# Sign Regulations in Wiscasset, Maine

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Wiscasset, Maine (ME)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/maine/wiscasset
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/ME/Wiscasset/codes/The_Ordinances?nodeId=ARTIIISIOR)

## At a glance

Wiscasset, Maine regulates 21 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 25 ft tall and 80% of 150 sq ft (i.e., 120 sq ft), with a 33 ft from center line of public way (if less than 66 ft wide); 20 ft from outside edge of pavement (if >2 lanes and >24 ft wide); must not be within street right-of-way setback (Sec. Sections 8.6, 8.9, 14.1, 16.2.F). Most commercial signs in Wiscasset require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Downtown Sign District | 7 | — | 31 inches x 7 inches | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 16 | 25 ft | 80% of 150 sq ft (i.e., 120 sq ft) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Downtown Sign District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 10% of wall area; all signs on lot not to exceed 75 sq ft | — | — | — | Front, side, and rear of building or structure | — | Sections 12.2, 12.4, 12.5, 12.7, 12.8, 8.4, 8.8 |
| Applied Sign | — | 10% of wall area; lot max 75 sq ft | — | — | — | Front, side, and rear of building or structure | — | Sections 12.2, 12.4, 12.5, 12.7 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | One per building at primary entrance | Front, side, and rear of building or structure; primary building entrance | — | Sections 12.3, 12.5, 12.8, 16.2.K, 8.5 |
| Window Sign (Ground Floor) | — | — | — | — | One per business on ground floor | Each business that occupies the ground floor may have one window sign (Sec 12.3) | — | Section 12.3 |
| Window Sign (Upper Floor) | — | — | — | — | One per business above ground floor | Each business above the ground floor may have one window sign | — | Section 12.3 |
| Rear Entrance Sign | — | — | — | — | One per rear entrance | Rear entrance of building | — | Section 12.3 |
| Business Directional Sign (Downtown) | — | 31 inches x 7 inches | — | — | Maximum two per business | Permitted by placement rules (see 9.3 and 12.6) | — | Sections 12.6, 9.1, 9.3.B, 9.4.B |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 20% of wall area (elsewhere); 150 sq ft total on lot; exceptions for Downtown (see above) | — | — | — | — | — | Sections 8.4, 8.8, 16.2.L, 16.1.D, 3.1 |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | 80% of 150 sq ft (i.e., 120 sq ft) | — | See Section 15.1: 33 ft from center line of public way (if less than 66 ft wide); 20 ft from outside edge of pavement (if >2 lanes and >24 ft wide); must not be within street right-of-way | One per lot | — | — | Sections 8.6, 8.9, 14.1, 16.2.F |
| Temporary Advertising Sign | — | 12 sq ft per sign | — | — | Maximum 4 at a time | — | — | Section 10.2 |
| Temporary Sign (for Temporary Businesses) | — | 12 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 per business | — | — | Section 10.1 |
| Awning Sign | — | 20% of total allowable sign area | Max projection 8 ft from building face or 2/3 of sidewalk width, whichever greater | — | — | — | — | Section 16.2.A |
| Window Sign | — | 30% of total window area | — | — | — | Affixed to or painted on windows or glazed doors | — | 16.2.M |
| Electronic Message Display Board | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | One per lot | — | — | Section 11 |
| Business Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | Maximum four per business (outside Downtown) | As approved by Board of Selectmen/Sign Control Officer, on town-approved posts. | — | Section 9.2, 9.3 |

## Prohibited signs in Wiscasset

- Off-premises signs are prohibited, except for Business Directional Signs and Temporary Signs.
- Signs which prevent free ingress and egress from any door, window, fire escape, or interfere with pedestrian and vehicular movement are prohibited.
- Signs on trees, utility poles, on fences, or on official traffic control signs or devices are prohibited.
- Signs that obstruct the vision of drivers or detract from the effectiveness of any traffic sign or control device are prohibited.
- Signs that use words, phrases, symbols, lights, or characters (such as 'Stop', 'Look', 'One Way', 'Danger') in a manner that interferes with, misleads, or confuses traffic are prohibited.
- Obsolete signs that cease to advertise a bona fide business or product for more than six months are prohibited.
- No sign, except exempted signs, may be erected without a permit.
- All signs must be stationary and permanently installed except where exempted or otherwise noted.
- No sign may be erected or maintained on trees, or painted or drawn upon rocks or other natural features.
- No sign may have any animated or moving parts, except barber poles and clocks.
- No sign shall be illuminated by intermittent light.
- Projecting signs must maintain minimum height clearance of eight feet above ground level.
- Only one free-standing sign is permitted per lot.
- Neon signs are not permitted in the Downtown Sign District.
- Electronic message display boards are not permitted in the Downtown Sign District.
- No on-premise sign may be located within certain distances of public ways or in the right-of-way as specified in Section 15.
- No sign shall be erected so as to interfere with, obstruct, or be confused with any public traffic sign, signal, or device, or constitute a hazard to traffic.
- No sign shall touch or interfere with overhead utilities or pose a hazard if displaced.
- Signs that are not properly maintained or are unsafe may be removed by the Town at the owner's expense.

## Signs exempt from permit in Wiscasset

- Yard sale/garage sale signs meeting specified size, location, and duration limits.
- Signs placed on work under construction or renovation, to be removed within thirty days of job completion.
- Real estate signs not exceeding eight square feet per lot, advertising sale, rent, or lease.
- Signs with owner's or tenant's name, house/apartment number, or other identification in conformance with Street Naming and Addressing Ordinance, without commercial connotations.
- Governmental identification, informational, directional, and public safety signs.
- Traffic control signs or devices.
- Trespassing or hunting signs not exceeding two square feet each.
- Political signs conforming to state requirements.
- Entrance/exit-only signs not exceeding three square feet and containing no advertising material.
- Trail markers, historic, preservation, or cultural signs as approved by the Sign Control Officer.
- Signs indicating open, closed, and hours not exceeding two square feet.
- Community, charitable/non-profit fundraising event signs (subject to duration and size limits).
- Flags of any nation or governmental subdivision.
- Religious symbols.
- Signs painted on or affixed to a legally registered vehicle related to the business.
- On-site directional or instructional signs bearing no commercial matter.
- Merchandise for sale in the form of a sign.
- Flags that state 'open' (no more than one per business).
- Vending machine signs.
- Signs located on fuel pumps displaying price of fuel.
- Decorative banners, flags, and pennants (not permanently affixed and within size limits, with further restrictions for lettered banners/flags/pennants).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Owners of shopping centers, office/business, or industrial parks may be permitted to increase maximum allowable total sign area by up to 25 percent by providing for a common signage plan. The common signage plan must specify standards for consistency among all affected signs regarding color scheme, lettering or graphic style, lighting, locations, materials, sign proportions, and scale.
- A sign permit is required before the erection, placement, or installation of any sign, except exempted signs.
- A sign permit is required for Business Directional Signs before installation.
- A sign permit is required for signs for temporary businesses unless exempted.
- A one-time yearly sign permit is required for temporary advertising signs, unless exempted.
- If a sign permit is denied or revoked, the applicant may appeal to the Wiscasset Board of Appeals.

## Full detail

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

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