The following provisions shall apply to signs erected in all
zoning districts.
[8-16-2016]
One sign identifying the name, address and profession of a permitted
home occupation, class 2 or class 3, or home occupation (expanded
definition) or a lawfully existing nonconforming home occupation is
allowed provided such sign does not exceed four square feet in area,
and no side of the sign is greater than two feet six inches in length.
[8-16-2016]
A bulletin board or similar sign in connection with any church,
museum, library, school or similar public structure not exceeding
12 square feet is allowed, provided said bulletin board is attached
to building and not internally lighted.
[8-16-2016]
No sign, except traditional barber poles for licensed barber shops, shall have visible moving parts, blinking, moving or glaring illumination. This regulation does not prohibit a wall name sign consisting solely of a rectangular banner made of a flexible cloth-type material, attached at all corners either perpendicular or flat, and conforming to all provisions of Article V. This provision does not prohibit a sign which is in the form of a flag or banner provided said banner flag is attached to a pole. (A permit is required for a flag/banner).
[8-16-2016]
A string of lights shall not be used for the purpose of advertising
or attracting attention unless used as part of a holiday celebration.
[8-16-2016]
Any sign which no longer advertises an ongoing active bona fide
business conducted, product sold, or activity being conducted shall
be considered an obsolete sign and shall be taken down and removed
by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the building
or premises upon which such sign may be found within 30 days after
receiving written notification from the code enforcement officer.
Failure to comply with such notice shall constitute a violation of
the terms of this chapter.
[8-16-2016]
Illuminating signs whose specific purpose is outlining any part
of a building, such as a gable, roof, sidewalk or corner, are prohibited.
[8-16-2016]
In Residential Districts 1, 2 and 3, Residential II and Residential
Growth, illumination of signs (for uses which are permitted to have
an illuminated sign) shall be permitted only between the hours of
7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., except that this time restriction shall
not apply to illuminated signs of emergency facilities.
[8-16-2016]
District setback requirements shall not apply to signs; however,
no sign, except as may be permitted in the Downtown Commercial, Waterfront
Mixed Use 1 or Waterfront Mixed Use 2 zoning districts, shall project
over the public right-of-way. No ground sign shall be permitted in
the public right-of-way.
[8-16-2016]
In addition to the maximum number and size of signs permitted,
directional signs solely indicating ingress and egress placed at driveway
locations, containing no advertising material, having a display area
not exceeding five square feet, and not extending higher than seven
feet above ground level, are permitted, except in the Residential
Districts. A permit shall not be required for such directional signage.
[8-16-2016]
Legally nonconforming signs may continue but may not be altered
or relocated on the same premises, except in compliance with the provisions
of this chapter. Notwithstanding this provision, a legally nonconforming
sign that is nonconforming with respect to the size of the sign or
the height of the sign may continue when an owner replaces a sign,
provided other elements of the sign are in conformance with provisions
of this chapter. Further, if there are more legally established nonconforming
signs on a property than the total number of signs permitted on a
property for the respective zoning district in which the property
is located, said signage can continue, provided the nonconforming
signage is not removed for a period of 12 months.
[8-16-2016]
No mobile or portable signs shall be permitted.
[8-16-2016]
There shall be no off-premises signs except as are regulated
by the following State of Maine legislation: 23 M.R.S.A. §§ 1901
through 1925 (as amended), Maine Traveler Information Act, and 23
M.R.S.A. § 4206, Maine Transportation Act, or subsequent
amendments or recodification. The placement of signs, bulletins or
any other matter on City-owned poles is prohibited without prior approval
of the Belfast City Council. No off-premises signs shall be allowed
within the areas bounded as follows: Beginning at a point on the easterly
shore of the Passagasswaukeag River and the Route #1 Memorial bridge;
thence westerly and southerly along the centerline of the Route 1
bypass to the point where the Route #1 bypass intersects Northport
Avenue; thence westerly along the southerly boundary of Belfast Tax
Map 52 Lot 25 to the shore of the Belfast Bay; thence northerly back
to the point of beginning. The above-defined area does not include
the on- and off-ramps from Route 1.
[8-16-2016]
Reserved parking signs shall not exceed two square feet and
shall contain no advertising except name of person(s) who is reserving
the space. (Lettering for authorization shall not exceed one inch
in height.) No such sign shall be placed on or in a public right-of-way
or street to reserve parking.
[8-16-2016]
A maximum of two credit card signs for each credit card honored
per business shall be permitted for any business. Said signage shall
not be counted as signage provided no credit sign is greater than
one square foot in size.
[8-16-2016]
A real estate sign is allowed without a permit provided said
sign does not exceed 24 inches by 24 inches and is located on the
property which is offered for sale. A sign that is greater than the
above size may be permitted subject to issuance of a sign permit by
the code enforcement officer and compliance with the sign standards
that apply to the respective zoning district in which the property
advertised for sale is located.
[8-16-2016]
A maximum of six gasoline pump signs/logo will not be counted
as signage provided the sign/logo is part of the pump and not attached
to a post or mounted on top of the pump and the size of any sign does
not exceed two square feet.
[8-16-2016]
A maximum of vending machines shall be permitted with one sign per machine, provided the machine sign does not exceed the size of the front face of the vending machine. Should a business have more than two vending machines, said machine sign shall be screened from public view or the signs shall be counted as signage under Article VI.
[8-16-2016]
[8-16-2016]
The owner of a sign shall regularly maintain a sign in good
condition. The code enforcement officer has the authority to determine
if a sign is being properly maintained and to issue a written notice
of violation to the owner of a sign who is not properly maintaining
the sign. Failure to comply with such notice shall constitute a violation
of the terms of this chapter.
[8-16-2016]
The City recognizes that property owners in Belfast have used
art and architectural enhancements to adorn their buildings. For example,
the McDonald's in Belfast has a carved bear and the Colonial
Theatre has an elephant on the roof of the building. Such art shall
not be considered signage, provided that the art does not include
any type of indicator signage regarding the use of the property.
