The following standards shall apply to the regulation of a sign in the respective zoning districts enumerated below.
[2-7-2023]
(a) 
No ground or on-building sign that is located on a state designated route/road, including Routes 1, 3, 7, 52, and 141, as well as the Pitcher Road, shall exceed 48 square feet in size. On all other roads/streets, the maximum size of a ground or on-building sign shall be 32 square feet.
(b) 
There is a limit of two signs per business or activity, and a maximum of one ground sign per business or activity. The maximum height of a ground sign that is issued a permit after January 1, 2023, shall be 15 feet, unless the ground sign is a replacement sign for a ground sign that was more than 15 feet in height, in which case the replacement sign shall be no greater in height than the sign it replaced. The maximum length of a ground sign that is 48 square feet or larger that is issued a permit after January 1, 2023, shall be 10 feet, unless the ground sign is a replacement sign for a ground sign that is more than 10 feet in length, in which case the replacement sign shall be no greater in length than the sign it replaced. The maximum length of a sign that is less than 48 square feet in size shall be eight feet.
(c) 
The maximum square footage of all signs for a business or activity shall not exceed 96 square feet if the property is located on a state designated road [reference Subsection (a) above], and 64 square feet if the property is located on any other type of road/street.
(d) 
A sign shall not be internally illuminated. Digital signage is considered internally illuminated signage.
(e) 
A multiple business complex sign shall not exceed 96 square feet in size if the property is on a state designated road [reference Subsection (a) above], and 64 square feet in size if the property is on any other type of road/street. If a business or activity is advertised on a multiple business complex sign, said sign shall be considered one of the two signs that is permitted for said business. The maximum height and length of a multiple business complex sign that is a ground sign shall be the same as the standards identified in Subsection (b) above.
(f) 
Notwithstanding Subsections (a) through (e) above, the amount of signage permitted on the property identified as Map 1, Lot 72, shall be governed by terms approved by the Planning Board in the use permit issued to Belfast 52 Variety on August 9, 2000, provided the identified use on the property involves the use of fuel dispensers for fuel sales. The terms approved by the Planning Board in 2000 are:
(1) 
The applicant can install a sign advertising the sale of gasoline at the location shown on the Plan along Route 52. The sign is about 40 sf in size, with an accompanying price board of about 24 square feet, and is located on a pole that is about 17 ft in height. This sign may be internally illuminated, provided the applicant turns the sign (lights) off when the store is not open for business.
(2) 
The applicant may install signage on the canopy, provided the total size of all signs on the property (including the canopy signs) is less than 200 square feet, and there are no more than eight signs on the property. None of the signage on the canopy may be internally illuminated.
If the use of this property does not involve fuel sales, the amount of signage on the property shall comply with standards (a) through (e) in this section.
[2-7-2023]
(a) 
No sign may exceed 15 square feet in size.
(b) 
A limit of two signs per business (activity). Notwithstanding this limitation, when a business fronts on two or more public streets or a public street and a municipal parking lot with entrances on each of the two public streets or entrances on the public street and the municipal parking lot, the business may have three signs, provided there are no more than two signs for that business on any street or municipal parking lot.
(c) 
Internally illuminated signs are prohibited. Digital signage is considered an internally illuminated sign.
(d) 
A multiple business complex sign shall not exceed 48 square feet in size. If a business is advertised on a multiple business complex sign, said sign shall be considered one of the two signs that is permitted for said business.
(e) 
A ground sign shall not exceed 15 feet in height.
(f) 
In the Downtown Commercial, Waterfront Mixed Use 1, and Waterfront Mixed Use 2 zoning districts, a qualifying nonresidential use is permitted to display a sandwich board sign, provided said sign complies with requirements of Section 86-124.
(g) 
Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (a) above, The First Church, which is located at Map 11, Lot 168, shall have the right to display a sign that is no greater than 25 square feet in size (rather than 15 square feet) on both the Church Street and Spring Street sides of the property.
(h) 
Some properties in the Waterfront Mixed Use-1 and Waterfront Mixed Use-2 zoning districts are subject to requirements of an adopted contract rezoning agreement. An adopted contract rezoning agreement may establish specific signage requirements for a property or use that exceed the standards identified in this section.
[2-7-2023]
(a) 
No sign may exceed 72 square feet.
(b) 
Limit of two signs per business.
(c) 
A multiple business complex sign shall be permitted, provided that the total size of the sign does not exceed 128 square feet. Notwithstanding this provision, the City of Belfast may choose to erect a multiple business identification sign at the entrance to the Business Park or Airport at any or all of the following locations that exceeds this size standard: Airport Road, Wright Brothers Lane, or Little River Drive.
[2-7-2023]
(a) 
A nonresidential use, including a bed and breakfast (which is considered a home occupation) established after July 1, 1991, the date of enactment of this chapter, shall be limited to one sign up to 15 square feet in area. A home occupation is considered a residential use, and the amount of signage permitted for a home occupation is established in Article IV of this chapter.
(b) 
A nonresidential use in existence as of July 1, 1991, the date of the enactment of the original Sign Ordinance from which this chapter is derived, that has a greater amount of signage than permitted pursuant to Subsection (a) above, may maintain or replace any nonconforming signs that existed prior to July 1, 1991, provided the applicant for a sign permit can provide evidence to the satisfaction of the Code Enforcement Officer that the sign existed prior to July 1, 1991, and that the sign has not ceased to be in use for a period of 365 consecutive days (one year) since 1991.
(c) 
A nonresidential use legally in existence as of July 1, 1991, the date of the enactment of the original Sign Ordinance from which this chapter is derived, shall be allowed up to two signs that may not exceed 30 square feet in size, provided said signs are not combined into a single sign.
(d) 
The gasoline retailers located at Map 14, Lot 18, and Map 36, Lot 82, shall be permitted to display one dealer sign that advertises the brand of gasoline for sale that is larger than the maximum size of sign permitted in Subsection (a) above, provided the size of said sign does not exceed 50 square feet. The sign may be internally illuminated, provided the internal illumination occurs only during the hours which the retailer is open for business. The maximum height of a ground sign that advertises the brand of gasoline for sale shall be 25 feet. The retailer may display a maximum of four additional signs on the premises, provided none of the other signs are greater than 15 square feet in size and none are internally illuminated.
(e) 
Except as stipulated in Subsection (d) above, no sign shall be internally illuminated. Digital signage is considered an internally illuminated sign.
(f) 
Subject to the exception identified in Subsection (d) above, the maximum height of a ground sign that is issued a permit after January 1, 2023, shall be 10 feet, unless the ground sign is a replacement sign for a ground sign that was more than 10 feet in height, in which case the replacement sign shall be no greater in height than the sign it replaced. The maximum length of a ground sign that is issued a permit after January 1, 2023, shall be eight feet, unless the ground sign is a replacement sign for a ground sign that is more than eight feet in length, in which case the replacement sign shall be no greater in length than the sign it replaced.
(g) 
Some properties in the Residential 1 and Residential 2 zoning district may be subject to requirements of an adopted contract rezoning agreement. An adopted contract rezoning agreement may establish specific signage requirements for a property or use that exceed the standards identified in this section.
[2-7-2023]
(a) 
Single use on single property sign plan. The owner of a use which requests a sign permit shall submit a master sign plan that identifies the amount, size, location and type of all signs proposed to be erected and shall comply with all standards stipulated in this section.
(b) 
Master common sign plan for multiple uses on one property or multiple properties (multiple business complex sign). A single property (lot) on which more than one use or building is located, or two or more adjacent properties (lots), may submit a common sign plan. A common sign plan that complies with the requirements of this section shall be eligible for a 25% increase in the total amount of permitted signage for each lot, and this increase may be allocated as the owner(s) elect. The common sign plan shall specify how the signs are consistent with regard to the following considerations: color scheme, lettering or graphic style, lighting, location of signs on the building or property, material and sign proportions.
(c) 
Ground signs.
(1) 
A property shall have a maximum of one ground sign on any street (public or private right-of-way). A property with frontage on more than one street may have a ground sign on each street, subject to the exceptions identified in Subsection (c)(2) below. A ground sign shall comply with the following standards:
a. 
A ground sign that is mounted on a pole/pylon for one use shall be a maximum of 48 square feet in size, and shall be a maximum of 25 feet in height. A ground sign that is mounted on a pole/pylon for two or more uses shall be a maximum of 48 square feet in size for the first use, and shall be increased by a maximum of 24 square feet for each additional use, and shall be a maximum of 25 feet in height. The maximum size (multiple user) of any pole/pylon sign shall be 144 square feet, subject to the exception identified in Subsection (c)(2) below.
b. 
A ground sign that is located on the ground (a monument sign), shall be a maximum of 96 square feet in size and shall be a maximum of 10 feet in height. A monument sign for two or more uses shall be a maximum of 96 square feet in size for the first use, and shall be increased by a maximum of 36 square feet for each additional use, and shall be a maximum of 10 feet in height. The maximum size (multiple user) of any monument sign shall be 240 square feet, subject to the exception identified in Subsection (c)(2) below.
c. 
The City prefers that all ground signs be externally, not internally, illuminated. An externally illuminated sign may exceed the maximum sign size requirements identified in Subsection (c)(1)a and b above by 20%. External illumination shall occur by a steady, stationary, shielded light source directed solely at the sign and shall be the minimum light needed to allow illumination of the sign without causing glare on the adjacent street or neighboring properties, and without causing unnecessary reflection of light. An internally illuminated sign must use light-colored letters and symbols on a dark colored background. The source of the internal illumination shall not be exposed to view, and the sign shall be erected in a manner that deflects light away from residential properties and public roads.
d. 
Message boards and similar advertising signs shall be included within the sign size limitations identified in Subsection (c)(1)a, b and c above.
e. 
All ground signs shall be set back a minimum of five feet from the right-of-way, and the location of the sign shall not interfere with sight distance for vehicles entering or exiting the site. The City may consider the location of ground signs on adjacent properties in permitting the location of signs on any property.
(2) 
The following exceptions shall apply to the limitations on the number and location of ground signs identified in Subsection (c)(1) above.
a. 
A property with frontage on the Route One bypass (area on Route One from the jug-handle at the intersection of Route 1 and Northport Avenue to the westerly entrance of the Passagassawakeag Bridge) or any entrance/exit ramp to the Route One bypass shall be prohibited from erecting a ground sign along the property's frontage on the bypass or entrance/exit ramp, except in the following circumstances:
1. 
The sign is the only ground sign that is erected or displayed on the property;
2. 
The access road to the property is not readily discernible to the traveling public, as determined by the Code Enforcement Officer; or
3. 
If one or more businesses located on the property are subject to a franchise agreement that restricts the use of a master sign plan, reference sign standard in Section 86-154(b), for the display of a sign or signs for any business not associated with the franchise, a maximum of one ground sign or one ground master sign (in addition to any conforming or nonconforming ground signs on the property for a business subject to the franchise agreement) shall be permitted on the property for any and all businesses not associated with the business or businesses subject to the franchise agreement. To qualify for this exception, a property must have a minimum of 500 feet of frontage on either the Route One bypass or an entrance/exit ramp to the Route One bypass.
b. 
A nonresidential use located in the Searsport Avenue Commercial, or Searsport Avenue Waterfront zoning districts that has road frontage on Searsport Avenue (Route 1) shall be permitted a maximum of two ground signs along the property's Searsport Avenue frontage, provided the use complies with all of the following requirements, and the signs that are displayed comply with the following requirements:
1. 
The property must have at least 300 feet of frontage on Searsport Avenue.
2. 
The property must have two or more curb-cuts.
3. 
There shall be a minimum separation of 150 feet between the curb-cuts located on the property.
4. 
The businesses for which signs are requested must be separate and distinct businesses.
5. 
A maximum of two ground signs shall be permitted on any property.
6. 
The total amount of signage permitted on a property that uses two ground signs shall be as follows: 132 square feet for two businesses, 168 square feet for three businesses, 204 square feet for four businesses, and 240 square feet for five or more businesses. This size requirement shall allow any type of ground sign permitted by this chapter; internally lighted, externally lighted, pylon or monument sign, and any message or reader board sign shall be included within this square footage sign requirement.
7. 
The minimum amount of distance between the two ground signs must be at least 150 feet.
(d) 
On-building signs. The amount of on-building signage that is permitted shall be managed by the size of the building. The total amount of on-building wall signage shall not exceed 10% of the total wall area on which the sign is located if externally illuminated or non-illuminated signage is used. Internally lighted signage, that includes digital signage, shall not exceed 5% of the total wall area. The style of signage that is used shall be compatible with both the building and the other signage on the building.
(e) 
Window signage. Window signage shall not exceed 20% of the total amount of window area.
(f) 
Temporary signs. All temporary signs shall comply with requirements identified in Article III of this chapter.
(g) 
Some properties in the Route 3 Commercial and Searsport Avenue Commercial zoning districts may be subject to requirements of an adopted contract rezoning agreement. An adopted contract rezoning agreement may establish specific signage requirements for a property or use that exceed the standards identified in this section.