Frequently Asked Questions

Please visit our Resident Access website to view the most up-to-date, real-time status of your tax account(s).
If you prefer, you may also contact the Tax Office directly at 207-725-6657 for assistance with your tax information.

Real Estate tax bills are mailed out in September and March, and payments are due in two installments on October 15 and April 15. Personal property tax bills are mailed out in September and are due in a single installment on October 15.  For current year tax bills please visit the Property Taxes page.

There are several property tax exemptions available. For more information visit the Exemptions page, or contact the Assessing Department at 207-725-6650.

Payments may be made in person, by mail, or through our online Resident Access account status and online payment portal.

All bill payments mailed or in person are processed in the Tax Office at:
85 Union Street
Brunswick, ME 04011

Financial statements can be obtained on the Financial Reports page, or in person from the Finance Department.

The Town utilizes the tax lien mortgage process authorized by state law to secure collection of real estate taxes. After providing a 30-day demand notice, the Town records a lien against the property in the Cumberland County Registry of Deeds. If the tax remains unpaid 18 months after the recording, the tax lien automatically forecloses and the Town acquires title to the property. Taxpayers are encouraged to contact the Tax Office early to learn about programs and options that may be available to assist them with their tax obligations or to work on payment arrangements.

Applications for passports are available in the Tax Office and online at Travel.State.Gov. Bring your completed application to the Tax Office with proper supporting documents (birth certificate, naturalization certificate, driver's license) for processing. Pictures can be taken at the Tax Office or you may supply your own. Do not sign your application before coming to our office. 

Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for delivery, or if you are in a hurry, you can expedite the process and receive your passport in 2 to 3 weeks for an additional fee. Please note restricted hours for passport processing. See the Passports page for more information.

Opening a business in Brunswick may require licenses, permits, and approvals from the Town of Brunswick. Contact Brunswick Economic and Community Development staff to help you navigate through the first points of contact for necessary approvals. You can also contact the:

• Town Clerk's office at 207-725-6658 for sole proprietors, food service establishments/victualers, innkeepers, etc.
• Planning and Development office at 207-725-6660 for building permits, electrical and plumbing permits, sign permits, change of use permits and development review

Brunswick Economic and Community Development staff can help you with a variety of business incentives and help you identify sources of capital, customize financing, leverage resources and seek grant opportunities.

Brunswick Economic and Community Development staff are ready to help you identify suitable sites for your business operations. Please call 207-721-4051 or scostello@brunswickme.org .

To learn more about redevelopment opportunities at Brunswick Landing, please contact Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority at 207-798-6512. 

Tax bills are issued by the Tax Collector's Office. Visit our Resident Access website to view the most up-to-date, real-time status of your tax account(s). If you prefer, you may also contact the Tax Office directly at 207-725-6657 for assistance with your tax information.

Though tax bills are issued by the Tax Collector, the property information, including mailing address, is maintained by the Assessor's Office. Please email the Assessor or call 207-725-6650.

Please provide the Assessor's Office with a bill of sale for all mobile home transfers. If you do not have a bill of sale, please provide other official documentation showing transfer of ownership. You may send the bill of sale (or other documentation) by mail, as an email attachment to the Assessor, or visit us in person.

Under Maine Law the payment of property taxes is the responsibility of the owner on record as of April 1st. The tax bill for the first half of annual taxes due will always have the owner on record for April 1st on the bill. If we are notified that the owner has changed since April 1st, we can put "c/o (new owner's name)" and new mailing address on that bill. For more information regarding the obligations of buyers and sellers please see the Important Notice about Property Taxes for Buyers and Sellers (PDF).

Under Maine Law all property is taxed as it sits on April 1st. If you purchased a property that was split or divided from another parcel after April 1 you will not receive a separate tax bill until the following tax year. For your tax obligation please see the Important Notice about Property Taxes for Buyers and Sellers (PDF).

Once a building permit has been issued, the Assessor's Office can assign a valid mailing address based on the State of Maine E911 guidelines. The Assessor acts as the E-911 Addressing Officer and will coordinate the establishment of a new house number with the United States Post Office, the Fire Department, the Police Department, and 911.

Yes, please notify the Assessor's Office if your business has moved within Brunswick, moved out of Brunswick, changed owners, or simply closed its doors.

Yes! Do not burn leaves, refuse, or any other materials without a burn permit! To obtain a permit, contact the Fire Department at 207-725-5541, or get it online at Maine Buring Permit. 

Email Health Officer Jeff Emerson at the Fire Department or call 207-725-5541.

The Town offers a wide range of employee benefit options, including:

• Health and Dental Insurances
• Paid Holidays
• Short-term Disability
• Vision
• Retirement
• Vacation/Sick Time
• Education Reimbursement

For full details, please visit the Employee Benefits page in this section of our website.

Please contact the Human Resources Department by email: HR@brunswickme.gov or by phone: 207-725-6653.

Please see the Town Policies page for a listing of Town-wide employment policies and safety policies. 

Please view https://www.brunswickme.gov/797/Employment-Opportunities.

People wishing to apply for assistance should call the Department at 207-725-6661 to schedule an appointment. Each person needs to complete an application in order to determine eligibility.

Each applicant is responsible for providing the general assistance administrator with the information necessary to determine eligibility. This includes information verifying members of the household, and documentation of all sources of income received by the household (salary, child support, workers compensation benefits, unemployment, SSI, SSDI, social security, as well as any money received from family members, tax returns, etc.). Additionally, applicants need to provide documentation of their expenses for basic necessities (these include housing, heat, electricity, water, sewer, food, phone when medically necessary, prescriptions, etc.) and work-related expenses (child care expenses, transportation to work). 

The administrator will make a determination of eligibility based on the overall maximums allowed by the State and the municipality. Clients will receive a decision sheet showing whether or not they are eligible for assistance and what they will need to do to be eligible for future assistance. If there is a household member who is available to work, the administrator will schedule a workfare assignment, which may need to be completed prior to the issuance of any assistance.

The town will grant assistance to eligible applicants for basic necessities according to the maximum levels for specific types of assistance. Basic necessities include: 

• Electricity
• Food
• Heat
• Housing
• LP Gas
• Personal and Household Supplies

Other basic necessities are provided when they are deemed essential to an applicant's or recipient's health and safety by the general administrator.

The Town does not own any housing of its own, but usually recommends that those looking for affordable housing contact the Brunswick Housing Authority at 207-725-8711 and Bath Housing Authority at 207-443-3116 as well as checking the local papers.

Each applicant and any member of the household who is capable of working may be required to perform work for the municipality, including work for a non-profit organization, as a condition of receiving assistance. As part of the municipal work program, the municipality may require recipients to participate in training, education, or rehabilitative programs that will assist the recipient in securing employment.

At the time an applicant receives a decision on his or her application, the administrator will inform the person of the requirements for being eligible in the future. Once applying for general assistance, all clients, regardless of whether or not they received any benefits, are responsible for showing that they have done all they can to prevent needing general assistance again. This includes providing documentation (receipts) of all their spending over the past thirty days (or longer if they are seeking assistance with back due bills). Again, the amount of income from all sources received by the household must be provided. Additionally, the applicant must show that he or she has utilized all potential resources referred to them by the administrator.

General Assistance is a program that encourages clients to do all they can to prevent needing future assistance. Applicants may be disqualified from receiving general assistance if:

• They misspend their money on items that are not considered basic necessities (this will count as money that is still available to the household and will affect the amount of eligibility)
• A client quits a job without just cause, he or she is disqualified from receiving assistance for a 120 day period
• A client forfeits a benefit, this benefit will not be replaced

Other grounds for ineligibility include failing to perform or complete a workfare assignment; willfully making a false representation about your eligibility; not providing or permitting the administrator to gather the necessary verification and documentation as required; and others.

Generally, general assistance is determined for a one- to thirty-day period only. If an applicant needs to apply for general assistance again, he or she is responsible for making sure to have met the requirements for eligibility.

If you disagree with the decision, you should discuss the matter with the administrator. All applicants have the right to request a Fair Hearing, which would be before a Board composed of individuals not involved in deciding whether you are eligible for assistance. If you would like a Fair Hearing, you must request it in writing within five working days of receiving your decision.

Check out our Online Registration Page CIVIC REC: https://secure.rec1.com/ME/brunswick-me/catalog 

Email the Parks and Recreation Department, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30p.m, or call 207-725-6656. Emails are answered within 24 hours during the week and on Monday if submitted during the weekend.

Your account will be active immediately after creating your household.

You can use the forgot password link. You will be asked to enter the email associated with your account. If your email matches our records, the information will be emailed to you. You may also email Parks and Recreation, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m, or call 207-725-6656.

You are not able to add a family member after you have already created an account. Please email the Parks and Recreation Department, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m, or call 207-725-6656.

You may enroll for most activities after the start of a program if there is a space available. Online registration for many of our programs will close prior to the start of program due to the specific logistics of that program.

If you have a previous balance due to the Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department, you will have to pay the entire balance in order to complete the transaction. If you have any questions about the charges, contact the office Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

There could be a problem with your account, such as you owe the Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department for previous activities or the class is full and you can discuss waitlist or other options for the program, for which you are trying to register.

Program fees will be processed with the highest level of security. If you have any pop-up blockers installed, you will need to disable them, or make the Brunswick Parks and Recreation Online Registration a trusted site.

If you do not allow this change to your pop-up blocker settings, you will not be able to receive receipts or view all the pages properly. The Town of Brunswick has taken all of the necessary precautions to ensure that this is a secure site, similar to any other e-commerce site on the Internet.

We use the Address Verification System (AVS). This system verifies information for credit card processing security reasons.

Your information is only used to complete the transaction you requested and to analyze trends. The Town of Brunswick does not share this information with outside parties except to the extent necessary to complete your order. The Town of Brunswick does not sell information about current or former participants to any third parties, and it does not disclose it to third parties, unless necessary to process a transaction you have requested.

Our program flyers are available for viewing and printing from the program listing pages. These flyers are also located at the Brunswick Recreation Center lobby and the lobby of the Harriet Beecher Stowe School.

It is available in WebTrac or by contacting the Town of Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department via email, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or call 207-725-6656 during the Recreation Center's operating hours.

The following town parks feature playground equipment maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department: 

• Coffin Pond Recreation Area
• Edwards Field
• Former Longfellow School Site
• Hambleton Park
• Nathaniel Davis Park

Playground equipment maintained by the Brunswick School Department is also installed and available for public use at the following schools in Brunswick: Jordan Acres School, Coffin School, Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary School and the former Hawthorne School.

The following town properties feature trails maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department: 

• Androscoggin River Bicycle Path
• Bay Bridge Landing Interpretive Wetland Park
• Coffin Pond
• Coffin's Ice Pond
• Cox Pinnacle
• Lishness Field
• Maquoit Bay Conservation Lands
• Pejepscot Dam Recreation Area
• Sawyer Park
• Town Commons and Greater Commons

The Parks and Recreation Department maintains groomed trails at the Kate Furbish Trails at Brunswick Landing (the site of the former Brunswick Naval Air Station) off route 123, and also at Crystal Spring Farm, which is located along Pleasant Hill Road in Brunswick on land owned by the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust. To find out about ski conditions during the winter season please see the main Parks and Recreation page.

Employment and volunteer opportunities are periodically posted on our main page and can also be viewed in the Human Resources Department section.

Information about recreation programs and activities can be found on our website, facebook social media page, at our 220 Neptune Drive offices, or by calling 207-725-6656.

Cancellations are posted on our main page and our Facebook page. Program participants will also be contacted directly by phone or by email.

Registrations can be processed online via our CIVIC Rec platform, in-person at the Rec Center, or over the phone with a credit card. 

Here is the link to our online registration platform:
https://secure.rec1.com/ME/brunswick-me/catalog 
 

INDOOR Facility Request Form & OUTDOOR Facility Request Form can be downloaded (PDF) or picked up at the Recreation Center, 220 Neptune Drive offices.

Click Here to access the Welcome Center Request Form  

Please contact our offices for directions to specific parks or facilities of interest to you. Call 207-725-6656 during office hours or email Parks and Recreation.

The State of Maine has amended the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (MUBEC).  On Tuesday, January 7, 2025 the Department of Public Safety adopted the amendments into rule.  Newly adopted 2021 I-codes and corresponding standards will go into effect as of April 7, 2025.

 The updated MUBEC will consist of

• 2021 International Residential Code (IRC)
• 2021 International Building Code (IBC)
• 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC)
• 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
• 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC)

 Permits applied for after 4/7/2025 will be required to comply with 2021 Codes and Standards. Permits issued prior to this date will be subject to the codes in effect when the permit was issued. Please reach out to the Brunswick Planning and Codes department if you have questions regarding this code update. Additional MUBEC information can be found at the State of Maine website here:

https://www.maine.gov/dps/fmo/building-codes

Hours of Operation

New Office Hours 

(Effective July 7, 2025)

Monday – Thursday:

7:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Friday: Closed

Visit the Permits and Applications page to find the link to the Permitting Portal.

A Building Permit is needed for, but not limited to, the following activities:

• Add an Addition or Deck
• Build a Chicken Coop or Farm Animal Shelter
• Build a Shed or Install a Premade Shed/Garage
• Change the Use of a Building or Structure
• Marine Dock System
• New Structures or Additions
• Renovations That Include the Demolition or Construction of Walls or the Opening up of Existing Walls
• Swimming Pools

Permits Not Required

You do not need a Building Permit to do the following (always check with the Codes Office for approval):

• Construct a Fence
• Replace Flooring
• Replace Roofing or Siding (No Structural Changes) 

Properties in the Village Review Zone will require village review board approval.

• Cross Sections
• Deck Construction
• Floor Plans
• Foundation Plan
• Plot Plan
• Sewer Impact Fee Receipt or New Septic Design
• Window and Door Schedules

Please see the corresponding pages in the Planning and Codes section of this website to download the applications needed, and to view meeting schedules and deadlines. For further details or to be placed on the agenda, please contact the Planning Office at 207-725-6660 or visit us during normal business hours.

Please download and complete the appropriate application, as each Major Development Review, Minor Development Review and Special Permit have different requirements. Please contact Planning and Development at 207-725-6660 during normal business hours for further details or to be placed on the Planning Board agenda,

Please email the Director of Planning & Development call 207-725-6660, as cases may vary.

To determine the zone that the selected property is in, go to the Town of Brunswick Geographic Information System (GIS).

Once you have determined your zone and wish to find information on use and dimensional/density requirements, please reference the Brunswick Zoning Ordinance or call the Code Enforcement Office for assistance at 207-725-6660 during normal business hours.

For questions about a possible Code or Zoning Violation, please call the Code Enforcement Office during normal business hours at 207-725-6660 or visit the Codes Office. To report a violation please download a Complaint Report (PDF) or stop into our office to pick one up, fill it out and return it to the Code Enforcement office in person, by email or  regular mail to:

 Town of Brunswick
 Department of Planning and Development
 85 Union Street
 Brunswick, ME 04011

The Brunswick Finance Department, Tax Collection Division, is now a Passport Acceptance Agent. Please see the Passport Processing page for complete details.

Many types of businesses require annual licenses and some require inspections as well. Expiration dates vary. For more information, please see the Licenses page in this section.

After making an appointment, both applicants must appear in person within ninety days of the wedding, in the municipality of residence of either one, to apply for a marriage license. Out of state residents may apply in any municipality in the state. For more information, please see the Licenses page in this section.

Certified and non-certified copies of birth, marriage and death certificates can be purchased through the Town Clerk's Department. Access is restricted. For more information, please see the Vital Records page in this section.

Dog licenses are required for all dogs six months of age and older. Licenses are for the calendar year and can be purchased at the Town Clerk's office. A current rabies certificate and proof of spay/neuter, if applicable, are required. For more information, please see the Licenses page in this section.

Voter registration can be done at the Town Clerk's office during regular business hours. View detailed information on the State of Maine Voter Registration requirements.

You may purchase a hunting/fishing license at the Town Clerk's office, other agents throughout the state, or online.

Resident and non-resident Recreational shellfish licenses are available at the Town Clerk's office beginning the first Monday in April each year. Restrictions apply. For more information on both recreational and commercial shellfish licenses, please see the Licenses page in this section.

A still picture indicates that the meeting is not done processing, meetings take approximately one day to process.

A Street Opening Permit is required if you will be excavating with the town street right-of-way. This includes lawn areas, the public sidewalk or within the actual street bed. If you need to excavate within the town right-of-way you must first apply for a permit and provide information on what you are doing, name of the contractor doing the work, submit information on how traffic will be maintained during the work and provide proof of general liability and vehicle insurance. You may fill out the online form or download the application from the Permitting page of our website or, call to have us fax it to you, or stop by Public Works to get a permit application. Once the form is filled out, please return it to us for processing along with the appropriate application fee. Please allow at least two weeks for our review and approval of the permit once all required information has been submitted.

An Entrance Permit is required if you will be constructing a new driveway or expanding an existing driveway where it connects to the public street. An Entrance Permit is not required to repave an existing driveway. If you plan to install a new driveway or make your existing driveway larger you must first apply for a permit and provide information on what you are doing, submit a scaled plan of the driveway location with dimensions and materials to be used, information on a culvert if one is required, name of the contractor doing the work and provide proof of general liability and vehicle insurance. You may fill out the online form or download the Entrance Permit application from the Permitting page of our website or, call to have us fax it to you, or stop by Public Works to get a permit application. Once the form is filled out, please return it to us for processing with your application fee and allow two weeks for us to review and issue a permit before you intend to start the work.

In the State of Maine, state law authorizes the Maine Department of Transportation as the only legal entity to create or change a speed limit. The Town is not able to change the legal speed limit on a roadway, only to modify/add regulatory signage to help enforce that speed limit. 

Maine DOT establishes the speed limit within the Town of Brunswick. Maine DOT uses the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) as the guideline for setting speed limits, as that is the national standard published by the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration. The short summary of how the speed limit is set is a speed study measures the average vehicular speed over a number of days, and then the speed limit is based on the average 85th percentile speed. The 85th percentile has been extensively studied to be the basis for setting a speed limit on a road segment. Additional factors such as driveway density, road geometry, and other characteristics are also considered. This is the standard traffic engineering process throughout the country. 

If a citizen is concerned with altering the legal speed limit, they can speak with the Town Engineer's office who can arrange for a speed study. Then the summary of findings are provided to the town council. The town council can review the study and choose to formally ask Maine DOT to conduct a study to revaluate the posted speed limit. Please note that Maine DOT can say that their own study supports no change, that their study does recommend lowering the speed limit, and on rare occasion they have even actually raised a speed limit that was requested to be lowered based on their independent study.

For more information, please visit the Maine DOT’s posted speed limits at this website and more general information here. Watch our TV3 Short on this process here

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You can find a range of presentations linked below.

Planning Board Presentation Jan. '20

Planning Board Presentation Dec. '20

Advisory Committee Meeting #1

Advisory Committee Meeting #2

Public Meeting - October 25th

Cook's Corner Revitalization Plan Presentation

Advisory Committee Meeting - April 26th

This process is intended to benefit existing businesses as well as potential new businesses who would want to locate in Cook's Corner. New and existing businesses are encouraged to get in touch with the Economic Development Department to find out resources are available to them.

There is a Cook's Corner Advisory Committee that is comprised of individuals and groups that hold an interest in the area. Businesses and members of the public are encouraged to attend meetings to get involved.

There has been significant investment into the region with several projects slated for the future. Click here for a map of recently completed work.

Camoin Associates, based in Scarborough, Maine is leading the consultant team. With support from Gorrill Palmer. Both firms have extensive experience in this type of work in Maine. For more information on Camoin Associates click here, for more information on Gorrill Palmer, click here.

The Cook's Corner Revitalization Plan will establish a renewed vision for Cook's Corner, and most importantly, provide the roadmap for how to achieve this vision. This effort will build on the extensive work that the Town and their partners have all put into envisioning this area. With new post pandemic realities and other lifestyle changes, it is important to update the vision and put the proper policies and mechanisms in place to execute a plan. 

The Town Council adopted the Cook’s Corner Revitalization Plan in May 2022. Implementation of the Plan is ongoing.

The Town of Brunswick conducted a town-wide property revaluation in 2025. A revaluation is the process of adjusting all property assessments to reflect current market value as of a specific date. The purpose of the 2025 revaluation was to restore equity so that property taxes are distributed fairly among all property owners.

In 2026, the Town is performing an annual assessment update rather than a full revaluation. This update is intended to maintain the accuracy and equity achieved through the 2025 revaluation. Annual updates allow the Assessor’s Office to account for recent sales activity, new construction, property changes, and evolving market conditions, helping prevent large shifts in value in the future.

The 2026 annual update reflects market conditions as of April 1, 2026, as required by Maine Property Tax Law. Assessments are based on the real estate market leading up to that date.

Updated assessments from the 2026 annual update will be reflected in the tax bills mailed in September 2026.

Real estate markets changes every year. Some neighborhoods or property types may change faster than others. Annual updates help ensure that assessments remain aligned with the market and that inequities do not rebuild over time. This approach promotes stability, predictability, and fairness for taxpayers.

Maine law requires that properties be assessed at fair market value and that municipalities maintain a minimum assessment ratio of 70%. While a general valuation is required at least every 10 years, annual updates are a best practice used to maintain compliance with state standards and avoid the need for more disruptive and costly large-scale revaluations.

The 2026 annual update is being conducted by the Town of Brunswick Assessor’s Office, using verified sales data, building permit information, field inspections, and other market analysis tools.

Assessments reflect market value, not just physical changes to a property. Even if no improvements were made, changes in the real estate market, such as increased demand, limited supply, or shifts in buyer preferences, may affect property values. Annual updates ensure those market changes are reflected gradually rather than all at once.

Assessments are not driven by whether the market is “high” or “low,” but by the legal requirement to assess at fair market value. If market values decline in the future, assessments will also be adjusted accordingly. Maintaining current values protects taxpayers by avoiding large corrections later.

The Assessor’s Office maintains detailed property records using building permits, prior inspections, sales inspections, and periodic field reviews. In many cases, this information is sufficient to develop a reasonable estimate of market value. Property owners may request an interior inspection if they believe it would improve the accuracy of their assessment. Property record cards are available for review online.

A change in assessment does not automatically result in a higher tax bill. Your taxes may increase, decrease, or remain relatively stable depending on how your property’s value changes compared to the community average. For example, if your assessment increases by 10% but the average assessment increase town-wide is 15%, your share of the tax burden may decrease, assuming municipal, school, and county budgets remain stable.

No. Assessment updates do not generate additional revenue for the Town. The total amount raised through property taxes is determined by the approved municipal, school, and county budgets. Assessments only determine how the total tax levy is distributed among property owners.

An analogy:

Think of the tax levy as a pie. The size of the pie is set by voters and elected officials through the budget process. The Assessor’s role is not to make the pie bigger, but to ensure it is sliced fairly, so each property owner pays a share based on current market value.

The Assessor’s Office encourages property owners to review their property record card and contact staff with any questions or concerns. Informal discussions are often the most effective way to resolve issues and ensure assessments are accurate and well understood.