Policies & Guidelines

For your enjoyment and safety, and to protect and preserve our gardens, please follow these rules:

  1. Children must be supervised at all times.
  2. Walk only on paths or lawns.
  3. Leave all plants, including flowers and mushrooms, and wildlife undisturbed.
  4. Gates are locked at closing. Exit the Gardens before the posted closing time.
  5. Smoking is prohibited throughout the Gardens.
  6. Do not climb on the Gardens’ sculpture.
  7. Barbecuing is not permitted. Picnic areas are available.
  8. Active sports (Frisbee, ball playing, kite flying, biking, etc.) are not permitted. There is a bike rack for those who arrive by bicycle.
  9. Our gift shop, café and other facilities are for the enjoyment of ticketed guests and members only.
  10. By entering, you grant permission for us to use your image for promotional purposes.
  11. We do not allow pets or therapy animals at the Gardens. We allow service animals, as protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
    • A service animal has been trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability that are directly related to the person’s disability.
    • Please pick up after your service dog; we have dispensers for plastic bags for waste pick-up and trash bags where you can dispose of the bags. Thank you!
    • Do not leave your pet(s) in your vehicle in the parking lots.
  12. Drones are prohibited.
  13. Promotion of your brand using Gardens imagery is strictly prohibited.
    • Commercial Photography Definitions and Fee Schedule
      • Professional Portraiture Session at the Gardens (wedding, engagement, family, prom, graduation, and senior photographs—scheduled during operating hours)
        • A day permit is available for $50. Admission for party is not included in this permit fee; please pay upon arrival.
        • Professional photographers may apply for an Annual Portraiture Permit that allows unlimited booking of portraiture sessions in the Gardens within a calendar year. This permit is available for $150. Admission for party is not included in this permit fee; please pay upon arrival.
      • Commercial Photography Session at the Gardens (Still or video images used for approved product development, stock, resale, catalog, modeling, advertisement purposes, etc.)
        • A day permit during operating hours is available for $250. Admission for party is included.
        • A one-time, two hour permit before or after operating hours is available for $500. Admission for party is included.
        • To obtain permission to use images for professional purposes, please call to book your visit and submit the corresponding payment to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens at least two weeks prior to your visit.
        • Clients/Models should arrive ‘camera-ready’ and our limited restroom facilities cannot serve as a dressing room.
        • Commercial Photographers and their clients are subject to the same visitor policies as regular Gardens guests. A list of “Garden Guidelines” can be obtained on our website and at the front desk.
    • Other Use
      • Any image use of the Gardens not covered by the above information is subject to review and consideration including, but not limited to, credentialed news media, art shows, educational projects, and video filming. Please use the contact information below to discuss your project with our staff.
      • Please respect the Gardens and other guests’ experiences by keeping to the paths and keeping equipment out of the way. All tripods and easels must not block paths and must also be kept out of garden beds. Please note that we do not allow tripods during our special event, Gardens Aglow.
      • Artists and photographers are not permitted to sell artwork on CMBG grounds and must comply with the Gardens’ image use policies.
    • Contact
      • For all inquiries regarding professional photography permits and the use of images for media, publishing, and travel industry purposes, please contact us at 207-633-8000 or info@mainegardens.org.
  14. Gardens General Use Policies
    • Facilities are not available for fundraising use by other organizations.
    • Facilities are not available for political or religious functions or commercial promotion.
    • Facilities are not available for meetings conflicting with the Gardens’ mission.
    • The Gardens reserves the right to refuse to rent to any individual, group, or organization.
    • The Gardens reserves the right to review invitations or announcements regarding meetings
  15. Donations Policy
    • Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is asked to support many worthwhile charitable causes and events each year by donating admission tickets or memberships. We would like to grant such requests, but we, too, are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, striving to be as fiscally prudent as those numerous organizations requesting our support. Therefore, we must limit the number and type of contributions we make each year. Download our donation request policy (PDF).