# Sign Regulations in Kennebunkport Town, Maine

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Kennebunkport Town, Maine (ME)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maine/kennebunkport-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/33968934#33968934)

## At a glance

Kennebunkport Town, Maine regulates 13 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial Properties zoning district are capped at 20 feet from adjacent road surface tall and 20 sq ft (0-1,000 sq ft unit), 30 sq ft (1,000-2,500), 40 sq ft (2,500+), with a 5 ft from lot line adjacent to street; less with Chief of Police approval setback (Sec. Table A, §240-6.12C(5)(a), (4), §240-6.12D(2)). Most commercial signs in Kennebunkport Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 20 feet (no sign or portion of a sign structure shall exceed 20 feet in height measured from the adjacent road surface) | 50 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Properties | 6 | 20 feet from adjacent road surface | Up to 35% of glazed area per window | — |
| Residential Properties | 3 | 20 feet from adjacent road surface | Up to 35% of glazed area per window | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 20 feet (no sign or portion of a sign structure shall exceed 20 feet in height measured from the adjacent road surface) | See zone-specific commercial/residential tables | — | — | — | May be attached or affixed to buildings in all zones (except as expressly prohibited) | — | §240-6.12C(1), (2), (3), (4), (6), (7) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet max height measured from road surface | See zone-specific commercial/residential tables | — | Minimum 5 ft from lot line adjacent to street, unless written Chief of Police approval | — | Freestanding signs allowed in all zones, subject to zoning table numbers and setback | — | §240-6.12D(2), §240-6.12C(3), (4) |
| Temporary Sign (outside public right-of-way) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Outside the public right-of-way; may be posted in any zone | — | §240-6.12F(2), (4) |
| Temporary Sign (in public right-of-way) | — | Subject to 23 M.R.S. § 1913-A | — | — | — | Within public right-of-way | — | §240-6.12F(1) |
| Street Banner (Temporary) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §240-6.12F(3) |
| On-premises Real Estate Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the premises for sale, rent, or lease | — | §240-6.12D(3) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | §240-6.12E |
| Window Lettering | — | Up to 35% of glazed area per window | — | — | — | On or within window surfaces | — | §240-6.12C(9), Table A |

### Commercial Properties

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Attached Sign | 20 feet from adjacent road surface | 20 sq ft (0-1,000 sq ft unit), 30 sq ft (1,000-2,500), 40 sq ft (2,500+) | — | — | 0-500 sq ft: 2; 500-1,000: 3; 1,000-2,500: 3; 2,500+: 4 | Affixed/attached to building on commercial/nonresidential property | — | Table A, §240-6.12C(5)(a), (4) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet from adjacent road surface | 20 sq ft (0-1,000 sq ft unit), 30 sq ft (1,000-2,500), 40 sq ft (2,500+) | — | 5 ft from lot line adjacent to street; less with Chief of Police approval | 0-1,000 sq ft: 1; 1,000+ sq ft: 2 | Freestanding on commercial/nonresidential property | — | Table A, §240-6.12C(5)(a), (4), §240-6.12D(2) |
| Temporary Sale, Special Event, or Daily Menu Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 0-1,000 sq ft: 1; 1,000+ sq ft: 2 | — | — | Table A |
| Window Lettering | — | Up to 35% of glazed area per window | — | — | — | On/within window of commercial property | — | §240-6.12C(9), Table A |
| Window Display | — | — | — | — | — | Inside window of commercial property | — | §240-6.12C(10), Table A |
| Menu Sign (Restaurant/Takeout only) | — | 15-20 sq ft | — | — | One per business | On/near food service business | — | Table A |

### Residential Properties

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Attached Sign or Freestanding Sign | 20 feet from adjacent road surface | 20 sq ft (total for all signs) | — | Freestanding sign: Minimum 5 ft from lot line adjacent to street, unless approved by Chief of Police | 1 | On residential property, either attached or freestanding | — | Table B, §240-6.12C(5)(b), (4) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On residential property with permitted home occupation use | — | §240-6.12E |
| Window Lettering | — | Up to 35% of glazed area per window | — | — | — | On/within window of residential property | — | §240-6.12C(9), Table B |

## Prohibited signs in Kennebunkport Town

- Maliciously tampering with, defacing, altering or destroying any traffic or parking sign, printing, or painting posted by the Town.
- No official business directional signs, off-premises directional signs, or signs advertising commercial uses located on premises other than the premises upon which the sign is located are permitted, except as specifically allowed.
- No sign shall be erected adjacent to any public way in a manner that obstructs clear and free vision, or that may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized sign, signal, or device, or that constitutes a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- Roof-mounted signs are prohibited.
- No sign or portion of a sign structure shall exceed 20 feet in height measured from the adjacent road surface.
- There shall be no intermittently illuminated, traveling light, animated, flashing light, or internally illuminated signs.
- No illuminated sign shall have a visible light source off premises; all must be shielded or hooded.
- No signs may be posted on trees under the jurisdiction of the Town Tree Warden.
- All signs overhanging a sidewalk or public way must be at least 10 feet above the pavement.
- Temporary signs may not be attached to fences, trees, utility poles, or the like.
- Temporary signs may not obstruct or impair vision or traffic, or create a hazard or disturbance to public health and welfare.

## Signs exempt from permit in Kennebunkport Town

- Flags and insignia of any government, flags placed within brackets mounted to permanent residential and nonresidential structures, and freestanding flags not affixed to any structure.
- Traffic control signs, route number signs, or other informational signs erected or required by governmental bodies.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts, or moving/flashing lights.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising matter.
- Signs posting property as private, and/or no trespass signs.
- Window lettering displaying business name, hours of operation, website, etc., up to 35% of the glazed area per window, is not considered signage for area/number limits.
- Signs erected or installed in the interior of a structure that are part of a bona fide window display related to merchandise or services available within the structure are not considered signs for the purposes of this section.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permanent and temporary signage within the Town is subject to the permitting requirements in § 240-11.2G.
- Nonconforming permanent signs may be replaced only after approval and issuance of a permit from the Code Enforcement Officer per § 240-11.2G.
- Signs that exceed certain requirements may need Code Enforcement Officer approval, no explicit mention of a master sign plan or variance meeting in the provided text.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Kennebunkport Town, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Kennebunkport+Town+ME&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-kennebunkport-town

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