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:
CAMPGROUND
Any premises established for overnight use for the purpose
of temporary camping, and for which a fee is charged.
CAMPING TRAILER
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.
MOTOR HOME
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.
A cooking facility with an on-board fuel source;
B.
A potable water supply system that includes at least a sink,
a faucet and a water tank with an exterior service supply connection;
C.
A toilet with exterior evacuation;
D.
A gas or electric refrigerator;
E.
A heating or air-conditioning system with an on-board power
or fuel source separate from the vehicle engine; and
F.
A 110-volt to 125-volt electric power supply.
PERSON
Natural persons, partnerships, associations and all other
bodies corporate or public.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
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
Sewage shall mean all liquids and water waste from sinks,
bathing, washing, and toilet facilities.
STRUCTURE
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.
TEMPORARY CAMPING VEHICLES
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.
TEMPORARY SHELTER
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.
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.
D. Special events sanitation. Sanitary facilities provided for special events shall meet the requirements of §
281-3D(2).
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.