are only allowed for indirect illumination.
- The color or format of any sign may not resemble or conflict with traffic signs or signals.
- No sign may be illuminated between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., unless a variance is granted by the appeals board.
- Freestanding signs must not exceed 20 feet in height.
- Projecting signs must not be higher than the eave line or parapet wall of the principal building.
- Wall and parallel signs must not be higher than the eave line or parapet wall of the principal building.
- Freestanding signs, projecting signs, wall signs, and parallel signs may not project from the building wall beyond the measurements stipulated.
- No sign shall be located in a manner that obstructs clear and free vision or that may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device, or otherwise constitute a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- It is unlawful to maintain any sign for more than 30 days which has become obsolete due to discontinuance of the use or service advertised, or other reasons.
- No sign that will be anchored into the ground or is otherwise not designed, according to applicable safety standards, to break away in the event of a motor vehicle collision may be located wholly or partially within the Route 236 right-of-way.
- Signs may only identify or advertise a use or activity conducted on the lot in which they are placed, except as otherwise approved by the appeals board.

## Signs exempt from permit in Eliot

- Signs which are placed inside store windows are exempt from the maximum allowable area requirement and do not require a sign permit.
- Directional signs that are freestanding or projecting, nonilluminated, conform to a standardized design, and do not exceed six inches by 30 inches in dimension may be erected in any district without a required permit.
- Residential identification signs (freestanding, projecting, or wall signs) may be erected on the same lot with any single-family dwelling, not exceeding three square feet and two signs per premises, and do not require a permit.
- Signs not exceeding two square feet in area and relating to trespassing and hunting are permitted in all districts and do not require a permit.
- Nonconforming signs in existence at the time of ordinance adoption or amendment are permitted to remain, except as specified.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signage that deviates from the general rules, such as the need for an offsite sign, requires appeals board approval, indicating a possible variance or special meeting.
- A lesser distance from the edge of pavement for sign placement may be allowed by the permit-issuing authority upon written justification by a qualified, licensed engineer, suggesting an additional review process may be required (though not explicitly termed a sign plan).

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

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