# Sign Regulations in Old Town, Maine

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Old Town, Maine (ME)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maine/old-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/36125530#36125530)

## At a glance

Old Town, Maine regulates 24 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Ground Signs in the Commercial zones zoning district are capped at 16 ft above ground tall and 30 sq ft, with a Within 20 ft of right-of-way if property has no street frontage (C-1 Zones); otherwise in front yard setback (Sec. § 104.23(b), (h)(1), (i)(2)). Most commercial signs in Old Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial zones | 20 | 25 ft above ground | 100 sq ft per street frontage (total all types combined) | — |
| C-1 Zones | 2 | — | 100 sq ft | — |
| C-4 Zones | 1 | — | 30 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | — | — |

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

### Commercial zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | — | 100 sq ft per street frontage (total all types combined) | — | — | One shopping center ID sign per property; aggregate total for other signs per frontage | On building wall/facade (conforming to facade lines) or freestanding in front yard for shopping center ID | — | § 104.23(b), (f), (i) |
| Projecting Sign | 25 ft above ground | — | — | — | — | Fixed to building; may project up to 4 ft into public right-of-way, must not be within 18 in. of curbline | — | § 104.23(b), (h)(2) |
| Freestanding Ground Sign | 16 ft above ground | 30 sq ft | — | Within 20 ft of right-of-way if property has no street frontage (C-1 Zones); otherwise in front yard | One shopping center ID per property | Front yard (shopping center ID sign); within 20 ft of right-of-way if no street frontage (C-1 specific) | — | § 104.23(b), (h)(1), (i)(2) |
| Temporary Sign - Building Construction | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | On property under construction; one per street frontage | — | § 104.23(d)(1) |
| Temporary Sign - Public/Semi-public Event Announcement | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | Must not block sight lines or traffic flow | — | § 104.23(d)(2) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Sale/Lease/Rental) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | One per property | On property for sale, lease or rental | — | § 104.23(d)(3) |
| Temporary Subdivision Real Estate Sign | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per subdivision | For subdivision sales, lease, or rental | — | § 104.23(d)(4) |
| Temporary Start Up Promotional Sign | — | — | — | — | One per business | On private property of new business | — | § 104.23(d)(5) |

### C-1 Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | On or facing street | — | § 104.23(i)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (No Street Frontage) | — | — | — | Within 20 ft of right-of-way | — | Within 20 ft of right-of-way serving the premises; easement required. | — | § 104.23(i)(2) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Advertising Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 104.23(c) |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Roof | — | § 104.23(c) |
| Movable or Trailer Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 104.23(g)(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Old Town

- No person shall hang, or cause to be hung, any goods, signs or other things over any sidewalk or street unless permitted by law or unless a permit has been issued therefor.
- All signs, public and private, shall not obstruct or otherwise disrupt the vision of drivers on public or private roadways because of sign location, size or illumination.
- Advertising or roof signs shall not be permitted.
- Signs not directly related to the business shall be prohibited.
- No illuminated sign in any zone shall be of the blinking, alternating or rotating type.
- No sign shall constitute a safety hazard to any public right-of-way by reason of unshielded or glaring lights or for any other reason.
- Signs on trailers or movable signs are prohibited in all zones except as noted in Section 104.23(d)(5).

## Signs exempt from permit in Old Town

- Noncommercial flags are exempt from the prohibition on hanging goods, signs, or other things over any sidewalk or street.
- Public signs, including but not limited to community service information signs, transit service signs, safety and traffic signs, directional and historic signs, are allowed.
- Political signs announcing campaigns and candidates are permitted for up to six weeks prior to the election and must be removed within 48 hours after.
- Temporary signs for building construction, property advertisement, subdivision sales, start up business promotions, and public or semi-public events are generally allowed subject to stated limitations.
- Time or temperature signs (including business name/symbol), shielded spot and floodlights, address signs not exceeding one square foot, and one exterior directory sign per street entrance are allowed.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applicants for permits to erect signs over sidewalks are required to file a certificate of insurance with the Code Enforcement Officer.
- Altered, relocated, or replaced nonconforming signs must be brought into conformance with the ordinance at the time of alteration, relocation, or replacement.
- Any nonconforming sign needing repair affecting more than 50% of the sign area must be brought into conformance at the time of repair.
- An appeal from any decision of the building inspector may be taken to the board of 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 Old Town — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Old+Town+ME&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-old-town

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