Portland Land Use Code

Citation: Portland Land Use Code
Parent Document: Portland Land Use Code
Jurisdiction: Portland (municipal)
Original Source: https://www.portlandmaine.gov/asset/a5dcd1dc-4117-40b3-b3da-74a56919e14b ↗

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19 SIGNS 19.2 APPLICABILITY
19.2.1 Applicability
19.1 PURPOSE This article applies to all permanent and temporary
This article has been adopted to ensure that all signs within the city unless specifically exempted.
signs installed in the city are compatible with the A. The provisions of this article shall be applied in
unique character and environment of the a content-neutral manner. Non-communicative
community through a comprehensive system of aspects of all signs, not related to the content
reasonable, effective, consistent, content-neutral, of the sign, must comply with the provisions of
and nondiscriminatory sign standards and this article. “Non-communicative aspects”
requirements. More specifically, this article is include the time, place, manner, location, size,
intended to: height, illumination, spacing, and orientation of
A. Ensure that all signs are compatible with the signs.
unique character and environment of the City B. Nothing in this article shall be construed to
of Portland, and that they support the desired prohibit a person from holding a sign while
urban design and development patterns of the picketing or protesting on public property.
various zones, overlay zones, and historic areas
within the city. 19.2.2 Substitutions and interpretations
B. Balance public and private objectives by This article is not intended to, and does not, restrict
allowing adequate avenues for both speech on the basis of its content, viewpoint, or
commercial and non-commercial messages. message. No part of this article shall be construed
C. Improve pedestrian and traffic safety by to favor commercial speech over non-commercial
promoting the free flow of traffic and the speech. A non-commercial message may be
protection of pedestrians and motorists from substituted for any commercial or non-commercial
injury and property damage caused by, or message displayed on a sign without the need for
which may be fully or partially attributable to, any approval or permit from the City, provided that
cluttered, distracting, and/or illegible signage. the sign is otherwise permissible under this article.
D. Prevent property damage, personal injury, and To the extent any provision of this subsection is
litter caused by signs that are improperly ambiguous, the term will be interpreted not to
constructed or poorly maintained. regulate on the basis of the content of the message.
E. Protect property values, the local economy,
and quality of life by preserving and enhancing 19.2.3 Exemptions
the appearance of the streetscape. The following signs are not regulated under this
F. Provide consistent sign design standards that article and are not subject to the permitting
enable the fair and consistent enforcement of requirements of Section 19.3:
these sign regulations. A. Numerals and letters identifying an address
from the street to facilitate emergency
response compliant with City requirements. CITY OF PORTLAND LAND USE CODE | 19-1 SIGNS

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