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Legal Department Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- How do I obtain a copy of a Quitclaim Deed issued by the City?
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Search the Penobscot County Registry of Deeds website at https://penobscotdeeds.com/ to obtain a copy of a recorded deed, or visit the Registry in person at 97 Hammond Street, Bangor, on the first floor of the historic Penobscot County Courthouse.
- How do I appeal an order or decision of a code enforcement officer, city clerk, or law enforcement officer?
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Visit the City’s Code Enforcement Division, complete and file a Board of Appeals Application and pay the required processing fee within 30 days after the decision to be appealed. The appeal application form must specifically set forth the grounds that form the basis of your appeal. If the Code Enforcement Division determines that your appeal is in the proper form, and you have paid the required fee, the Code Enforcement Division will refer the appeal to the Board of Appeals (Board). The Board will hold a public hearing within 60 days of the receipt of the application and required fee. The City’s Legal Department will notify you of your hearing date.
- How do I request a variance?
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Visit the City’s Code Enforcement Division, complete and file a Board of Appeals Application and pay the required processing fee within 30 days after the decision to be appealed, if there was a decision. The appeal application form must specifically set forth the grounds that form the basis of your appeal. If the Code Enforcement Division determines that your appeal is in the proper form and you have paid the required fee, the Code Enforcement Division will refer the appeal to the Board of Appeals (Board). The Board will hold a public hearing within 60 days of the receipt of the application and required fee. The City’s Legal Department will notify you of your hearing date.
- How do I request a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act
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Visit the City’s Code Enforcement Division, complete and file a Board of Appeals Application. The appeal application form must specifically set forth the grounds that form the basis of your appeal. If the Code Enforcement Division determines that your appeal is in the proper form, the Code Enforcement Division will refer the appeal to the Board of Appeals (Board). The Board will hold a public hearing within 60 days of the receipt of the application. The City’s Legal Department will notify you of your hearing date.
- Why do I have to register a vacant or abandoned building?
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Vacant or abandoned properties, particularly residential properties, create and pose significant and costly problems for the City. These properties often become a drain on the City budget and detract from the quality of life of the neighborhood and the City as a whole. These structures are unsightly, often structurally unsound or otherwise dangerous, attract criminal activity, and otherwise create a threat to public health, safety, and welfare of neighboring properties and the general public. The registration process is intended to prevent or mitigate dangers to health, safety and welfare, promote responsible management, provide a safe neighborhood for residents, safeguard property values, expedite housing repairs, and provide for prompt contact with owners or managers by Police, Fire, and Code Enforcement when issues or emergencies develop.
- When is a registration required for a vacant or abandoned property?
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A registration is required within 60 days of a building becoming vacant.
- Do all vacant buildings require registration?
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Vacant buildings located within the URD-1, URD-2, M&SD, NSD, DDD, LDR, HDR, and RR&A zoning districts are required to register. If you are unsure of the zoning district in which your vacant building is located, you can look up the address at this link.
- Are there any exemptions to registering a vacant building?
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Yes. Primary residences of members of the armed forces on active duty, vacation or resort facilities, or residences of persons on extended vacations or alternative living arrangements with the intention to return to the property and live (e.g., "snowbirds") are exempt from having to register, but they are required to have the property maintained by a property manager and to provide the City with a valid emergency contact number for the owner or the property manager.
- Can a property owner get the payment of the vacant building registration fee deferred for any reason?
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There are two situations where a property owner may request a temporary deferral of the payment of the vacant building registration fee.
First, if the building is your primary residence that became uninhabitable because of a fire or other casualty event that you did not cause, you may request deferral of the payment of the registration fee for up to 6 months. You still have to file the application to register the building as vacant, make the building available for inspection by the City, provide a valid emergency contact phone number, and agree to be readily available to the Code Enforcement Office during the period of the deferral. In certain circumstances, you may also be able to request an additional 6 months of deferral of the payment of the fee. Once the building is no longer vacant within the period of the deferral, you may request a waiver of the required payment of the deferred fee.
Second, a property owner may also request that the vacant building registration fee be deferred for up to 6 months if you have an active building permit on file with the City’s Code Enforcement Office. You still have to file the application to register the building as vacant and make the building available for inspection by the City. In certain circumstances, you may also be able to request an additional 6 months of deferral of the payment of the fee. Once the building is no longer vacant within the period of the deferral, you may request a waiver of the required payment of the deferred fee.
- How do I register a vacant building?
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Complete and submit the on-line, fillable Vacant Building Registration Application and pay the required fee at the City’s Code Enforcement Division (Code). Contact Code at 207-992-4230 or code.enf@bangormaine.gov if you have any questions or to request a hard copy application.
- Can I speak to a City attorney for help on a personal matter?
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The City’s attorneys represent the City’s interests, and can speak with you about certain City issues. The City’s Legal Department advises the City Council, Boards, Commissions, and staff on legal issues pertaining to the City. Private citizens should seek legal advice about their personal matters from a licensed attorney with expertise in the area of practice needed. For information on finding a reliable lawyer, you may contact the Maine Lawyer Referral Service, which is provided by the Maine State Bar Association, by calling (800) 860-1460, or you may visit their webpage at Looking for an Attorney? - Maine State Bar Association. You may also look for an attorney by visiting the American Bar Association’s webpage at How Do I Find a Lawyer? To inquire as to whether you qualify in Maine for certain free civil legal aid, you may contact Pine Tree Legal Assistance at Self-Help Tools | Pine Tree Legal Assistance or by calling (207) 942-8322.
- Does a landlord of a residential unit in the City of Bangor have to provide notice of a rent increase?
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Yes. The landlord of a residential housing unit in Bangor must give a tenant 60 days’ written notice of any rent increase.
- What are my rights as a tenant?
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Tenant rights information can be found at the following link: Tenants' Housing Rights Ordinance | Bangor, ME
- How do I file a complaint against my landlord?
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The fillable complaint form can be found at the following link: Fillable-Complaint-Form-PDF
Once you have filled out the complaint form, please return in person or via mail to the Code Enforcement Department at 73 Harlow Street, or email to code.enforcement@bangormaine.gov.