Ellsworth Board of Appeals

The Ellsworth Board of Appeals is a six-member Council-Appointed Board charged with the review of all appeals by any person affected directly or indirectly, where such appeal is necessary, proper or required, in accordance with the Unified Development Ordinance, Article 13 – Board of Appeals.

The Board hears and decides appeals where it is alleged that there is an error in any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by, or failure to act by the Code Enforcement Officer or Planning Board in the administration of, but not limited to, Unified Development Ordinance – Chapter 56, Chapter 14 – Licenses and Permits, Chapter 37 – Special Amusement Permit Ordinance.The Board interprets provisions of ordinances, approves the issuance of variances subject to conditions in all of the zoning districts, including the shoreland zone, in which a variance shall apply to area, yard space, height, or setback requirements, as long as the hardship criteria are met.

The Board shall hear and decide on the City Assessors denial of abatement requests or applications for exemption, under Maine Revised Statutes Annotated Title 36 – Taxation. The Board shall also hear and decide on City Council denials of Poverty Tax Abatements.

The Board of Appeals meetings are scheduled on the fourth (4th) Monday of the month at 6:30PM, or upon receipt of an appeal application in accordance to the appeal procedures set forth in the Unified Development Ordinance, Article 13.

Please complete an application to request an appeal to be heard, available in Board of Appeals Links. Completed applications and any supplemental information must be submitted to the Code Enforcement Office by noon eighteen (21) days prior to a regularly scheduled meeting.

Members of the City of Ellsworth Board of Appeals:

*If you are interested in filling an upcoming vacancy on the Board of Appeals please submit, in writing, your intentions to The City of Ellsworth c/o Heidi Grindle-City Clerk, 1 City Hall Plaza, Ellsworth, Me 04605, or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by facsimile, 207.667.4908.