# Sign Regulations in Wells Town, Maine

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Wells Town, Maine (ME)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maine/wells-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/7612393#7612393)

## At a glance

Wells Town, Maine regulates 20 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Internally Lit Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Electronic message center: 10 feet tall, See Table 145-40 by use; Electronic message centers max 40 sq ft, 10 ft max height or width., and Electronic message center: 10 feet wide, with a If within 25 feet of road pavement, placement minimum 10 feet above grade. setback (Sec. 145-40A-1, 145-40A-2). Most commercial signs in Wells Town 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 | 7 | 20 feet | See Table 145-40 by use | — |
| Residential A, Residential B, Residential - Commercial, Residential D, Rural, Aquifer Protection, Resource Protection | 5 | 20 feet | 25% of signable area of facade | — |
| Rural, RA, RB, RC, RD | 7 | 20 feet | 32 sq ft | — |
| GB, BB, LI, Harbor, Transportation Center | 8 | 20 feet | 150 sq ft | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 25% of signable area of facade | — | Signs may be in street setback but not required setback from other lot lines. | — | Affixed to building facade; may not cover architectural details. | — | 145-40A(1), 145-40A(13), Table 145-40, 145-40E(4), 145-40F |
| Ground Sign (Monument or Pole Sign) | 20 feet | See Table 145-40 by use | — | Not within street right-of-way; may be within required street setback but not setback from other lot lines. | — | Must be attached to ground, not within street right-of-way. | — | 145-40A(2), (8), (9), (10), Table 145-40, 145-40E |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Valance of awning | — | 145-40A(11), Table 145-40 |
| Projecting Sign | — | See Table 145-40 by zone/use | — | — | — | Projecting from building | — | Table 145-40 |
| Roof Sign | — | See Table 145-40 by zone/use | — | — | — | On roof, not above roofline (above-roof signs prohibited) | — | 145-40B(1)(c), Table 145-40 |
| Portable Sign | 3 feet (if sign is 3ft x 4ft) | 12 sq ft (3 ft x 4 ft max) | 4 feet (if sign is 3ft x 4 ft) | — | 1 per lot | Allowed only in BB, GB, RC, R, LI, and Harbor districts. | — | 145-40I(2)(a)-(d) |
| Internally Lit Sign | Electronic message center: 10 feet | See Table 145-40 by use; Electronic message centers max 40 sq ft, 10 ft max height or width. | Electronic message center: 10 feet | If within 25 feet of road pavement, placement minimum 10 feet above grade. | 1 electronic message center per lot | See Table and general standards; must comply with additional lighting placement rules if within 25 feet of road pavement. | — | 145-40A-1, 145-40A-2 |

### Rural, RA, RB, RC, RD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign (Commercial or Industrial Use) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Table 145-40; 145-40B(1)(d) |
| Projecting Sign (Commercial or Industrial Use) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | Projecting from building | — | Table 145-40; 145-40B(1)(d) |
| Wall Sign (Commercial or Industrial Use) | — | 25% of signable area of facade | — | — | — | On facade | — | Table 145-40; 145-40B(1)(d) |
| Pole Sign (Commercial or Industrial Use) | 20 feet | 32 sq ft | — | See general ground sign setbacks | — | — | — | Table 145-40; 145-40B(1)(d) |
| Roof Sign (Commercial or Industrial Use) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | On roof, but not above the roofline | — | Table 145-40; 145-40B(1)(c), 145-40B(1)(d) |
| Awning Sign (Commercial or Industrial Use) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | Valance of awning | — | Table 145-40, 145-40A(11), 145-40B(1)(d) |
| Portable Sign (Commercial or Industrial Use) | 3 feet | 12 sq ft (max 3 ft x 4 ft) | 4 feet | — | 1 | — | — | 145-40I(2) |

### GB, BB, LI, Harbor, Transportation Center

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign (Commercial or Industrial Use) | — | 150 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Table 145-40 |
| Projecting Sign (Commercial or Industrial Use) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | Projecting from building | — | Table 145-40 |
| Wall Sign (Commercial or Industrial Use) | — | 25% of signable area of facade | — | — | — | Facade of principal building | — | Table 145-40 |
| Pole Sign (Commercial or Industrial Use) | 20 feet | 150 sq ft | — | Not within street right-of-way. | — | — | — | Table 145-40 |
| Roof Sign (Commercial or Industrial Use) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | On roof, but not above roofline | — | Table 145-40, 145-40B(1)(c) |
| Awning Sign (Commercial or Industrial Use) | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | — | Valance of awning | — | Table 145-40, 145-40A(11) |
| Portable Sign (Commercial or Industrial Use) | 3 feet | 12 sq ft (max 3 ft x 4 ft) | 4 feet | — | 1 | — | — | 145-40I(2) |
| Electronic Message Center | 10 feet | 40 sq ft | 10 feet | If within 25 feet of pavement, minimum 10 feet above grade. | 1 per lot | Permitted, must comply with electronic message center rules. | — | 145-40A-2, Table 145-40 |

## Prohibited signs in Wells Town

- No sign shall cover any architectural details of a building, as defined by this ordinance.
- No sign shall project beyond the lot line(s) of the lot on which it is located.
- No sign shall obstruct a driveway or required parking space.
- No sign shall obstruct or impair the vision of vehicular and pedestrian traffic or otherwise constitute a hazard to the same.
- No sign shall reduce the sight distance from any driveway, road or street below a distance of 10 feet for every mile per hour of the posted speed limit.
- No sign shall be attached to utility poles, trees or traffic control signs or devices, except for banners or flags approved by the Board of Selectmen.
- External illumination of signs may only be provided by a white light.
- The source of the illumination for any sign shall not be visible beyond any lot line.
- No ground sign (monument or pole) shall exceed a height of 20 feet.
- No ground sign shall be located within the street right-of-way.
- A ground sign shall not be located within 400 feet, measured along the street frontage of the lot, from any other ground sign advertising the same business(es).
- Awning signs shall be limited only to placement on the valance of the awning. Awning signs shall be opaque, and shall not be backlit.
- Signs may be located within the required setback from any street right-of-way, but shall not be located within the required setback from any other lot line.
- No wall sign shall cover more than 25% of the total signable area of any facade on which it is affixed.
- All signs shall be maintained in good condition.
- Animated signs are prohibited, except for a traditional striped, rotating barber's pole, accessory to a barber shop.
- Portable signs and trailer-mounted signs are prohibited, unless expressly allowed elsewhere in the ordinance.
- Above-roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs attached, drawn or painted upon rock outcroppings or other natural features are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited, other than official business directional and specifically exempted signs.
- Any other sign not permitted by the ordinance is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Wells Town

- Informational or directional signs of less than two square feet, such as 'entrance,' 'exit,' 'rest rooms,' 'no parking,' 'no trespassing' and 'private property.'
- Signs of less than six square feet giving the name of a building and/or date of its construction.
- Building permit placards and official notices posted by public officials in the performance of their duties.
- Flags of any nation or political subdivision not exceeding a total area of 50 square feet for all such flags.
- One 'OPEN' flag for each individual tenant or business premises, not to exceed three feet by five feet.
- Religious symbols or insignia.
- Decorations customary in the observance of any secular or religious holiday.
- Signs bearing political messages relating to an election, primary or referendum, provided that these signs may not be erected prior to six weeks before the event and must be removed no later than one week thereafter.
- Signs for the control of traffic.
- Street name signs.
- Signs indicating danger.
- Signs within a building.
- Signs designed to be directed at customers once they have arrived on the premises, too small to be easily discerned by off-premises passers-by, such as logos or brand names on gas pumps, or table cards placed on outdoor dining tables, and the like.
- Signs printed on or affixed to registered motor vehicles, provided that the vehicles are used regularly as a means of transportation and not used for circumventing the requirements of this chapter.
- Plaques of less than six square feet at historic sites or buildings recognized by the Wells Historical Society.
- Signs identifying public school and government buildings.
- Signs which communicate a political, personal, social or religious message with neither the purpose nor the effect of advertising any business, product, or service, when such signs are located on the same lot as a dwelling unit and erected by a resident.
- Signs owned by the Town containing messages which do not advertise for private business or industry, including philanthropic, municipal or public events or places; such signs shall not exceed 32 square feet and may be located off-premises.
- Temporary signs, not exceeding 32 square feet, for events or solicitations for nonprofit or public organizations, permitted for a period of 10 days prior to the event; must comply with all other requirements.
- One nonilluminated, single sign of less than six square feet identifying the name and/or occupation of the residents of a dwelling.
- One nonilluminated contractor sign per contractor or subcontractor on a job site of less than six square feet, to be removed within one day of the completion of the work.
- No more than two, nonilluminated real estate signs per lot, each less than six square feet and removed within one day after closing or rental agreement.
- Yard sale signs as regulated elsewhere.
- Individual signs located on the transportation center platform billboard structure(s), provided they are not visible from a public way.
- Signs erected between May 1 and December 31 by a producer of agricultural products or Christmas trees, advertising only products grown, produced and sold on the producer's premises, not exceeding four signs, each maximum eight square feet, and subject to detailed time, location, and distance restrictions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Principal structures with more than one tenant or operator: Multitenant properties with multiple leased or condominium spaces shall be allowed the same amount and types of signage as the same sized building if it were in unified ownership and operation; the landlord or condominium association shall be responsible for allocating sign area among the tenants or owners.
- No mention in the provided ordinance text of a required master sign plan, formal sign plan submittal, or variance meeting specifically for signs; permitting is generally handled via permit application to the Code Enforcement Officer as outlined in the permitting procedure.

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

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