Have billboards been banned in Maine since 1977? | Fact brief

Billboards have been banned in Maine since 1977, when the Legislature voted to prohibit “off-premises” advertising signs.

The law took effect in 1978 and required the removal of most existing billboards within several years. It followed Vermont’s earlier example and made Maine the first state on the East Coast to eliminate highway billboards.

There are exceptions. Businesses may still display signs “on-premises,” and Maine law allows certain “categorical signs,” including noncommercial and religious messages. That provision explains why a long-standing Christian billboard in Lewiston has been allowed, even though new commercial billboards are prohibited. 

Vehicles with advertising are also exempt, so long as the signage remains within the vehicle’s dimensions and the vehicle is not parked permanently as a stationary sign.

Scenic America, a national nonprofit that tracks billboard laws, says only three other states have statewide bans: Vermont, Hawaii and Alaska. Each state enacted its prohibition decades ago to protect its scenic character.