Moorings

The Town of Harpswell regulates moorings through the Harbor & Waterfront Ordinance, which was first enacted by Town Meeting on March 9th, 1991. In correlation with the Harbor & Waterfront Ordinance, state statutes and federal guidelines, the Harbormaster will assign moorings, whenever practicable, in those waters where individuals own the shore rights to a parcel of land, are masters or owners of a boat or vessel and are complainants, and shall locate suitable mooring privileges therefor for boats and vessels, temporarily or permanently, as the case may be, fronting their land, if so requested, but not to encroach upon the natural channel or channels established by municipal officers; provided that not more than one mooring may be assigned to any shorefront parcel of land under this privilege. Prior to January 1, 1987, persons who owned shore rights of at least 100 feet of frontage regardless of the size of the lot have mooring privileges assigned according to this section. The limitation of one mooring assigned under this privilege does not prevent the owner of a shorefront parcel from receiving additional mooring assignments under the allocation system for all other residents. 

***Mooring renewal invoices for existing moorings have been sent out, via email (if we have that in the file) or by regular mail.  Some folks have reported issues using the online system to pay/renew online, or to upload inspection forms.  If you experience any problems, the Harbormaster and the Clerks can help, just give us a call or stop by the Town office.***

Harpswell Wait List Information

For some of our more densely populated coves, we have reached full capacity for moorings and floats, therefore the Town has a Wait List for each of these areas.  Anyone may request to be put onto the Wait List for a harbor by contacting the Harbormasters Office by phone or email to receive further information about the process.  Applicants are added to the list in the order in which they formally applied, and there is a $10 annual fee to remain on each list, due on May 1 of each year.  Failure to pay the fee by May 1 will result in forfeiture of your place on the list - you may apply again, but you will be placed at the bottom of the list.

Regardless of the position of an individual on the current waitlist, there is a priority for assigning moorings that has been established in Ordinance, and this will be applied to the list as a mooring spot becomes available.  The order of priority is:

Shorefront Owner (with specific conditions detailed in Harbor and Waterfront Ordinance 5.2.4.1)

Resident Commercial Fisherman

Resident Marine Related Business

Resident Recreational

Non-Resident Taxpayer

Non-Resident Commercial Fisherman

Non-Resident Marine Realted Business

Non-Resident Recreational