[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Bangor 5-28-2014 by Ord. No.
14-169. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose and intent of this chapter is to ensure that the
temporary occupancy of campers and recreational vehicles within the
corporate limits of the City of Bangor shall be conducted in a manner
that protects public health and safety, ensures the safe and legal
disposal of human waste and wastewater, restricts the use of nonstandard
electrical power sources and portable heating devices, protects surface
and subsurface water quality, minimizes fire exposures and overcrowding,
preserves property values, and prohibits the creation of substandard
permanent housing stock.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall
apply:
Any premises established for overnight use for the purpose
of temporary camping, and for which a fee is charged.
A trailer constructed with collapsible partial side walls
that fold for towing by another vehicle and unfold at a campsite to
provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping or travel
use.
The City of Bangor.
A motor vehicle designed to provide temporary living quarters
for recreational, camping or travel use that contains at least four
of the following as permanently installed independent systems that
meet the National Fire Protection Association standard for recreational
vehicles:
A cooking facility with an on-board fuel source;
A potable water supply system that includes at least a sink,
a faucet and a water tank with an exterior service supply connection;
A toilet with exterior evacuation;
A gas or electric refrigerator;
A heating or air-conditioning system with an on-board power
or fuel source separate from the vehicle engine; and
A 110-volt to 125-volt electric power supply.
Natural persons, partnerships, associations and all other
bodies corporate or public.
A vehicle that is either self-propelled or towed by a consumer-owned
tow vehicle, is primarily designed to provide temporary living quarters
for recreational, camping or travel use, complies with all applicable
federal vehicle regulations and does not require special highway movement
permits to legally use the highways. Recreational vehicles include
motor homes, travel trailers, fifth-wheel trailers and camping trailers.
Sewage shall mean all liquids and water waste from sinks,
bathing, washing, and toilet facilities.
Anything constructed or erected with a fixed location on
the ground, or attached to something having a fixed location on the
ground, including but not limited to mobile homes, buildings, walls,
billboards, signs, piers and floats, but excluding fences and retaining
walls.
A camping trailer, motor home, or recreational vehicle, or
a bus, truck trailer, or other motor vehicle that has been converted
to accommodate sleeping and/or living quarters. In order to be considered
a temporary camping vehicle and not a structure, the unit must remain
with its tires on the ground, and must be registered with a state
division of motor vehicles or similar agency.
A physical shelter having form and substance, which is not
permanently affixed to a foundation, and whose supplies, if any, of
potable water, sewage disposal, electrical current, and other utility
services are not permanently attached or incorporated into the design
of the shelter in accord with applicable state or local codes. For
the purposes of this chapter, tents shall be considered temporary
shelters, but pop-up tent trailers shall be classified as temporary
camping vehicles.
A.
Storage of temporary camping vehicles. Temporary camping vehicles
may be parked or stored on private property within the City, provided
that:
B.
Occupancy.
(1)
Residential properties. Persons may occupy a temporary camping vehicle
or a temporary shelter located on a residential property, provided
that:
(a)
The occupants are not charged a fee for use of the temporary
camping vehicle or temporary shelter;
(b)
Persons occupying the dwelling unit on the property have granted
permission to the occupants of the temporary camping vehicle or temporary
shelter to use the dwelling unit's toilet and washing facilities;
(c)
No more than one temporary camping vehicle or temporary shelter
is so occupied on the property at one time;
(d)
The period of time during which any temporary camping vehicles
and temporary shelters are occupied does not exceed 30 days in total
within a twelve-month period; and
(2)
Business properties. No temporary camping vehicle or temporary shelter
located on a nonresidential property shall be occupied, with the following
exceptions:
(a)
If a legal residential dwelling unit is located on the property, the standards of § 281-3B(1) shall apply.
(b)
In the S&PS and GC&S districts, with the permission
of the property owner or manager, temporary camping vehicles may be
parked and occupied overnight, so long as each vehicle is parked on
the property for no more than one night in a row. Slideouts and awnings
may not be extended, and automatic levellers may not be used.
(c)
In the Bass Park District, temporary camping vehicles may be
parked and occupied as an accessory use to harness racing or the Bangor
State Fair.
C.
Construction. Notwithstanding § 281-3B, the owner of a property who is engaged in a construction or renovation project on the property, and who has obtained all necessary building and other permits for the project from the City and state, may occupy a temporary camping vehicle or a temporary shelter located on the property for a period not to exceed 60 days in total within a twelve-month period, provided that all other requirements of § 281-3B are met.
D.
Special events. In order to accommodate family reunions, weddings, and other special events, the Code Enforcement Officer may grant permission for persons to exceed the use and density limitations cited in § 281-3B, subject to the following limitations:
(1)
Maximum duration. No special event shall exceed one week in duration,
nor shall a single property host more than three special events in
any twelve-month period.
(2)
Sanitary facilities. Permittees shall provide adequate sanitary facilities,
in the form of portable restrooms and wash facilities, to accommodate
the projected demand as determined by the Maine Plumbing Code and
the City Code Enforcement Officer.
E.
Licensing and code requirements.
(1)
All temporary camping vehicles used for temporary occupancy shall
meet all municipal and state registration, insurance, and inspection
requirements.
(2)
The wheels or similar devices for transportation of any temporary
camping vehicle shall not be removed except for repairs lasting no
more than 10 days.
(3)
Any temporary shelter constructed on a fixed foundation on the ground,
or any temporary camping vehicle with its wheels removed, shall be
deemed a structure and subject to the standards of the Bangor Land
Development Code,[3] the Maine Plumbing Code, and the Maine Uniform Building
and Energy Code.
F.
Boats. Boats may not be used for living or sleeping purposes while
stored or parked on land.
G.
Use for living or sleeping purposes of any physical shelter or vehicle
not meeting the definition of structure, temporary shelter, or temporary
camping vehicle is prohibited.
The occupancy of temporary camping vehicles and temporary shelters
shall be subject to the following sanitary standards:
A.
Temporary camping vehicle holding tanks. No toilet, sink, shower
or other plumbing fixture contained in a temporary camping vehicle
shall be used unless it discharges into a holding tank built into
the temporary camping vehicle, or into an on-site subsurface wastewater
disposal system approved and maintained in accordance with all City
and state laws and regulations. Holding tanks built into a temporary
camping vehicle must be emptied regularly by discharging their contents
into a campground dumping station or other lawful dumping station
or by delivering their contents to a wastewater hauler for lawful
disposal.
B.
Storage of sewage in auxiliary containers. Sewage and wastewater
shall not be discharged or stored in auxiliary buckets or containers
external to a temporary camping vehicle.
C.
Illegal sewage discharge. No sewage or wastewater from temporary
camping vehicle or temporary shelters shall be discharged into pits
or privies, onto the surface of the ground, or into surface waters
such as wetlands, streams, or other water bodies.
The following uses shall be exempt from the requirements of
this chapter:
A.
Campgrounds. Any temporary camping vehicle or temporary shelter located
in a public or private campground that was approved by the City of
Bangor Planning Board and currently meets all standards of the Bangor
Code of Ordinances and state law.
B.
Tents and tree houses. Tents and tree houses located on a residential
lot and used primarily and sporadically for overnight accommodations
by the occupants of the principal dwelling unit on the same lot.
A.
When any violation of any provision of this chapter shall be found
to exist, the Code Enforcement Officer is hereby authorized and directed
to institute any and all actions and proceedings, either legal or
equitable, that may be appropriate or necessary to enforce the provisions
of this chapter in the name of the City, in accordance with 30-A M.R.S.A.
§ 4452.
B.
Any person, including but not limited to a landowner, their agent
or invitee, or a contractor, who violates a provision of this chapter
shall be liable for penalties as set forth in 30-A M.R.S.A. § 4452.
Each day a violation is continued shall constitute a separate violation.
