Portland, ME Home Business: Signage Rules (2026)

Section 6.6.2(E) generally bars any exterior evidence that a dwelling is used for anything other than residential purposes, and Section 6.6.2(E)(2) carves out the sole exception: a single, non-illuminated sign totaling no more than two square feet. The sign must be affixed to the building itself, it can't be a freestanding post-and-panel sign in the yard, and it may not project more than one foot from the building's façade. Because the surrounding standard bans product displays visible from outside and requires the dwelling to otherwise look purely residential, this two-square-foot allowance is the only signage a home occupation gets; there's no separate permit or larger allowance for a bigger sign. The rule applies citywide to any accessory home occupation under Article 6 of the Land Use Code, which took effect July 1, 2026.