Skowhegan, ME Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

Section 4 of the Skowhegan Streets and Sidewalks Ordinance is the Town's rule for private fixtures that project over a public sidewalk. It starts with what an owner is allowed to do without asking: the owner of any building adjoining the street can extend an awning or sign from the building over the sidewalk to the outer edge of the sidewalk and not further. The clearance rule is fixed in feet: no part of the awning, sign or fixture can be lower than seven (7) feet above the sidewalk.

Permission comes into play for anything outside that envelope. A person who extends any awning or sign over any sidewalk in any other manner needs written permission from the municipal officers. The word the ordinance uses is written, so a verbal go-ahead does not satisfy it. Section 4 itself prints no application form, fee or hearing step, and it does not define a deadline for a decision; the permission is a grant from the municipal officers.

The section sits in a short ordinance that treats the sidewalk as public ground the Town controls. Section 1 gives the Board of Selectmen authority to make regulations pertaining to public sidewalks as they deem necessary for the safety, convenience and protection of the public. Section 2 assigns enforcement to the Skowhegan Police Department or another official duly appointed and authorized by the Board of Selectmen. A separate rule in Section 5 requires written permission from the Town Manager or his/her designee before a table, tent, booth, stall, carriage or cart is placed or maintained in a public street or way for any sale or exhibition, so awning permission and street-use permission are issued under different sections and by different offices.

The ordinance was adopted at a Special Town Meeting on 8/8/2000 and amended at a Special Town Meeting on 2/14/2012.