A. 
The Town, after due and careful consideration, finds and declares that it desires to preserve the natural and scenic beauty of the Town, its rural area and water ways, where a proliferation of advertising and other signs would despoil the beauty of the Town and create hazards to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
B. 
It is the intent and purpose of this article to preserve the beauty of the Town and the safety and well-being of the inhabitants while at the same time allowing reasonable advertising and informational signs by regulating the type, number, location, and size of such signs.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BANNER
Any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that is mounted to a pole or a building at one or more edges. National, state, or municipal flags, or the official flag of any institution or business, shall not be considered banners.
[Amended 11-10-2009]
FLAG
Any fabric or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns, or symbols.
[Amended 11-10-2009]
PENNANT
Any lightweight plastic, fabric, or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire, or string, usually in series, designed to move in the wind.
SIGN
Any device, fixture, placard, or structure that uses any color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol, or writing to advertise, announce the purpose of, or identify the purpose of a person or entity, or to communicate information of any kind to the public, including a sign located inside a window or door so that it is visible from the exterior of the building. Brand names and logos that are integral parts of a good to be sold are not considered signs under this chapter.
[Amended 11-10-2009]
SIGN AREA
The area on one side of the smallest simple geometric shape exemplified by a square, rectangle, triangle, circle, etc., encompassing all lettering, wording, design, or symbols, together with any background which is distinguishable from the building. For the purpose of calculating the area of a sign, an inconspicuous support exemplified by a slim post is not part of the sign.
SIGN, CANOPY
A sign that is a part of or attached to an awning, canopy, or other fabric, plastic, or structural protective cover over a door, entrance, window, or outdoor service area.
SIGN, CONSOLIDATED
A single on-premises sign that serves two or more businesses or entities, all of which are located on the same lot of record, which sign is on a single device, fixture, placard, or structure.
SIGN, FREESTANDING
A sign supported by one or more upright poles, columns, braces or structure anchored in the ground and not attached to any building or other structure.
SIGN, ILLUMINATED
A sign lit in any manner by an artificial source of light.
A. 
SIGN, EXTERNALLY ILLUMINATEDA sign that is lit entirely from an external source, such as flood- or spotlights, and is so arranged that no direct rays of light are projected from the external source into adjoining properties or public streets.
B. 
SIGN, INTERNALLY ILLUMINATEDA sign whose lighting is integral to the sign and/or shines through a plastic or other translucent covering.
SIGN, LADDER
A sign with two or more signs attached to the same support. The components of a ladder sign must comply, cumulatively, with the dimensional limitations imposed by this section.
SIGN, OFF-PREMISES
A sign that is not located on the same lot of record that the business, facility, or point of interest is located.
SIGN, ON-BUILDING
A sign that is attached to the building wall and extends not more than six inches from the face of such wall.
SIGN, ON-PREMISES
A sign that is located on the same lot of record that the business, facility, or point of interest is located.
SIGN, PORTABLE
A sign that is not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure; or a sign designed to be transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels or trailers, balloons used as signs, and signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right-of-way, unless said vehicle is used in the normal day-to-day operations of the business. For the purpose of this chapter, menu and sandwich board signs are not considered portable signs.
SIGN, PROJECTING
A sign that is attached to the building wall and extends more than six inches from the face of such wall.
SIGN, TEMPORARY
A sign of a temporary nature, erected less than 90 days within any twelve-month period, exemplified by the following: political signs, charitable signs, fund-raising signs, construction signs, carnival signs, garage sales, lawn sales, rummage sales, and all signs advertising sales of real estate and personal property, and "for rent" signs. Any exterior sign displayed by an ongoing business on the business's premises in which the written or printed message changes while the structure of the sign remains unchanged shall not be considered as a temporary sign. For example, chalkboards and signs with removable lettering shall not be considered temporary signs.
[Amended 11-10-2009]
[Amended 11-10-2009]
No person, firm or corporation shall hereafter erect, hang, place, or alter a sign or sign structure of any kind without a permit having been issued by the Code Enforcement Officer, upon payment of a permit fee as determined annually by the Selectmen. Any permit obtained subsequent to the erecting, hanging, placing, or altering a sign or structure shall be subject to a permit fee five times the scheduled fee. Every application for a sign permit shall be accompanied by plans to scale, showing the area of the sign, the position of the building, structure or lot to which or upon which the sign is to be attached or erected, the method of illumination if any, and such other information as the Code Enforcement Officer shall require to show full compliance with this and all other laws and ordinances of the Town. If it appears that the proposed sign is in compliance with all such requirements and laws, the permit shall be issued.
The following signs are excepted from the provisions of this chapter:
A. 
Any sign which was lawfully in existence prior to the date of the adoption of this chapter; provided, however, any change in lettering, size, construction, wording, location, or lighting of said sign shall constitute a new sign and such change shall be governed by the terms of this chapter;
B. 
House addresses, family name signs, and "no trespassing" signs;
C. 
Traffic control signs and safety signs, including handicapped access signs;
D. 
Signs painted on the window of a business which do not exceed 10% of the area of the glass;
E. 
Informational and directional signs concerning hospitals and emergency medical care facilities;
F. 
Vending and dispensing machines; however, vending and dispensing machines located outside a building shall not be internally illuminated;
[Added 6-20-2006]
G. 
A single blackboard sign on which the message may change, located near an entrance and attached to a building located in the Downtown Business (B-1), Highway Business (B-2), Business Transition (B-3), Neighbor Service (B-4), Harbor Business (B-H), Transitional Harbor Business (B-TH) or River Business (B-R), for the purpose of posting information, such as, but not limited to, menus, specials, new products, sales, real estate listings, or sample designs, provided the sign does not exceed three square feet;
[Added 11-10-2009; amended 11-6-2012; 7-14-2020]
H. 
Temporary sandwich board signs used to direct vehicles or pedestrians to an event sponsored by a civic group, organization or arts group; however, except as permitted under § 290-11.11C(5), other uses of sandwich board signs are prohibited;
[Added 11-10-2009; amended 11-6-2012]
I. 
Signs to direct vehicles or pedestrians within private or public property, provided the signs are no larger than three inches by 18 inches;
[Added 11-10-2009]
J. 
A single sign advertising fresh produce grown on the premises, provided the sign does not exceed four square feet in area;
[Added 11-10-2009]
K. 
Directional and informational signs on municipal property with the approval of the Code Enforcement Officer;
[Added 11-10-2009]
L. 
Temporary signs on Town property.
[Added 6-13-2018]
(1) 
The Town of Camden may, but shall not be required to, authorize the licensee, permittee, or lessee of Town-owned property used for a temporary event to erect and maintain signage related to such event, with the type, number, and the duration of posting to be determined by the Select Board. The term "temporary event" shall be an event with a duration of not more than three consecutive days, but may include events which are recurring.
(2) 
In determining whether or not to issue a temporary sign permit under this subsection, the Select Board shall consider the size, location, materials and general presentation of the sign in consideration of public safety and the harmonious relation to the surrounding property uses, landscaping, architecture and neighborhood. Language which is objectively offensive to the public or protected classes shall not be permitted.
Any sign now or hereafter existing which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted, product sold, or activity or campaign being conducted shall be taken down and removed by the owner, agent, or person having the beneficial use of the building, structure, or lot upon which such sign may be found within 10 days after written notification from the Code Enforcement Officer. Failure to comply with such notice constitutes a violation of the terms of this chapter.
If an exterior sign is to be illuminated, it must be illuminated externally only and shall be lighted from sources which are shielded from streets and adjoining property, with no exposed source of illumination. Businesses are allowed to display one internally illuminated "open" sign with a maximum size of two square feet in a window visible from the street with a permit from the Code Officer. Any permitted "open" sign shall not advertise or contain a logo of any product or company. The intensity of light from any illuminated sign visible from the exterior of the business shall remain constant in color, location, and brightness. No sign shall constitute a hazard to the flow of vehicular or pedestrian safety.
[Amended 11-10-2009]
Flags, banners, and pennants may be used for the promotion of an event by a civic group, organization, or arts group, provided they are displayed for no longer than seven consecutive days. Flags, banners and pennants may be used for customer or employee appreciation days, provided they are displayed no more than once a year and no longer than seven consecutive days; or upon the grand opening of a new business, provided they are displayed for no more than seven consecutive days. A permit from the Code Enforcement Officer for such flags, banners, and pennants shall be required for each event. All other use of flags, banners, and pennants as signs is prohibited; provided, however, that nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the flying of national, state, or municipal flags, or the official flag of any institution or business.
A. 
Billboards, animated signs, flashing signs, roof signs, rotating signs, signs containing any visible moving parts and portable signs are prohibited in all zones. Engraved cornerstones and stone engraved building or structure names are exempt from this prohibition.
B. 
Sandwich board signs, easels, and other sidewalk signs not affixed to a structure or sign post are prohibited on any public or private way except as permitted under § 290-11.11, Specifications, Subsection C(5).
[Amended 11-10-2009; 11-6-2012]
C. 
Ladder signs affixed by the use of hooks and chains are prohibited, except that such signs no larger than three inches by 18 inches may be used to indicate whether a business is open or closed or its vacancy status.
A. 
Types of signs within the public right-of-way. The following signs may be erected and maintained within the public right-of-way without license or permit as long as they conform to applicable provisions of this subsection and rules adopted pursuant to this section and 23 M.R.S.A. § 1913.[1]
(1) 
Signs erected by a producer that directs travelers to the location where farm and food products, as defined in Title 7 M.R.S.A. § 415, Subsection 1, Paragraph B, are grown, produced and sold. A sign must be directional in nature, may not exceed four square feet in size and must be located within five miles of where the farm and food product is sold. A producer may not erect more than four signs pursuant to this subsection. The location of such proposed signs must be approved by the Code Enforcement Officer.
(2) 
Signs erected for a farmers' market, as defined in Title 7 M.R.S.A. § 415, Subsection 1, Paragraph A, as long as the signs are directional in nature. A farmers' market may not erect more than four signs pursuant to this subsection. A sign must be directional in nature, may not exceed four square feet in size and must be located within two miles of where the farmers' market is located. Signs must be placed no earlier than the morning of the market being held and must be removed after the market closes. The location of such proposed signs must be approved by the Code Enforcement Officer.
[1]
Editor's Note: 23 M.R.S.A. § 1913 was repealed 5-26-1981 by Laws 1981, c. 318. See now 23 M.R.S.A. § 1913-A.
B. 
Traffic, public parking, public transportation, and roadside municipal directional signs, the location of such proposed signs must be approved by the Code Enforcement Officer.
C. 
All other off-premises signs, including official business directional signs (OBDS), as defined by the State of Maine Department of Transportation, are prohibited in all zones, except that any off-premises sign approved by the Department of Transportation and in place at any time in the 12 months preceding June 27, 1985, may remain.
The following designate the maximum allowable specifications of signs in all zones:
A. 
Industrial District (I): one on-premises sign identifying the business, with a maximum area of 30 square feet.
B. 
Rural 1 (RU-1), Rural 2 (RU-2), Rural Recreation (RR), Village Extension (VE), Traditional Village (V), and Coastal Residential (CR) Districts: two on-premises signs pertaining to a permitted use conducted on the premises, with a maximum area of 16 square feet. Approved subdivisions may be allowed one sign designating the name of the subdivision in accordance with the specifications of Subsection C(1) of this section.
[Amended 11-10-2009; 11-6-2012]
C. 
Downtown Business (B-1), Highway Business (B-2), Business Transition (B-3), Harbor Business (B-H), Transitional Harbor Business (B-TH); River Business (B-R), and Neighborhood Service (B-4) Districts: a business situated on its own, individual lot may have no more than three signs in any combination of the following approved types:
[Amended 11-11-2008];
(1) 
Freestanding signs: one sign with a maximum height of nine feet measured from the ground to top of the highest support or top of sign, with a maximum sign area of 16 square feet.
(2) 
On-building signs: one sign identifying the name of the business conducted on the premises and limited additional information which explains the nature of the business or profession. The sign shall be limited to one row of letters of a maximum height of 16 inches or one row of letters of a maximum height of 12 inches, identifying the name of the business and one additional row of letters of a maximum height of six inches providing limited additional information which explains the nature of the business; or to a sign identifying the name and/or logo of the business which is no greater than one square foot of sign for each two linear feet of the building fronting on the thoroughfare or waterfront and shall not exceed a maximum of 50 square feet in area.
[Amended 11-10-2009]
(3) 
Canopy signs and projecting signs: one sign with a maximum sign area of 12 square feet, except that such signs that overhang a public right-of-way shall have a maximum sign area of six square feet and a minimum vertical clearance of 10 feet.
[Amended 11-10-2009]
(4) 
One additional sign shall be permitted if the building fronts upon more than one thoroughfare (including the Harbor), said additional sign to front on said thoroughfare or waterfront.
[Added 11-10-2009]
(5) 
One freestanding or A-frame blackboard sign up to 17 inches by 28 inches in size may be allowed, with a permit from the Code Enforcement Officer, on private property in the Downtown Business (B-1) or Transitional Harbor Business (B-TH). One freestanding or A-frame blackboard sign up to 24 inches by 36 inches in size may be allowed, with a permit from the Code Enforcement Officer, on private property in the Highway Business (B-2), Business Transition (B-3), and Neighborhood Service (B-4). In determining whether to issue a permit, the CEO shall consider pedestrian and vehicle safety.
[Added 11-6-2012; amended 7-14-2020]
(6) 
In addition to signs otherwise permitted, two signs not to exceed two square feet each in sign area, designating an entrance or exit to a parking lot, shall be allowed.
(7) 
Approved subdivisions may be allowed a single permanent sign designating the name of the subdivision in accordance with the specifications of Subsection C(1) of this section.
[Added 11-15-2005]
D. 
Businesses that share a building each may have no more than two on-building, canopy, or projecting signs according to the specifications set forth in Subsection C above. One additional sign shall be permitted if the building fronts upon more than one thoroughfare (including the Harbor), said additional sign to front on said thoroughfare or waterfront.
(1) 
In addition, the building may accommodate a single consolidated sign, no greater than the square footage equivalent to the linear footage of the building fronting on the thoroughfare or waterfront, with a maximum sign area of 100 square feet, except in the Business Transition District (B-3), where the maximum sign area shall be 16 square feet.
[Amended 11-10-2009]
(2) 
Street-level businesses that share a building may have an individual freestanding sign, provided that the business has a separate street-level entrance.
[Added 11-10-2009]
(3) 
A consolidated sign may take the form of a ladder sign.
E. 
Home occupations and tradesmen's shops permitted as special exceptions.
[Amended 11-10-2009; 11-6-2012]
(1) 
Home occupations. One on-building sign is allowed for a home occupation in the Traditional Village (V) and Village Extension (VE) Zoning Districts, with a maximum sign area of six square feet. One freestanding sign is allowed for a home occupation in the Traditional Village (V) and Village Extension (VE) Zoning Districts, where the speed limit is 35 mph or greater, with a maximum sign area of six square feet. One on-building and one freestanding sign are allowed for a home occupation in the Rural 1 (RU-1), Rural 2 (RU-2), and Coastal Residential (CR) Zoning Districts, with a maximum combined sign area of 16 square feet. Properties with more than one home occupation shall be required to place all information on the one sign.
(2) 
Tradesmen's shops permitted as special exceptions. One on-building and one free standing sign are allowed for a tradesman shop permitted as a special exception in the Rural 2 (RU-2), with a maximum combined sign area of 16 square feet.
F. 
Nonconforming signs in existence prior to the date of adoption of this chapter on November 4, 1992, may be replaced by new signs that comply with the terms of this section or that are not larger than 75% of the existing sign area. A nonconforming sign which is discontinued for a period of 24 consecutive months may not be resumed.
G. 
A sign allowed in the front setback area may not protrude outside the property line, except for canopy or projecting signs in conformance with Subsection C(3)of this section.
H. 
All roadside municipal directional signs for public facilities, except those covered under Subsection I, shall be standard "symbol" signs approved by the Code Enforcement Officer, measuring no larger than 12 inches by 18 inches with an additional directional arrow sign where needed. No wording shall be used on the sign. These signs shall be placed on a single metal post or pressure-treated wood post, or on signposts erected for other purposes.
I. 
Roadside signage for public parking and transportation facilities shall be no larger than 12 inches by 18 inches. Freestanding signs within public parking facilities shall be no larger than 16 square feet.
A. 
A temporary sign, as defined in this chapter, shall not exceed six square feet in sign area and shall not be illuminated.
B. 
A sign permit shall be required for any sign erected longer than 90 days within any twelve-month period, except real estate signs offering property for sale or rent, which may be left in place without a permit until the sale or rental of the property; and construction signs, which shall be allowed without a permit for the duration of the project. Real estate signs shall not be placed in traffic islands, within Town right-of-ways or at any location that could cause a traffic hazard.
[Amended 11-10-2009]
C. 
New construction requiring site plan review shall be allowed one construction sign of up to 16 square feet for the duration of the project.
[Added 6-17-2009]
A. 
A permit for Town directional signage shall be issued by the Code Enforcement Officer upon the recommendation of the Camden Planning Board and the recommendation of the Parking, Transportation and Traffic Committee and the approval of the Camden Select Board.
B. 
Town directional signage shall be of consistent design and shall use international symbols whenever possible.
C. 
The specific placement of Town directional signage shall be approved by the Maine Department of Transportation when located along state roads; and by the Road Commissioner and Chief of Police when located along Town of Camden roads.
D. 
Minor changes to Town directional signage are permitted with the approval of the Code Enforcement Officer.