Maine Statewide Rule

Maine state law: Political and campaign signs

Few RestrictionsApplies statewide across Maine (2026)

Key Facts

ROW Statute: 23 MRS § 1913-A
Polling Place Rule: 23 MRS § 1914-B: 250 ft buffer
Display Window: 6 weeks before through 1 week after election
Content Neutrality: Required (Reed v. Gilbert, 576 U.S. 155)
Private Property: Local sign ordinance under 30-A § 3001
Interstate Highways: Federal Highway Beautification Act 23 USC §131

Last verified: August 20, 2026Source: Maine Legislature

Summary

Maine regulates political sign placement primarily through 23 MRS § 1913-A (signs within public ways) and 23 MRS § 1914-B (political signs at the polling place). Political signs are generally allowed within the public right-of-way of state and local highways but must not obstruct traffic visibility, must be removed within a defined window after the election, and are forbidden in specified locations. Municipalities may impose stricter rules under 30-A MRS § 3001 home-rule authority, subject to Reed v. Town of Gilbert content-neutrality limits.

Temporary signs placed within the public right-of-way for a maximum of 12 weeks per calendar year, except that a temporary sign may not be placed within the public right-of-way for more than 6 weeks from January 1st to June 30th or for more than 6 weeks from July 1st to December 31st. A temporary sign may not be placed within 30 feet of another temporary sign bearing the same or substantially the same message. A temporary sign may not exceed 4 feet by 8 feet in size. A sign under this paragraph must include or be marked with the name and address of the individual, entity or organization that placed the sign within the public right-of-way and the date the sign was erected within the public right-of-way.

Source: Maine LegislatureView official code

Full Breakdown

Maine's primary political-sign statute is 23 MRS § 1913-A (Signs within public ways), which generally prohibits signs within highway rights-of-way EXCEPT under specific carve-outs. Political signs are one of the recognized exceptions: a political sign may be placed within the public right-of-way provided it is not within an interchange or controlled-access portion of a state highway, does not obstruct sight distance at intersections, and does not interfere with the traveling public. The statute imposes a removal window, political signs may be displayed beginning 6 weeks before an election and must be removed within 1 week after the election (with exceptions for primary winners advancing to the general).

23 MRS § 1914-B further provides that political signs may not be posted within 250 feet of the entrance to a polling place on election day (with the goal of preventing electioneering at the polls). On private property, sign placement is governed by municipal sign ordinances under 30-A MRS § 4352 (Zoning ordinances) and 30-A MRS § 3001 home rule. S. Supreme Court's decision in Reed v. S. 155 (2015), a municipality may not impose different time, place, or manner rules on political signs than on other temporary signs based on the content of the message.

Typical Maine municipal residential-zone temporary-sign limits: max 6-8 sq ft per sign, max 4-6 ft tall, set back from the public right-of-way (often 5-10 ft), no illumination, removal within a generally applicable temporary-sign window. Maine has no statewide cap on the number of political signs per residence; that is set by municipal ordinance.

Violations & Penalties

23 MRS § 1913-A violations: Maine DOT may remove the sign and assess a removal-and-disposal fee against the responsible party. 23 MRS § 1914-B violations (electioneering at polls): civil enforcement, removal by election officials. Municipal sign-code violations: typically civil fines $50-$500 per offense under the local code. Content-based municipal enforcement may be challenged under the First Amendment per Reed v. Town of Gilbert.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put a campaign sign in the Maine highway right-of-way?

Generally yes for state and local highways under 23 MRS § 1913-A's political-sign exception, but NOT on interchanges or controlled-access portions of state highways, not where they obstruct sight distance, and not within 250 feet of a polling-place entrance on election day under 23 MRS § 1914-B. Maine DOT may remove signs that violate these rules and assess a removal fee.

When do I have to take down political signs in Maine?

Under 23 MRS § 1913-A, political signs may go up no more than 6 weeks before the election and must be removed within 1 week after the election. The window is statewide and applies to signs in highway rights-of-way; municipal sign codes may impose additional removal windows on private-property signs. Primary winners advancing to the general election can typically leave signs up between elections.

Can my Maine town single out political signs for stricter rules?

No, not under the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Reed v. Town of Gilbert, 576 U.S. 155 (2015). A municipal sign ordinance that treats political signs differently from other temporary signs based on content is presumptively unconstitutional. Maine municipal sign codes must apply equivalent time-place-manner rules to all temporary noncommercial signs.

Sources

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