Adopted Codes and Ordinances

The Town of Hampden applies and enforces the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (“MUBEC”) as required by 10 M.R.S. §9724. 

MUBEC contains the minimum standards for the construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use, location, occupancy and maintenance of all buildings and structures and their service equipment, both existing and proposed, located within the Town of Hampden. MUBEC is overseen by the State of Maine Bureau of Building Codes and Standards. 

Your plan review is done to the best of our ability, but the ultimate responsibility for code compliance is still retained by the design professional and the owner. 

Starting April 7, 2025, the enforced codes and standards, as amended by the State, include the following: 

1. 2021 International Residential Code (IRC)
2. 2021 International Building Code (IBC)
3. 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC)
4. 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
5. 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC)
6. ASHRAE 62.1 - 2019 (Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality)
7. ASHRAE 62.2 - 2019 (Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings)
8. ASHRAE 90.1 - 2019 (Energy Standard for Buildings except Low-Rise Residential Buildings) editions without addenda.
9. ASTM E-1465-08, Standard Practice for Radon Control Options for the Design and Construction of New Low-Rise Residential Buildings. (Mandatory Standard for New Low-Rise Residential)
10. 2021 IAPMO Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) 

Town of Hampden Summary of Sign Regulations

1. On-premises signs on any one property may not exceed 10 in number, except in the case of more than one business, facility or point of interest being conducted on one property, signs for each business, facility or point of interest may not exceed 10 in number.
2. On-premises signs may be erected and maintained as long as it does not exceed 50 square feet in size.
3. The maximum height of on-premises signs is 25 feet above the ground level of land upon which it is located or if the sign is affixed to or is part of a building, the maximum is 10 feet above the roof of the building.
4. On-premises signs must be located within 1,000 feet of the principal building or structure where the business or facility is carried on or practiced or within 1,000 feet of the point of interest.
5. Unless a license is obtained from MDOT, on-premises signs are prohibited:  
   A. Within 33 feet of the center line of any public way;  
   B. Within 20 feet from the outside edge of the paved portion of any public way with more than 2 travel lanes and a total paved portion in excess of 24 feet in width; and   
   C. Within the full width of the right-of-way of any public way.
6. An on-premises sign is prohibited if it:  
   A. Attempts or appears to attempt to direct the movement of traffic or interferes with, imitates or resembles any official traffic sign, signal or device;  
   B. Prevents the driver of a vehicle from having a clear and unobstructed view of official signs and approaching or merging traffic;   
   C. Contains, includes or is illuminated by a flashing, intermittent or moving light or lights, except as provided by the Town of Hampden Changeable Sign Regulations;   
   D. Uses lighting in any way unless the light is in the opinion of the commissioner effectively shielded to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any portion of the public way or is of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or impair the vision of the operator of any motor vehicle or to otherwise interfere with any driver's operation of a motor vehicle; or 
   E. Moves, has any animated or moving parts or has the appearance of movement, except as provided  by the Town of Hampden Changeable Sign Regulations.
7. No sign shall be erected adjacent to any public way in such a manner as to obstruct clear and free vision or movement where, by reason of its position, shape, color, or illumination, or otherwise constitute a hazard to pedestrian traffic.
8. Town of Hampden Changeable Signs Regulations – Are Permitted in all districts, except on properties used for residential purposes.
   1. “Changeable Sign” means an on-premises sign created, designed, manufactured, or modified in such a way that its message may be electronically, digitally, or mechanically altered by the complete substitution or replacement of one display by another on each side.
   2. “Display” means that portion of the surface area of a changeable sign that is or is designed to be or is capable of being periodically altered for the purpose of conveying a message.
   3. “Message” means a communication conveyed by means of a visual display of text, a graphic element or pictorial or photographic image.
   4. “Sign Assembly” means the display, border, trim and all supporting apparatus including posts, columns, pedestals and foundation.
   5. “Time and Temperature Sign” means a changeable sign that electronically or mechanically displays the time and temperature by the complete substitution or replacement of a display showing the time with a display showing the temperature.

6. The display on each side of a changeable sign:
a. May be changed no more than once every 10 seconds;
b. Must change as rapidly as technologically practicable, with no phasing, rolling, scrolling, flashing, display continuous streaming of information, video animation or blending;
c. May consist of alphabetic or numeric text on a plain or colored background and may include graphic, pictorial or photographic images.

The Maine amendments to the International Codes can be found at https://www.maine.gov/dps/fmo/building-codes/mubec-rules 

Transition documents and copies of the new codes are available to view only at the Town Office. Due to copyright restrictions, we are unable to make copies of the codebooks, standards, or transition documents. Copies of the codes, standards, and transition documents can be purchased through the International Code Council at http://shop.iccsafe.org/ or the Codes can be viewed online for free at https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/. 

If you have any questions about this change please contact us at 207-862-4000 or code@hampdenmaine.gov.