# Sign Regulations in Freeport, Maine

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Freeport, Maine (ME)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maine/freeport
- **Data last verified:** 2025-02-12
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.freeportmaine.com/DocumentCenter/View/351/23--Sign-Ordinance-10-17-2023-PDF)

## At a glance

Freeport, Maine regulates 7 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Kiosks in the VC-I, VC-II, VC-III, Village Commercial I, Village Commercial II, Village Commercial III zoning district are capped at 25 feet tall and 20 sq ft for 5 or fewer businesses; 35 sq ft for 6-10 businesses; 50 sq ft for more than 10 businesses. (Sec. Section 5.2.1, 5.2.2). Most commercial signs in Freeport require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | — | Yes |
| VC-I, VC-II, VC-III, Village Commercial I, Village Commercial II, Village Commercial III | 4 | 25 feet | 32 sq ft for up to two businesses; additional 12 sq ft per business up to 80 sq ft total. | Yes |
| VC-IV, C-III, V-I, I-I | 1 | 25 feet | 32 sq ft for up to two businesses; additional 12 sq ft per business up to 80 sq ft total. | Yes |
| VI, VMU-1, VMU-2, MDR I, LB, MD Districts, C I, C II, C III, C IV, Industrial zones, Village Mixed Use 1, Village Mixed Use 2 | 1 | 25 feet | 20 sq ft for 5 or fewer businesses; 35 sq ft for 6-10 businesses; 50 sq ft for more than 10 businesses. | Yes |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | Section 1.1 Billboard |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | No | Section 4.13 |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Located upon or over a roof of a building. | Yes | Section 5.4.2 |

### VC-I, VC-II, VC-III, Village Commercial I, Village Commercial II, Village Commercial III

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Kiosk | 25 feet | 20 sq ft for 5 or fewer businesses; 35 sq ft for 6-10 businesses; 50 sq ft for more than 10 businesses. | — | — | One kiosk per premises; two kiosks if conditions met. | On a single premises or group of contiguous premises containing three or more businesses. | Yes | Section 5.2.1, 5.2.2 |
| Ground Sign | 25 feet | 32 sq ft for up to two businesses; additional 12 sq ft per business up to 80 sq ft total. | 16 feet | — | — | Physically separated from any other structure. | Yes | Section 1.5, 5.3.1 |
| Wall Sign | 7 feet above the eaves | — | — | — | — | Attached flat to, painted on, or pinned away from a building wall. | Yes | Section 1.18, 5.4.1, 5.4.3 |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to a wall at an angle. | Yes | Section 1.12 |

### VC-IV, C-III, V-I, I-I

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 25 feet | 32 sq ft for up to two businesses; additional 12 sq ft per business up to 80 sq ft total. | 16 feet | — | — | Physically separated from any other structure. | Yes | Section 1.5, 5.3.1 |

## Prohibited signs in Freeport

- No sign shall be erected or altered except in conformity with the provisions herein.
- 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 sign, except traditional barber poles for licensed barber shops, shall have visible moving parts, blinking, moving or glaring illumination, or any part consisting of banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners or other similar devices.
- A string of lights shall not be used for the purpose of advertising or attracting attention unless as an integral part of a permitted sign.
- Any sign which no longer advertises a bonafide business conducted, product sold, activity being conducted, or public notice, shall be taken down and removed by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the building or premises upon which such sign may be found within ten (10) days after the activity has ceased.
- Illuminating signs whose specific purpose is outlining any part of a building, such as a gable, roof, sidewalk or corner, are prohibited.
- No portable signs shall be permitted.
- There shall be no off premises signs except as are regulated by the Town of Freeport Directional Sign Ordinance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Freeport

- The term 'sign' does not include signs erected and maintained for public safety and welfare or pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental function, or required by law, ordinance or governmental regulation.
- A 'name sign' not exceeding one (1) square foot in area identifying the name(s) of the residents of the premises where such sign is located.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for sign permits shall be on forms prescribed and provided by the Codes Enforcement Officer setting forth such information as may be required by him for a complete understanding of the proposed work.
- The Project Review Board may impose more stringent limits on signage as regulated by the Freeport Design Review Ordinance and the site plan review provisions of the Freeport Zoning Ordinance.

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

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