Saco City Zoning Code
ARTICLE IX
Signs
§ 230-901 Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to maintain an attractive, uncluttered appearance throughout the City, to minimize distractions to motorists, and to protect the value of nearby properties, while providing for sufficient communication, advertising, and identification of businesses.
§ 230-902 Permit required.
No sign, billboard, or exterior graphic display shall be erected, enlarged, refaced, or replaced without first obtaining a sign permit from the Code Enforcement Officer. Within the Historic District, a certificate of appropriateness shall be obtained before a sign permit is issued.
§ 230-903 Exemptions.
For regulatory purposes, the following do not require a sign permit under this article:
A.
Temporary (on-site) signs that meet the following standards do not require a permit:
B.
Public purpose signs and signs such as directional signs (no more than four square feet in area, and three feet above grade) that guide motorists to exits and entrances, signs erected by a government agency, signs prohibiting trespassing or hunting, and historical plaques.
C.
Signs not visible from the public way.
D.
Signs on the interior of windows visible from a public way.
E.
Directional signs not exceeding three square feet in area as measured on one side and not exceeding six feet above ground level may be installed within a site with permission of the Code Enforcement Officer. The purpose of such signs shall be directional only.
§ 230-904 Dimensional requirements and signage standards.
A.
All signs as defined herein shall adhere to the requirements of Table 9-1. Area limitations noted below for freestanding and projecting signs refer to the size of one face of the sign.
B.
Measurement.
(1)
The area of a sign shall be computed by means of the smallest rectangle, circle, triangle, or combination thereof that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing or other graphical display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the sign, or used to differentiate the sign from the structure against which it is placed but does not include supporting posts or any structural elements outside the limits of such perimeter and which do not form an integral part of the display.
(2)
Awning signs, if opaque, shall be measured in the same manner as described directly above. Opaque awnings with one small opaque monogram or opaque logo of less than six inches in height shall not be considered signs. For awnings that are translucent and internally illuminated and incorporate any commercial message or symbol, the entire translucent and illuminated portion of the awning shall be counted.
C.
Sight line obstruction. For traffic safety, the entire signboard or display area of a freestanding sign located on a double frontage corner lot or near a business exit lane shall be either below three feet or above 10 feet in height from the average ground level when the sign is within 15 feet of a public right-of-way.
D.
Official business directional signs. Official business directional signs, as otherwise regulated by 23 M.R.S.A §§ 1901 to 1925, as amended, are permitted for any business located in Saco and for businesses within abutting communities that have or are eligible to have guide signs on the Maine Turnpike that display business identification and directional information for services and eligible attractions. Official business directional signs for businesses within abutting communities shall only be permitted when a guide sign for the applicant's business on the Maine Turnpike either exists or has been approved and then installed. When permitted by this section, official business directional signs may be erected only within the business and industrial districts, subject to all restrictions and conditions of 23 M.R.S.A §§ 1901 to 1925, as amended.
E.
Business signs in residential districts.
(1)
Exterior signs shall not exceed four square feet. Signs shall not be illuminated. Only one category of sign (wall sign, projecting, freestanding) shall be allowed per building. No illuminated or mobile (chassis-mounted) signs shall be permitted in a residential district. No signs are permitted on trucks or trailers parked continuously in a residential district.
(2)
Exterior signs for properties approved for nonresidential uses in residential districts with frontage on roads or streets listed below shall not exceed 12 square feet if attached parallel to the wall of a building, 12 square feet is projecting from the wall of a building, on 12 square feet if the sign is freestanding. Signs may be illuminated during hours of operation only, and only with a top of sign-mounted, fully shielded fixture which illuminates the sign only. The roads and streets affected include Route One (Elm Street, Main Street, Portland Road), Industrial Park Road, and North Street/Route 112 (Park Street to Rotary Drive).
F.
Signs in Business, Industrial Districts, and master planned developments: Any establishment in a business or industrial district shall have no more than two signs, one of which may be freestanding.
(1)
The size and number of signs permitted in business and industrial districts is regulated by Table 9-1 below.
Table 9-1 Dimensional Requirements for Signs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Districts | |||||
Restriction | D, SI, CE | GB, HB, I, BI | PR | MB | I, BI abutting turnpike |
Overall size allowance per premises per foot of width of principal structure (square feet) | 2 to maximum of 100 | 2 to maximum of 150 | 2 to maximum of 200 | 2 to a maximum of 48 | 2 to maximum of 350 |
Number of signs per single occupancy premises | 2 signs, only one of which may be freestanding, plus 1 additional wall sign not exceeding 12 square feet | 2 signs, only one of which may be freestanding, plus 1 additional wall sign not exceeding 12 square feet | 2 signs, plus 1 additional wall sign not exceeding 12 square feet | 2 signs, only one of which may be freestanding | 3 signs, only one of which may be freestanding |
Multiple-occupancy premises, number and type of sign: | |||||
For entire complex | 1 freestanding or wall sign serving as a directory or anchor tenant sign not to exceed 50% of overall size allowance | 1 freestanding or wall sign serving as a directory or anchor tenant sign not to exceed 50% of overall size allowance | 1 freestanding or wall sign serving as a directory or anchor tenant sign not to exceed 50% of overall size allowance | 2 signs only one of which be freestanding | 1 freestanding or wall sign serving as a directory or anchor tenant sign not to exceed 50% of overall size allowance |
For each first floor occupancy | 2 wall, projecting or awning signs per occupancy | 2 wall, projecting or awning signs per occupancy | 2 wall, projecting or awning signs per occupancy | n/a | 2 wall, projecting or awning signs per occupancy |
Upper floor and basement occupancies | 1 wall or projecting sign not exceeding 12 square feet | 1 wall or projecting sign not exceeding 12 square feet | 1 wall or projecting sign not exceeding 12 square feet | n/a | n/a |
Size limits, individual sign types for all zones: | |||||
Wall and awning signs maximum size (square feet) | 100 | 100 | 150 | 16 | If facing turnpike, within 50 feet of turnpike ROW, 150; greater than 50 feet from turnpike ROW, 200 |
Freestanding and projecting signs maximum size per side (square feet) | 50 | 75 | 100 | 16 | 100 |
(2)
In addition to other signs permitted in business districts only, a single banner not larger than three feet by five feet may be displayed. Such banners shall be displayed on the building or on a permitted freestanding sign only. Banners shall be installed in a safe manner that does not interfere with pedestrian or other traffic, and shall be maintained in an attractive, untattered condition and may be erected for a period not to exceed 30 days. A system of decorative banners may be placed on buildings, utility poles or light poles by a business association or civic group if approved by the City Council.
(3)
Business advertising signs shall not be placed closer than five feet from any lot line. The maximum height for freestanding signs shall be 25 feet above the adjacent ground grade.
G.
Freestanding signs shall be required to be attached to permanent posts and to be hung vertically above the ground. So-called "A-frame" signs shall be prohibited, except as indicated. Any business which is permitted to have more than one freestanding sign and chooses to do so shall maintain 100 feet of separation between freestanding signs on same property.
H.
Projecting signs. No sign shall project into or over a public street or way except in the Downtown District on Main Street and in Pepperell Square, as permitted below:
(1)
The sign has a combined surface area no greater than 1.5 square feet for each foot of width of the principal structure. In no case shall the combined surface area be greater than 50 square feet.
(2)
The sign does not project more than 10 feet out from the building line.
(3)
The sign is at least three feet back from a line perpendicular to the curbline.
(4)
The bottom edge of the sign is at least 10 feet above the sidewalk.
I.
A-frame signs. One small A-frame sandwich board sign may be placed on the sidewalks in front of any business in the Downtown District and Main and Beach Districts. Such signs shall be taken in each day before close of business. Such signs shall not exceed 30 inches in width and 42 inches in height and shall be placed only in locations where the sidewalk is wide enough to allow four feet of passage. Such signs shall be constructed of exterior grade plywood or of other durable materials intended for exterior use, be of sturdy construction, and shall be weighted to prevent them from blowing over. All such signs shall be neatly painted, not illuminated, and subject to review under the Historic Preservation article of this chapter. The City may remove from public property any A-frame sign which is not in compliance with this chapter. Signs must be removed prior to and 24 hours after any snow event to allow for municipal snow removal. The City is not responsible for any signs damaged nor is the City of Saco responsible for any harm to people or property occurring as a consequence of a sign being placed on public property.
§ 230-905 Prohibited signs.
A.
Signs that block the view of traffic, street signs, traffic signals, or that distract motorists.
B.
Signs that are flashing, moving, animated, spinning, revolving, scrolling, inflatable, intensely lighted, or that emit audible sounds or noise.
C.
Roof signs above the cornice or top of the parapet wall, if any.
D.
Signs on motor vehicles or trailers parked or stored in a location visible from a public way or is regularly parked or stored in a front yard or side yard or in the public right-of-way adjacent to the front yard when there is parking available elsewhere on the property.
E.
Electronic message center signs that change messages more frequently than every five minutes, or that have continuously scrolling, blinking, or intermittent lighting. The display of the time and temperature is exempt from this five-minute limit.
F.
Billboards.
§ 230-906 Generally acceptable signs.
A.
In any district a sign not exceeding four square feet in surface size is permitted which announces name and/or activity of the occupant of the premises on which said sign is located.
B.
In any district on a building more than 50 years old, a sign or placard noting the history of the building may be placed on a building. Such signs shall not exceed two square feet and shall not be lit if in a residential district.
§ 230-907 Illumination.
A.
Illuminated signs shall be in compliance with dark sky standards. Light trespass on nearby residential properties is prohibited.
B.
Where illuminated signs are permitted, they shall conform to the following requirements:
(1)
Signs shall be illuminated only by steady, stationary, shielded light sources directed solely on the sign without causing glare or by constant internal illumination. Any light source shall be shielded with a fixture so that bulbs are not directly visible from neighboring properties or public ways. No sign shall be animated by means of flashing, blinking or traveling lights or by any other means not providing constant illumination. Sign illumination shall be of reasonable intensity and shall avoid excessive brightness or glare on nearby properties and avoid creating unnecessary distractions on the street.
(2)
Gas-filled light tubes shall be allowed for indirect illumination.
(3)
Illuminated signs shall be constructed and erected in such a manner as to deflect light away from residential properties and public roads.
(4)
Notwithstanding the above, electronic message center signs are permitted if they change messages no more than every five minutes. Electronic message center signs shall not have continuously scrolling, blinking or intermittent lighting. Electronic message center signs are permitted as any sign type (freestanding, wall or projecting) within the overall sign allowance.
§ 230-908 LED signs.
In order to minimize driver distraction, LED signs shall adhere to the following standards:
§ 230-909 Nonconforming signs.
A nonconforming sign may have its message changed, but its structure shall not be altered, enlarged or replaced. A nonconforming sign damaged by fire, wind, or other casualty may be reconstructed as before if such construction is performed within one year of such damage.
§ 230-910 Discontinuance.
Any sign appurtenant to a discontinued or relocated use shall be removed together with its supporting structure by the owner of the property within 180 days of the closing of business. After that period the Code Enforcement Officer may provide written notice to the property owner that the sign and supporting structure must be removed. Where written notice has been given by the Code Enforcement Officer and the sign has not been removed within the thirty-day period, the City may cause the removal of the sign and charge the cost of the removal to the owner of the property. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude the use of other enforcement measures authorized by this chapter.
§ 230-911 Appeals.
Appeal processes shall follow Article XVI of the Zoning Ordinance.