City of Belfast, ME Temporary Signs

[8-16-2016]

Signs bearing political messages relating to an election, primary or referendum, shall not be placed within the right-of-way prior to six weeks before the election, primary or referendum to which they relate and must be removed by the candidate or political committee not later than one week thereafter. The placement of such a sign also is subject to the following standards:

A person who chooses to erect or display a sign shall use the utmost consideration and good judgment in the placement of a sign to ensure it does not interfere with the public safety of the traveling public, including motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. All signs must allow good visibility for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic patterns. Any sign determined to be impeding such visibility or similar safety concerns can be removed by City law enforcement, public safety, code enforcement and/or public works officials.

A person who chooses to display a temporary political sign shall affix the sign to its own stake or post and set it in the ground, and shall ensure it is securely in the ground. Any sign that is not securely in the ground or which is detached from its stake or post can be removed by City law enforcement, public safety, code enforcement and/or public works officials if they deem such to pose a safety concern or that the sign is in disrepair.

Pursuant to state law, a political sign in view of any highway or near a highway cannot resemble an official traffic control device, such as but not limited to a stop sign or speed limit sign.

No person shall erect or display a temporary political sign on any of the following City-owned properties or within the road right-of-way adjacent to these properties: Armistice Bridge (Belfast Footbridge), Boathouse at Steamboat Landing and Steamboat Landing Park, Belfast Common, Heritage Park, City Park, Belfast City Hall (Church St), Belfast Police Department (High Street), Belfast Public Library (High Street), Thompson's Wharf, Belfast Boat Harbor (City Landing) and accompanying parking lot, Washington Street parking lot, Cross Street parking lot, Beaver Street parking lot, any and all RSU #71 School buildings, Belfast Public Works Department, Belfast Wastewater Treatment Plant, Belfast Transfer Station, Belfast Municipal Airport, and any and all City cemeteries. Further, persons who chose to erect or display a temporary political sign on any property owned or controlled by the Waldo County government, the State of Maine or the United States Federal Government are advised to seek the permission of the respective authority regarding their policies for placement of a sign.

A person may erect or display a temporary political sign within the road right-of-way adjacent to the following City properties: Walsh Field; Sportsman Park; Whales Park; Eleanor Crawford Park (corner of High Street and Church Street, provided signs do not interfere with garden installed by the Belfast Garden Club); the City Fire Department (limited to the corner of the Fire Department near the Museum and that the placement of the sign does not interfere with the use of the Fire Department); Kirby Pond (the Muck, provided the sign does not interfere with use of the Pond or its facilities); and the former City dump property located on Pitcher Road.

No person shall erect, maintain, or display a sign on any City-owned property or within a public right-of-way that is located on the identified portions of the following streets: Main Street, between Court Street and the Front Street; Church Street, between Market Street and Spring Street; High Street, between Bridge Street and Spring Street; Cross Street, between Spring Street and Main Street; Front Street, between the westerly corner of the Wastewater Treatment Plant property, Map 11, Lot 124 and Commercial Street; Beaver Street (all of street); and Pendelton Lane (all of street).

During the time period that absentee voting is permitted, no person shall erect, maintain or display a sign on any City-owned property, within a public road right-of-way, or on vehicles parked for more than 30 minutes within such a public right-of-way, if it is located within 250 feet of either entrance of Belfast City Hall which is located on Church Street and High Street. This standard, however, does not prevent the display of a political sign on any private property located within 250 feet of Belfast City Hall, or within any public right-of-way on a privately owned property, such as but not necessarily limited to the driveway and parking area that serves Key Bank and surrounding properties.

Further, no political signs shall be displayed within a public road right-of-way or on vehicles parked for more than 30 minutes within such a public right-of-way, that are located within 250 feet of the entrance to a polling place when the polling place is open.

In all cases, the display of political signs in any area used as a polling place shall be governed by the requirements of state law.

Pursuant to Maine State Law, Title 23, § 1917-A, no person shall take, deface or disturb a lawfully placed sign bearing political messages relating to a general election, primary election or referendum.