[Amended 10-24-1994 by Ord. No. 94-438; 8-11-1997 by Ord. No. 97-335; 3-23-1998 by Ord. No. 98-135; 9-14-1998 by Ord. No. 98-335; 9-14-1998 by Ord. No.
98-339; 4-26-1999 by Ord. No. 99-149; 2-24-2003 by Ord. No. 03-76; 11-9-2009 by Ord. No. 09-320]
For the purposes of interpreting this chapter, the following
terms, phrases, words and their derivatives shall have the meanings
given herein:
A person requesting that a sign permit be issued.
An on-premises sign attached to the underside of the soffit
or ceiling of an arcade or covered walkway.
The Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Bangor or their
authorized agent.
A stone that forms the base of a corner of a building, joining
two walls.
[Added 6-13-2022 by Ord. No. 22-197]
A horizontal decorative molding that crowns a building.
[Added 6-13-2022 by Ord. No. 22-197]
An on-premises freestanding sign listing the names and/or
addresses of at least four or more separate businesses located within
a single building with each listing limited to a nameplate sign not
exceeding two square feet in area (on sign face).
The districts established under the Land Development Code of the City of Bangor in Chapter 165 of the Code of the City of Bangor.
An on-premises freestanding or wall sign with text and/or
graphics changeable by electronic signal.
[Amended 6-13-2022 by Ord. No. 22-197]
To build, construct, enlarge, display, relocate, attach,
hang, place, suspend or affix any sign, or to change the face of an
existing sign other than the remotely changeable portion of an electronic
sign. This includes the painting of exterior wall signs or window
signs.
The face of a building.
[Added 6-13-2022 by Ord. No. 22-197]
Any sign of fabric or similar material that is mounted to
a pole or a building by a frame at one or more edges.
[Added 5-29-2013 by Ord. No. 13-155]
A sign, the illumination of which is not kept constant in
intensity at all times when in use, including signs which are illuminated
by or contain flashing, intermittent or moving light or lights. Illuminated
signs that indicate the time, temperature, weather or other similar
information shall not be considered flashing signs, provided that
the total surface area does not exceed 66 square feet and the vertical
dimension of any letter or number is not more than 24 inches.
A sign supported by itself, by one or more uprights, poles,
braces or wheels placed in or on the ground or by a structure other
than a building.
A building with seven or more stories above grade.
A wall sign depicting the historic name of a building.
[Added 6-13-2022 by Ord. No. 22-197]
As defined in the Land Development Code, § 165-13.
A sign that has characters, letters, figures, designs or
outlines illuminated by electric lighting or luminous tubes which
are part of the sign or by an internal light source.
A sign which is illuminated entirely from an external source.
An industrial or commercial development in an approved, self-contained
subdivision with three or more lots serviced by a cul-de-sac or loop
road totally contained within it.
A freestanding sign identifying three or more occupants of
the park. No such sign shall advertise goods and services provided
on the premises.
Four or more separate but contiguous retail stores with common
off-street parking under single or common management.
Hand-painted, hand-tiled, digitally printed, or other created
images (which may contain lettering), on or affixed to the exterior
wall of a building, but which do not contain any advertising copy,
symbols, lettering/font, logos or other such recognized branding related
to products or services provided on or in the premises or on or in
an adjacent or nearby premises.
[Added 12-13-2021 by Ord. No. 22-023]
A nonilluminated sign, the area of which does not exceed
two square feet, which states one or more of the following: the name
of the building, the name of any occupant or the address of the building.
A sign that was lawfully erected but which now fails to comply
with the requirements of this chapter.
A sign that directs attention to a business, profession,
product, service, political campaign, entertainment, merchandise or
goods not conducted, sold, present or offered upon the premises where
such sign is located.
A flag no larger than 15 square feet and having no text aside
from the word "open." Open signs shall not be included in the calculation
of the number of signs and sign area allowed for a business.
[Added 5-29-2013 by Ord. No. 13-155]
Any individual, corporation, joint venture, partnership or
other legal entity.
Any building or portion thereof primarily used for gathering
together persons for participation in or enjoyment of visual, literary,
or performing arts, when such building or portion thereof has a capacity
of 50 persons or more and has an area available for use by the occupants
for assembly purposes of 500 square feet or more.
[Amended 9-24-2018 by Ord. No. 18-356]
The lot or parcel of land used in the active conduct of a
business, service, profession or activity, including but not limited
to structures, driveways, parking lots, storage areas, landscaping,
and loading areas.
A sign attached to a building wall and which extends more
than 15 inches from the surface of such wall.
A sign attached to a building and displayed above the eaves
of such building.
A sign that turns, rolls or otherwise moves, or gives the
appearance of turning, rolling or otherwise moving. Signs that electronically
or mechanically display the time and temperature by the complete substitution
or replacement of a display showing the time with a display showing
the temperature are not considered rotating or moving signs.
A display of merchandise that is sold within the store in
front of which the display is located.
[Added 12-28-2016 by Ord.
No. 17-035]
Any name, symbol, trademark, identification, description,
display, illustration, device or reading matter which may be viewed
from off premises and is used or intended to be used to attract the
attention of or convey information to the general public. The supporting
structure of the sign may be considered to be a part of the sign but
shall not be considered to be part of the sign area. A sign shall
include writing, representation or other figure of similar character
within a building only when illuminated and located in a window.
The total exposed surface of the sign, including all ornamentation,
embellishment, background and symbols but excluding the supporting
structure if it does not form a part of the message of the sign, measured
in square feet. The sign area of a sign composed of characters or
words attached directly to a large, uniform building wall surface
shall be the smallest rectangle which encloses the whole group. For
back-to-back faces of on-premises signs, only one display face shall
be included in computing total sign area where the sign faces are
parallel and the faces duplicate one another.
The underside of a structure, such as an arch, a balcony,
or overhanging eaves.
[Added 6-13-2022 by Ord. No. 22-197]
Any rigid or semirigid material situated upon or attached
to, or which is a part of, real property upon which a sign may be
posted or displayed.
A sign not permanently attached to a building or sidewalk
which is removed nightly and provides information regarding goods
and services provided on the adjacent premises.
A window over a crosspiece to separate from the door below.
[Added 6-13-2022 by Ord. No. 22-197]
An umbrella with one or more logos or other signs incorporated
into its design.
[Added 1-26-2015 by Ord. No. 15-056]
Any sign painted on or attached parallel to the wall surface
of a building and projecting therefrom not more than 15 inches.
An opening in the wall of a building containing transparent
or translucent materials, such as glass.
Any on-premises sign visible from the exterior of the building
or structure which is permanently painted, attached, glued or otherwise
affixed to a window.
Any person, firm, association, or corporation that erects any
sign in the City of Bangor must do so in accordance with this chapter
and only after obtaining a permit to do so from the Code Enforcement
Officer except in those instances where the requirement for a sign
to be permitted is specifically exempted elsewhere in this chapter.
A.
Application for sign permit. Application for a sign permit shall
be made and signed by the applicant or their agent using forms prescribed
and provided by the Code Enforcement Officer. When the applicant is
any person other than the owner or tenant of the property where the
sign is to be located, the application shall also be signed by the
owner or tenant of that property or their agent. The application shall
be accompanied by the required application fee; plans drawn to scale
showing the dimensions of the sign, the position of the sign in relation
to nearby buildings or structures, the location of the premises or
land upon which the sign is to be erected and the method of illumination,
if any; and such other information as the Code Enforcement Officer
shall require to show full compliance with this chapter and all other
laws and ordinances of the City of Bangor.
B.
Expiration. If the work authorized by the permit is not completed
within six months from the date of issuance, the permit shall be null
and void.
The following regulations shall apply to signs in all districts:
A.
Erecting signs.
(1)
Each separate establishment in a building shall be treated as separate
premises in determining the allowable sign dimensions and number of
signs.
(2)
Every projecting sign attached to the wall of any building above
a sidewalk, driveway or private or public parking area and every freestanding
sign in such area shall be required to maintain a clearance of at
least 10 feet between the bottom of such sign and the ground level.
(3)
A sign shall not be erected on, attached to, or in any other manner
affixed to or painted or drawn upon any tree, rock, other natural
feature, or any utility pole.
(4)
No sign shall be indirectly illuminated so as to cause light to shine
onto adjacent properties or into any public right-of-way.
(5)
A sign shall not obstruct a motorist's vision of an official traffic
signal.
(6)
Wall signs shall not be attached to or obstruct any window, door,
stairway or other opening intended for ingress, egress or for ventilation
or light.
B.
Maintenance.
(1)
All signs and their supporting structures shall be properly maintained
to prevent rust, rot, peeling or similar deterioration.
(2)
Painted wall signs, painted murals and painted artistic signs must
be repainted at least every five years.
[Amended 12-13-2021 by Ord. No. 22-023]
(3)
Any sign which advertises a business, activity or campaign no longer
conducted or product no longer sold on the premises shall be taken
down and removed by the owner, agent or person having control of the
premises or land upon which such sign is erected within 30 days of
the closure of the advertised entity or within 30 days after a written
notice from the Code Enforcement Officer stating that such sign must
be taken down and removed, whichever occurs first. A supporting structure
for a sign need not be removed. For purposes of this provision, a
turned-off electronic sign is considered a supporting structure.
C.
Prohibited signs.
(1)
A sign visible from a public street shall not simulate, by wording
or shape and color, any municipal or state highway sign, emergency
sign, traffic control sign or railroad crossing sign if such sign,
in the opinion of the Code Enforcement Officer, will constitute a
traffic hazard.
(2)
Business directional signs, as provided for by the Maine Traveler
Information Services Act (23 M.R.S.A. §§ 1901 through
1925), are not permitted in any public way within the City of Bangor.
[Amended 5-29-2013 by Ord. No. 13-155]
Permits are not required for the following signs:
A.
Municipal and state highway and emergency signs and traffic control
signals installed in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic
Control Devices published by the United States Department of Transportation.
B.
Railroad crossing signs and signals.
C.
Customary holiday decorations.
D.
Flags of countries, states, counties, cities and religious and civic
organizations.
E.
Memorial signs and tablets.
F.
In an historic district, one nameplate sign per façade facing
a street.
[Amended 6-13-2022 by Ord. No. 22-197]
G.
Window signs.
H.
Open flags.
I.
Umbrella signs.
[Added 1-26-2015 by Ord. No. 15-056]
J.
Sidewalk merchandise displays.
[Added 12-28-2016 by Ord.
No. 17-035]
K.
Murals and artistic signs, as defined in this chapter, that meet the requirements of § 260-6L.
[Added 12-13-2021 by Ord. No. 22-023]
L.
For entertainment
and recreation uses in WDD, wall signs located inside the facility.
[Added 6-13-2022 by Ord. No. 22-197]
