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MapLink™ |  Signs

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BILLBOARD
A structure, either freestanding or attached to a building, the surface of which is available for hire for advertising purposes.
SIGN
Any structure or part thereof attached thereto or painted or represented thereon, which shall display or include any letter, word, model, banner, flag, pennant, insignia, device or representation used as, or which is in the nature of, an announcement, direction or advertisement. The word "sign" does not include the flag, pennant or insignia of any nation, state, city or other political unit, or of any political, educational, charitable, philanthropic, civic, professional, religious or like campaign, drive, movement or event.
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SIGN FACE
The area of the surface of a sign upon which the words, symbols or graphics appear.
SIGN, BUILDING
A sign that is painted directly onto a wall or window or that is permanently attached to and supported by the building or structure to which it is attached.
SIGN, BUSINESS
A sign displaying the name of the business or other occupant of the building or structure to which the sign applies or information about the business/occupant.
SIGN, BUSINESS IDENTIFICATION
A small sign attached to the underside or hanging from a canopy over a pedestrian walkway identifying the entrance to the building or a use within the building.
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SIGN, DIRECTORY
A freestanding or building sign that lists the tenants or occupants of a building, project or development.
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SIGN, FREESTANDING
A sign that is permanently attached to the ground and is not attached to a building or structure.
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SIGN, GROUND-MOUNTED
A freestanding sign that is supported by a base or pedestal, or by vertical supporting members such that the width of the base or pedestal or the distance between the supporting members is at least 75% of the width of the sign face.
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SIGN, INFORMATION/DIRECTION
An on-site freestanding or building sign that provides information or direction to users of a property about the location of entrances and exits, parking, traffic flow, hours of operation or other noncommercial messages.
SIGN, POLE OR PYLON
A freestanding sign that is supported by a single vertical supporting member or base that is less than 75% of the width of the sign face.
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SIGN, PORTABLE
A freestanding sign not permanently affixed, anchored or secured to the ground or structure on the lot it occupies.
SIGN, PROJECT
A permanent sign identifying a project, building or development that contains the name of the facility. In addition to the name of the project, the sign may include the name of the primary occupant of the project, provided that this is less than 40% of the sign area.
SIGN, PROJECTING
A building sign that extends from the supporting wall so that the sign face(s) is at a right angle to the wall on which it is mounted.
SIGN, READERBOARD
A portion of a permanent sign with moveable or interchangeable letters or other characters or symbols including signs with electronic changeable letters, characters, or symbols that identifies a business/occupant.
SIGN, SANDWICH BOARD
A small, nonilluminated, movable sign that may include a space for changeable messages that identifies a business/occupant or provides information about the business/occupant that is placed on a sidewalk or other pedestrian area.
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SIGN, SITE
A temporary sign at a construction site or development project that identifies the project and the firms involved with the design, construction and financing of the project.
SIGN, WALL
A building sign that is applied to, painted on, or attached to a wall, window or other vertical surface so that the sign face is essentially parallel to the wall. A wall sign includes signs placed on pitched roofs so that the sign face is in a vertical orientation.
Height of sign.
The intention of this limitation is to allow signs that can be seen from the street(s) from which the property has vehicle access but to prevent signs that are designed or located so as to be able to be seen from streets from which the property does not have vehicle access. The height of a freestanding sign shall be the distance from the normal grade of the site under the sign to the highest point on the sign face. "Normal grade" means the established grade after construction of the portion of the site where the sign will be located, but shall not include any mounding, berming or base done for the location of the sign.

Address exclusion/inclusion.
The inclusion of the address of the property as part of a sign is encouraged. If a sign includes the address of the property (221 Overland Street), the address area is excluded from the calculation of the area of the sign unless the address is a part of the occupant's or project's name (i.e., 14 Main Restaurant or 400 Main Plaza).

Exempt signs.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to the following types of nonilluminated signs: public safety and information, political, traffic control and directional that contain no advertising, "no trespassing," real estate development or site signs during the period of construction, project identification signs with the name of a municipal or community building or facility or residential subdivision or development that is located at the entrance to the site, real estate sale and rental signs except as limited in this article, building markers, signs required by law or court order, gasoline price signs attached to or part of a pump for the dispensing of gasoline or other fuels having less than one square foot of sign area, signs displaying only the address of the property, and temporary signs in conjunction with a yard sale or community or other special event with a limited duration.

Illumination of signs.
Illuminated signs in the roadside environment and the industrial/business park environment may be either internally or externally illuminated. Illuminated signs in the village environment and residential environment may only be externally illuminated. Signs in the residential environment may only be illuminated during the normal hours of operation of the occupant(s). The source of the illumination for externally illuminated signs must be shielded so that the bulb, reflector or other light source is not directly visible from public streets. The use of visible lights or light emitters such as LEDs as part of the sign is prohibited except as part of a readerboard meeting the requirements of Subsection A . If a sign is internally illuminated, the use of a white or light-colored background should be avoided or minimized, but if white or a light color is used in the background, not more than 40% of the internally illuminated area of the sign face may be of such color.

Orientation of signs.
The intention of this limitation is to allow signs that can be seen from the street(s) or access roads on which the building fronts or from which the property has vehicular access but to prevent signs that are designed or located so as to be able to be seen from streets on which the property does not front or from which it does not have vehicular access. Therefore, signs must be placed so that they can be seen from streets or private access drives from which the property has vehicular access and/or to which the front of the building is oriented. Signs on corner lots may be orientated to both streets. Signs may not be placed in locations where they are intended to be seen from streets from which the property does not have access nor which the front of the building does not face.

Location of additional signs on properties with vehicle access from more than one street. If a property is permitted to have additional signs because it has vehicular access from more than one street, not more than one sign of any type (project, directory, business) may be placed adjacent to any access. The additional signs must be located adjacent to the access points from the other streets.

Location of additional signs on properties with multiple vehicle accesses from one street. If a property is permitted to have additional signs because it has more than one vehicular access from a street, not more than one sign of any type (project, directory, business) may be placed adjacent to any access. The additional signs must be located adjacent to other accesses.
Master sign plan.
For a new multi-occupant, nonresidential building or the renovation or expansion of an existing multi-occupant building that requires major or minor site plan review, the owner shall submit a master sign plan as part of the application for site plan review. The master sign plan shall identify the proposed location and size of signs to be allowed on the site, including provisions for how individual business signs will be treated. The master sign plan should demonstrate how the signs on the property will be coordinated in conformance with the requirements of this article to create a harmonious visual environment. This plan must specify any conditions or limits that will be applied to future signs or changes in signs to conform to these requirements. Once a master sign plan has been approved for a building, all future signs, including the replacement of existing signs, shall conform to the approved plan. The approved master sign plan may be revised with the approval of the Planning Board.

Permitted residential signs.
Residential uses may display a single sign not over six square feet in area attached to a building or detached and located in the front yard relating to uses or services rendered on the premises, the sale, rental or lease of the premises.

Permitted nonresidential signs.
A. General provisions.
(1) Signs in conjunction with nonresidential occupants, including nonresidential uses in residential zones, shall conform to the following maximum standards. The standards for the maximum number of signs, maximum size and height of signs and maximum sign area per occupant vary depending on the environment within which the property and sign are located. There are four different environments, each with different standards. The four environments are:
 
(a) Village environment. These standards apply to signs that are located in the Village Centers District, Urban Commercial District, Mosher Corner Mixed Use District, White Rock District and Office-Residential District.

(b) Roadside environment. These standards apply to signs that are located in the Rural District, Roadside Commercial District, Narragansett Mixed Use Development District, South Gorham Commercial Corridor District and those portions of the Industrial District located outside of an industrial or business park.

(c) Industrial/Business park environment. These standards apply to signs that are located in or are associated with an industrial or business park in an Industrial District that has been approved by the Planning Board as a coordinated development.

(d) Residential environment. These standards apply to signs related to a nonresidential use in the Urban Residential District, Urban Residential Expansion, South Gorham Crossroads and Suburban Residential District.

(2) The sign standards of the underlying environment shall apply to a contract zone unless the provisions of the contract zone specifically modify the sign requirements. The requirements for the type, number, size and height of signs or total sign area may be modified as part of the contract zone provisions.

B. For the description of the four environments, see § 300-2.20B.

See § 300-2.15C for information on Double-faced or Multi-faceted signs.
See § 300-2.18A for information on Readerboard signs.
See § 300-2.18F for information on Roof signs.
See § 300-2.23: Portable signs. for information on Portable signs.
See § 300-2.15B for information on area of all other signs.

See also "Signs" on the General Requirements page for more information on signs.
Prohibited signs, displays and related materials.
The following are prohibited anywhere in the Town unless specifically allowed under § 300-2.19 or § 300-2.20:

A. Signs with moving or rotating pieces or parts. Any sign that has any moving or rotating pieces or parts that creates the appearance of motion. If there is uncertainty as to whether this restriction applies to a specific sign, the Planning Board shall make the determination. Readerboard signs, including electronic message boards, with interchangeable or moveable lettering that comply with the performance standards of § 300-2.18 are excepted from this limitation. This restriction also does not apply to clocks, thermometers, barber poles and similar displays that change in response to the information being monitored, provided that the display does not flash.

B. Illuminated signs. Any sign that is illuminated by flashing or blinking lights or in which the illumination changes color.

C. Inflatable signs/displays. Inflatable signs or advertising displays except in conjunction with special events not more than two times in a calendar year for no more than 30 consecutive days, provided such periods of use are separated by at least 30 days. Temporary inflatable signs or displays are allowed only with a sign permit issued by the Code Enforcement Officer.

D. Awning signs. Signs on an awning or the use of the awning as an advertising feature to draw attention to the premises. Awnings may not contain any color scheme or graphic treatment that is used to identify a particular business or brand, may not be made out of reflective, florescent or translucent materials, may not be back lit, and must be primarily a solid color that is not intended to draw attention to the property.

E. Canopy signs. Signs on a canopy (such as a canopy over a fueling island or drive-through facility). Canopies located in a village environment may not include any color scheme or graphic treatment that is used to identify a particular business or brand. Canopies in a roadside or industrial/business park environment may include a brand-related color scheme or graphic treatment but may not include the name of the product or business.

F. Pennants, banners, streamers, etc. Pennants, banners, streamers, advertising flags, other than one "open" flag per business or occupant, whirligigs and similar devices intended to draw attention to a specific property, except in conjunction with special events not more than two times in a calendar year for no more than 30 consecutive days, provided such periods of use are separated by at least 30 days. Temporary displays are allowed only with a sign permit issued by the Code Enforcement Officer.

G. Strings of lights or lighted tubing. Strings of lights or lighted tubing that outlines a sign or a building or its major features such as roof lines, windows or doors or that is used as an advertising feature to draw attention to the premises, except for temporary holiday lighting and decorations.

H. Temporary signs. Plastic, fabric, cardboard, wooden, paper or similar signs that are not part of the permanent signage of the premises, including those advertising products or services available on the premises, except in conjunction with special events not more than two times in a calendar year for no more than 30 consecutive days, provided such periods of use are separated by at least 30 days. Temporary signs are allowed only with a sign permit issued by the Code Enforcement Officer. The date upon which the sign permit expires and the sign permit number must be affixed to the sign in a way that allows this information to be easily read. Any sign that is a part of the permanent signage of the premises is subject to the sign requirements and limits of the environment in which it is located.

I. Reflective or luminous surface materials. Any sign with reflective or luminous surface materials, including luminous paint.

J. Signs prohibited by state law. Any sign prohibited by state law or regulation.

K. Appendages to signs. Any extensions or additions to a sign or appendages that hang or extend from a sign or its supporting structure that are not an integral part of the design of the sign unless approved by the Town of Gorham Planning Board as part of the site plan review for the project.

L. Building or roofing materials as signs. The exterior materials of a building, including the roofing materials, may not be used as a sign or a brand-specific advertising element, except for "roof art" approved in accordance with § 300-2.18F. The color or ornamentation of the building or the roof may not have the effect of the building or roof functioning as a sign as a result of its distinctive appearance.

M. Prohibited content. Signs that contain hate speech as defined by the criminal statutes of the State of Maine or that express an obscene message.

N. Sandwich board/A-frame signs. Freestanding signs that meet the definition of a sandwich board sign are prohibited within street rights-of-way.

O. Off-premises signs. All signs must be located on the same lot as the use or occupant that is the subject of the sign or where the goods or services are available, except as specifically provided for in this section. Off-premises signs are allowed only for exempt signs in accordance with § 300-2.16; official business directional signs in accordance with § 300-2.21; business park identification signs in accordance with § 300-2.22; farm stand signs in accordance with § 300-2.18, Performance standards, Subsection M; farm stand directional signs and village shared entrance signs in accordance with § 300-2.18, Subsection N.
Continuation and termination of nonconforming signs
A. Removal of illegal signs. Signs that were previously installed without a permit from the Town or that are not legally nonconforming must be removed within 90 days of the adoption of this provision.

B. Continued use of legally nonconforming signs. Legally existing nonconforming signs may continue to be used in accordance with this section. Legally nonconforming signs may be repaired, but the sign may not be otherwise altered, enlarged or relocated except as provided for in Subsection C.

C. Discontinuation/Replacement of nonconforming signs.
 
(1) Any legally existing nonconforming sign as of the date of adoption of this Article 2-3 shall be removed or brought into conformance with the applicable provisions of this article:
 
(a) Prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for a building or premises that is substantially changed or altered in a manner that requires major site plan review;

(b) Within 30 days of a change of the occupant of the building or space;

(c) Within 30 days if a building is demolished, destroyed, or moved from the parcel;

(d) Within 30 days if the sign is demolished, destroyed or moved from the parcel, and the extent of the repairs exceeds 90% of the cost of replacing the sign with a conforming sign or the sign is moved from the parcel.

(2) The applicant shall be responsible for demonstrating to the Planning Board's satisfaction that all of these conditions are met.

(3) The Planning Board shall approve the replacement of a nonconforming sign with a less nonconforming sign. This replacement is available only one time for each nonconforming sign.
 
(a) The definition of "less nonconforming" is as follows:
 
[1] The replacement sign may be greater in area and height than the maximum allowed for a conforming sign by up to 50% of the difference between the existing nonconforming sign and a conforming sign;

[2] If a readerboard exists in the nonconforming sign that is not integrated into the sign, a replacement readerboard must be integrated into the new sign but may not be more than 75% of the area of the replacement sign; and

[3] If the nonconforming sign is a wall sign and the area of all wall signs is greater than the maximum conforming area allowed, the replacement wall sign must reduce the nonconformance of the total wall sign area by at least half of the difference between the existing nonconforming total area and the maximum conforming area for wall signs.
 
(b) In all other respects, including sign type, illumination, sign placement, and any other characteristic not specifically addressed in Subsection C(3)(a)[1], [2] or [3] above, the replacement sign must meet the requirements for a conforming sign for the sign environment in which the nonconforming sign is located.

(4) The request for Planning Board approval must be accompanied by the following:
 
(a) Full description of the existing nonconforming sign with drawings or photos identifying its type, size, height and method of illumination;

(b) An analysis detailing how the existing sign does not conform to the current requirements;

(c) A full description of the proposed replacement sign with drawings or photos identifying its type, size, height and method of illumination; and

(d) An analysis of how the proposed sign complies with the definition of "less nonconforming" set forth above.
Readerboard signs

In the roadside and industrial/business park environments, the readerboard may be an electronic message board illuminated by LEDs or other similar light sources, provided the electronic message board conforms to all of the following requirements:
 
(a) The message shall be limited to alphanumeric characters, but the background of the message board may include graphics, pictures or other visual features.

(b) The LEDs or other light elements that make up the message board shall be a single color in the amber or red spectrums.

(c) The intensity of the illumination shall be consistent for the entire board and shall be constant during the daytime and nighttime periods unless the intensity of illumination is programmed to adjust to ambient light levels.

(d) When the message on the board is changed, all changes to any of the elements on the face of the sign, including any background graphics or pictures, shall occur simultaneously. This provision does not preclude keeping some elements of the sign, including background graphics or pictures, constant while other elements are changed.

(e) The display, including time or temperature displays and background graphics or pictures, may not flash, scroll or appear to move.

(f) The numbers or letters shall consist of a single row of pixels.

(g) The illumination level or brightness of the face of the sign shall not exceed 500 nits from the period from 1/2 hour before sunset to 1/2 hour after sunrise and 3,500 nits from 1/2 hour after sunrise to 1/2 hour before sunset. The Planning Board may allow an increase in the daytime illumination level to not more than 5,000 nits if the applicant demonstrates during site plan review that the higher level is necessary for the sign to be readable in anticipated ambient light levels.

(h) The message board shall be equipped with an automatic dimmer to control the changes from the daytime illumination levels to the nighttime levels.

(i) The owner of the sign shall provide a written certification from the supplier or installer of the message board that the sign conforms to the standards for maximum illumination levels.

(j) The system shall not allow the owner of the sign to independently change the illumination levels.

See § 300-2.18A for more information on Readerboard signs.
Applicability.
A. The provisions of this article apply to all signs placed or erected on private property, signs located on or overhanging public property that relate to adjacent private property, and signs on public property that relate to a governmental use of that property unless specifically exempted by the provisions of this article. Signs and other advertising displays not specifically allowed by this article are hereby prohibited.

B. For the purposes of this article, "occupant" means any distinct use that occupies a separate and identifiable space within a building. Any activity that involves at least two of the following characteristics shall be considered to be an occupant for the purposes of these provisions:
(1) Separate cash registers or checkout/payment/service facilities that serve the use exclusively.

(2) Employees that work exclusively for the use.

(3) Occupancy of an area that is physically separated by walls, doors and hallways from other occupants.

(4) A lease on or ownership of an identifiable space.

(5) A separate entrance and identifiable building frontage associated with the occupant.

C. When a property is occupied by a single occupant, the sign provisions for a single-occupant property shall apply. When a property has more than one occupant, the sign provisions for a multi-occupant property shall apply.