Bar Harbor Planning & Code Enforcement

As part of ongoing engagement efforts with the community during development of the Bar Harbor Sustainable Tourism Management Strategy, the Town will be hosting an "Open House" on Thursday, March 26th.

Join us to help shape the future of tourism in Bar Harbor by discussing topics such as traffic, parking, housing, and planning for future generations. By voting on the greatest challenges and potential solutions, your feedback will guide the Town's priority action items within the Sustainable Tourism Management Strategy.

Those interested have the option to attend one or both community open house sessions on Thursday, March 26th:

Lunch session: 12-2 PM in the Town Council Chambers of the Bar Harbor Municipal Building, 93 Cottage Street

Evening session: 6-8 PM at The Annex - by Side Street Cafe, 51 Rodick Street

Food will be provided at both sessions, and drinks will be available for purchase at the Side Street Cafe bar during the evening session.

Have questions or comments? Call the Planning Office at (207) 288-3329

Let's work together towards a shared vision of Sustainable Tourism.

Sustainable Tourism Management Task Force | Bar Harbor, ME - Official Website A Sustainable Tourism Management Task Force is established to evaluate tourism management challenges, develop proposed solutions, and provide findings and recommendations to the Town Council for approval.

At the December 16 Town Council meeting, the Planning and Code Department presented an overview of the potential Land Use Ordinance amendments that may appear on the June 2026 ballot.

If you wish to speak on these proposals, the last opportunity to recommend substantial changes to the language will be at the Planning Board meeting on January 7, 2026.

Click the link to access the presentation slides: https://www.barharbormaine.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8695/Town-Council---DECEMBER-Overview-Slides_FINAL_12162025

The Bar Harbor Planning Department will be hosting two Listening Sessions to discuss and gain input for possible Land Use Ordinance amendments for 2026.

Topics to be discussed include the definition of campground, individual campsite and districts where individual campsites are allowed.

Listening Sessions will be held at the Municipal Building at 93 Cottage Street in Bar Harbor on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.

Session 1 is 12 – 1:30pm in the Council Chambers, refreshments will be served.
Session 2 is 6 – 7:30pm in the Council Chambers, refreshments will be served.

For more information about the Listening Sessions, please contact Mike Gurtler, Code Enforcement Officer at [email protected].