[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Wales as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 6-13-2026]
A. 
In the interpretation and enforcement of this Code, all words shall have the meaning implied by their context in the various ordinances or their ordinarily accepted meaning. In the case of any difference of meaning or implication between the test of this Code and any map, illustration or table, the text shall control.
B. 
The word "person" includes a firm, association, organization, partnership, trust, company or corporation as well as an individual or any other legal entity.
C. 
The present tense includes the future tense, the singular number includes the plural, and the plural numbers includes the singular.
D. 
The word "shall" and "will" are mandatory, the word "may" is permissive.
E. 
The word "lot" includes the words "plot" and "parcel."
F. 
The word "structure" includes the word "building."
G. 
The word "used" or "occupied," as applied to any land or building, shall be construed to include the words "intended, arranged, or designed to be used or occupied."
H. 
The word "road" includes the word "street," as applied to any route for vehicular access other than a driveway.
I. 
The words "Town" or "municipality" means the Town of Wales, Maine.
J. 
The words "Town of Wales Adopted Ordinances" means all ordinances in effect that have been adopted by the Town of Wales, Maine.
[Adopted 6-13-2026]
Pursuant to 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3004, the ordinances of the Town of Wales of a general and permanent nature adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Wales, as revised and codified and consisting of Chapters 1 through 196, are hereby approved, adopted, ordained and enacted as the Code of the Town of Wales, hereinafter referred to as the "Code." The provisions of the Code, insofar as they are substantively the same as those of the ordinances in force immediately prior to the enactment of the Code by this ordinance, are intended as a continuation of such ordinances and not as new enactments.
A. 
A copy of the Code has been filed in the office of the Town Clerk and shall remain there for use and examination by the public until final action is taken on this ordinance. Following adoption of this ordinance such copy shall be certified by the Town Clerk and such certified copy shall remain on file in the office of the Town Clerk, to be made available to persons desiring to examine the same during all times while said Code is in effect.
B. 
Additions or amendments to the Code, when adopted in such form as to indicate the intent of the Town Meeting to make them a part thereof, shall be deemed to be incorporated into such Code so that reference to the "Code of the Town of Wales" shall be understood and intended to include such additions and amendments.
The Clerk-Treasurer of the Town of Wales shall cause notice of the passage of this ordinance to be given in the manner required by law. The notice of passage of this ordinance, coupled with the filing of the Code in the office of the Town Clerk as provided in § 1-3, shall be deemed, held and considered to be due and legal publication of all provisions of the Code for all purposes.
Each section of this ordinance and of the Code and every part of each section is an independent section or part of a section, and the holding of any section or a part thereof to be unconstitutional, void or ineffective for any cause shall not be deemed to affect the validity or constitutionality of any other sections or parts thereof.
A. 
Ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with the provisions contained in the Code adopted by this ordinance are hereby repealed; provided, however, that such repeal shall only be to the extent of such inconsistency, and any valid legislation of the Town of Wales which is not in conflict with the provisions of the Code shall be deemed to remain in full force and effect.
B. 
The following ordinance is excluded from the Code and specifically repealed: The Definitions Ordinance, adopted June 8, 2024.
The repeal of ordinances provided for in § 1-6 of this ordinance shall not affect the following classes of ordinances, rights and obligations, which are hereby expressly saved from repeal:
A. 
Any right or liability established, accrued or incurred under any legislative provision of the Town of Wales prior to the effective date of this ordinance or any action or proceeding brought for the enforcement of such right or liability.
B. 
Any offense or act committed or done before the effective date of this ordinance in violation of any legislative provision of the Town of Wales or any penalty, punishment or forfeiture which may result therefrom.
C. 
Any prosecution, indictment, action, suit or other proceeding pending or any judgment rendered prior to the effective date of this ordinance brought pursuant to any legislative provision of the Town of Wales.
D. 
Any agreement entered into or any franchise, license, right, easement or privilege heretofore granted or conferred by the Town of Wales.
E. 
Any ordinance of the Town of Wales providing for the laying out, opening, altering, widening, relocating, straightening, establishing grade, changing name, improvement, acceptance or vacation of any right-of-way, easement, street, road, highway, park or other public place within the Town of Wales or any portion thereof.
F. 
Any ordinance of the Town of Wales appropriating money or transferring funds, promising or guaranteeing the payment of money or authorizing the issuance and delivery of any bond of the Town of Wales or other instruments or evidence of the Town's indebtedness.
G. 
Ordinances authorizing the purchase, sale, lease or transfer of property or any lawful contract or obligation.
H. 
The levy or imposition of special assessments or charges.
I. 
The annexation or dedication of property or approval of¬ preliminary or final subdivision plats or site plans.
J. 
Any ordinances adopting or amending a zoning map or otherwise rezoning property.
K. 
Any ordinances relating to salaries or personnel policies.
L. 
Any ordinance or portion of an ordinance establishing a specific fee amount for any license, permit or service obtained from the Town.
M. 
Any ordinances adopted subsequent to June 14, 2025.
A. 
In preparing the revision and codification of the ordinances pursuant to 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3004, certain minor grammatical and nonsubstantive changes were made in one or more of said ordinances. It is the intention of the Town Meeting that all such changes be adopted as part of the Code as if the ordinances so changed had been formally amended to read as such.
B. 
In addition, the changes, amendments or revisions as set forth in Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof are made herewith,[1] to become effective upon the effective date of this ordinance. (Chapter and section number references are to the ordinances as they have been renumbered and appear in the Code.)
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedule A is on file in the Town offices.
C. 
Throughout the Code:
(1) 
References to "registered" professional engineers, land surveyors, architects, and soil scientists are amended to read "licensed."
(2) 
The term "Growth Areas" is amended to read "Growth Districts."
D. 
Throughout Chapter 46, First Responder/Rescue Department, the term "Selectboard" is amended to read "Board of Selectmen."
A. 
Chapter and article titles, headings and titles of sections and other divisions of the Code are inserted in the Code and may be inserted in supplements to the Code for the convenience of persons using the Code and are not part of the legislation.
B. 
Editor's notes indicating sources of sections, giving other information or referring to the statutes or to other parts of the Code are inserted in the Code and may be inserted in supplements to the Code for the convenience of persons using the Code and are not part of the legislation.