All off-premises signs shall be prohibited with the exception of the following.
[Amended 8-24-1992 by Ord. No. 92-393; 2-22-1993 by Ord. No. 93-141; 10-24-1994 by Ord. No. 94-438; 12-28-1994 by Ord. No. 95-22; 3-23-1998 by Ord. No. 98-135]
A. 
A sign displaying the name of an industrial or commercial park and/or a directory of businesses and industries within the industrial or commercial park listed herein shall be permitted within or without a public right-of-way in any commercial or industrial district. The industrial or commercial parks are listed as follows:
(1) 
Bangor Industrial Park.
(2) 
Godsoe Road Industrial Park Annex.
(3) 
Target Industrial Circle.
(4) 
Hildreth Street Industrial Park North.
(5) 
Hildreth Street Industrial Park South.
(6) 
Bangor International Airport Industrial Airpark.
(7) 
Bomarc Industrial Park.
(8) 
Sylvan Road Industrial Park.
(9) 
Dowd Industrial Estates Park.
(10) 
Evergreen Woods.
(11) 
Christmas Tree Shop Plaza.
[Added 7-26-2010 by Ord. No. 10-251[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Subsection A(11), Shaw's Plaza, of the 1998 Code.
(12) 
Sam's Plaza.
(13) 
Longview Park (Hogan Road and Longview Drive).
(14) 
Longview Park (Stillwater Avenue and Longview Drive).
(15) 
Maine Business Enterprise Park.
(16) 
Oak Ridge Business Park.
[Added 7-26-1999 by Ord. No. 99-253]
B. 
A sign displaying the name Bass Park and/or a directory of businesses within the Bass Park District. Lots within the Bass Park District shall be permitted no on-premises freestanding signs other than directional signage allowed elsewhere in this Code. The lots that lie in the Bass Park District shall collectively be permitted to install one off-premises freestanding sign in the Dutton Street right-of-way.
[Added 11-13-2013 by Ord. No. 13-349[2]]
[2]
Editor’s Note: This ordinance also amended the title of this section to include the words "and Bass Park District," and designated former Subsection B as Subsection C.
C. 
Each sign authorized under this section shall be subject to the following conditions:
[Amended 5-24-2004 by Ord. No. 04-136]
(1) 
Each sign shall be owned by the City of Bangor, but the costs for construction, installation, maintenance and removal shall be borne by occupants of the industrial or commercial park or Bass Park District. Said occupants shall agree among themselves as to how said costs will be paid through an agreement recorded in the Penobscot County Registry of Deeds, a copy of which shall be provided to the Code Enforcement Division. Should the occupants fail to record such an agreement, the City may assess the occupants reasonable fees to cover said costs.
[Amended 10-12-2011 by Ord. No. 11-292; 11-13-2013 by Ord. No. 13-349]
(2) 
Signs may be constructed only upon issuance of a permit by the Code Enforcement Officer, who shall determine the conformance of the sign with existing laws and who shall obtain from the City Engineer written approval that the design and exact location of a sign to be constructed within a right-of-way will not constitute a traffic hazard. A sign may be removed from a right-of-way by the City should the City determine a need of the sign location for road purposes.
(3) 
In cases of permits issued after the effective date of this section, no more than one sign shall be located at or near any entrance to any industrial or commercial park.
(4) 
A sign shall be limited to 300 square feet of sign area per side and shall be limited to a maximum height of 25 feet. The bottom of the sign face must stand at least six feet from the normal ground elevation where, in the opinion of the City Engineer, the view from a stopped car at the intersection of a driveway or road would be obstructed or the sign would constitute a traffic hazard. Where the view of a turning vehicle is not obstructed, there shall be no minimum height requirement. The sign shall carry no flashing illumination or moving parts.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
(5) 
Each commercial or industrial park sign shall include the name of the commercial or industrial park as indicated in Subsection A.
(6) 
A sign carrying a directory of park occupants must be designed to provide a name space which is uniform in size and shape for each of the lots in the park. Designation of individual panels shall be determined in the agreement mentioned in Subsection C(1) of this section. A park occupant may, as part of said agreement, waive its right to use its panel in favor of a business on another lot in the park, provided that in no case may a business use more than one panel.
[Amended 10-12-2011 by Ord. No. 11-292]
(7) 
Each tenant panel sign shall have a maximum length of 10 feet and a minimum length of two feet, and have a maximum height of 30 inches and a minimum height of one foot, except that in the Bass Park District one panel may have a maximum height of up to 60 inches.
[Amended 10-12-2011 by Ord. No. 11-292; 11-13-2013 by Ord. No. 13-349]
The following off-premises signs may be erected and maintained without a permit from the Code Enforcement Officer:
A. 
Signs located on or in the rolling stock of common carriers and signs on registered and inspected motor vehicles, except such signs which are determined by the Code Enforcement Officer to be circumventing the intent of this chapter. Circumvention shall include, but not be limited to, signs which are continuously in the same location or signs that extend beyond the height, width or length of the vehicle.
B. 
Handheld signs.
C. 
Signs on or in bus shelters as provided in Chapter 165 (the Land Development Code of the City of Bangor).
D. 
Special intracommunity service signs.
(1) 
Such signs may be erected in any non-controlled-access public right-of-way within the City of Bangor. Such signs may only be erected by the City of Bangor. Such signs shall be limited to directing traffic to the following locations:
[Amended 4-22-1996 by Ord. No. 96-174; 6-14-2010 by Ord. No. 10-200; 12-26-2018 by Ord. No. 19-033]
(a) 
Hospitals which provide emergency services 24 hours a day.
(b) 
Public transportation facilities, including airports, railroad stations, bus terminals and ferries.
(c) 
Public recreational facilities, such as beaches, parks, sport arenas, scenic areas, historical sites, museums and cultural facilities and educational facilities.
(d) 
Municipal subdivisions, such as central business districts and villages within the City boundaries.
(e) 
Governmental buildings or agencies, such as City Hall, county buildings, schools, armories and fire and police stations.
(f) 
Places of worship, as defined in § 165-13 of the Land Development Code.
(g) 
Buildings or developments which are primarily accessible through, but are not within, an industrial or commercial park listed in § 260-11A, provided that:
[1] 
The sign is erected within or adjacent to said park;
[2] 
The sign does not direct the public to another industrial or commercial park; and
[3] 
The City Engineer or their designee finds that the sign is necessary to assist the public in accessing the business or development.
(h) 
Buildings or developments which are primarily accessible by a private road on a separate parcel, provided that:
[1] 
The building or development has no frontage on a public way, excepting any frontage on an interstate highway; and
[2] 
The City Engineer or their designee finds that the sign is necessary to assist the public in accessing the business or development.
(2) 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former Subsection D(2), regarding signs for specific commercial establishments, of the 1998 Code was repealed 12-26-2018 by Ord. No. 19-033.
(3) 
Signs shall be rectangular in shape with a white legend on a blue background. The maximum length shall be 48 inches, and the maximum letter size shall be four inches. No more than two lines of copy shall be permitted on any one sign. No more than three signs shall be permitted per installation.
[Amended 12-26-2018 by Ord. No. 19-033]
(a) 
Vertical and lateral clearances of such signs shall conform to Section 2A.16 of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways. Such signs shall not be erected in conjunction with, nor be in conflict with, nor interfere with, official highway signs.
[Amended 12-26-2018 by Ord. No. 19-033]
(b) 
Each sign shall be owned by the City of Bangor, but the costs for construction, installation, maintenance and removal shall be borne by the organization for which the sign was erected.
[Amended 4-22-1996 by Ord. No. 96-174]
(c) 
The City Engineer or their designee shall have the authority over the location of such signs to ensure the public safety. Signs shall be placed so they do not obstruct sight lines of other roadway signs. Installations shall be field checked by the City Engineer or their designee to verify there are no sight obstructions.
(4) 
Special intracommunity signs directing the public to municipal subdivisions or villages, such as central business or waterfront districts, or to governmental buildings, such as City Hall, county buildings, schools, libraries and fire and police stations, and signs welcoming the public to the City of Bangor shall not be subject to Subsection D(3) above. Design, shape and size of such signs shall be reviewed and authorized by the City Council.
[Amended 4-22-1996 by Ord. No. 96-174]
E. 
Downtown seasonal and promotional banners, provided that:
[Added 4-25-2016 by Ord. No. 16-146]
(1) 
The banners may only be erected within a public right-of-way in the designated Downtown Tax Increment Financing District area, as approved by the City Council and accepted by the State of Maine. The banners are not subject to the requirements of § 260-6I.
(2) 
The banners must be owned and erected by the City of Bangor, and shall be reviewed and authorized by the City Council.
(3) 
Banners advertising specific commercial establishments are prohibited.
(4) 
Each banner may have the logo and/or name of a sponsoring organization. The logo and/or name may not take up more than 20% of the sign area.
(5) 
No banner shall be installed, maintained, or allowed to remain in a manner as to constitute a hazard to the traveling public or cause an obstruction to any traffic sign or signal. The Director of Public Works may cause such a banner to be removed at their discretion.
The following off-premises signs may be erected and maintained outside the public right-of-way without a permit from the Code Enforcement Officer:
A. 
Signs erected by a public, civic, philanthropic, charitable or religious organization announcing an auction, public supper, lawn sale, campaign or drive or other like event or soliciting contributions.
B. 
Signs erected by fairs and expositions operated within the City of Bangor.
C. 
Signs bearing religious messages and signs showing the time and place of services or meetings of religious and civic organizations.
D. 
Signs erected by nonprofit historical and cultural institutions identifying landmarks or historic districts. Each institution or historic district may erect not more than two signs with a surface area not to exceed 50 square feet per sign, and each landmark may erect one sign with a surface area not to exceed 50 square feet.
[Amended 2-24-2003 by Ord. No. 03-76]
E. 
Signs bearing political messages.
F. 
Park sponsorship signs.
[Added 8-25-2003 by Ord. No. 03-252]
(1) 
The City of Bangor may erect no more than two sponsorship signs in each park designated in Subsection F(4)(d).
(2) 
Each sign shall be owned and maintained by the City of Bangor.
(3) 
Dimensions and location.
(a) 
Sponsorship signs shall be freestanding; and
[1] 
Not exceed eight feet in height;
[2] 
Both sides of the sign may be utilized.
(b) 
Sponsorship sign dimensions shall not exceed two feet by three feet.
(c) 
Each sign shall identify the name of the park, a short history of the park or other relevant information (if any), and may recognize the park’s sponsor in accordance with Subsection F(4).
(d) 
The design of the signs shall be as uniform as practical; said design to be approved by the Council Committee exercising oversight over the Parks and Recreation Department.
(e) 
The Director of Parks and Recreation shall designate where such signs shall be erected or relocated within a park.
(4) 
Sponsorships.
(a) 
Any person, organization, business, or other entity may sponsor a park by completing a sponsor application form and paying an annual sponsorship fee to the City of Bangor.
(b) 
A person, organization, business, or other entity who sponsors a specific park shall have first option to renew its sponsorship of that particular park.
(c) 
The City of Bangor may utilize sponsorship fees for any Parks and Recreation Department purpose.
(d) 
Sponsorship signs shall recognize a park’s sponsor by indicating that the park has been "Sponsored by" and the sponsor’s name in letters not to exceed two inches; except that there shall be no recognition of the sponsor of Davenport Park in honor of the memory of the crew of the U.S.S. Maine and all veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
(e) 
Sponsorship fees shall be established by Council Order for the following parks:
[1] 
Category 1:
[a] 
Broadway Park;
[b] 
Cascade Park;
[c] 
Davenport Park;
[d] 
Hayford’s Park;
[e] 
Kenduskeag Stream Park;
[f] 
Paul Bunyan Park; and
[g] 
Union Street Recreational Area.
[2] 
Category 2:
[a] 
Brown Woods;
[b] 
Essex Street Recreation Area (Penjajawoc Park);
[c] 
Hamlin Mall;
[d] 
Norumbega Mall;
[e] 
Pierce Park;
[f] 
Prentiss Woods; and
[g] 
Stillwater Park Playground.
[3] 
Category 3:
[a] 
Bangor Gardens Playground;
[b] 
Chapin Park;
[c] 
Coe Park;
[d] 
Dakin Park;
[e] 
Fairmount Park;
[f] 
Little City Park;
[g] 
Second Street Playground;
[h] 
Summit Park; and
[i] 
Williams Park.
(5) 
Effective date. This subsection (§ 260-13F) shall take effect on June 1, 2004.
[Amended 4-25-2016 by Ord. No. 16-146]
No off-premises sign shall be suspended over any public street or sidewalk, with the exception of a flag or banner as provided in § 260-12E of this Code. The City Council may, by order, allow signs located on sidewalks.
All off-premises signs shall comply with any and all state and federal statutes and regulations prohibiting outdoor advertising, billboards and off-premises signs.