Trash

 

Household trash is picked up roadside every Thursday, by Harris Downeast Disposal.  They can be reached at (207) 584-3030.  Please have your trash curbside by 8am Thursday morning. Note that during the summer season, when many more people are in town, don’t be alarmed if your trash is not picked up until the late afternoon. 

 

Trash must be placed in a closed garbage bag with a Sorrento trash sticker prominently displayed. To protect the trash collectors, bags are limited to 40 pounds each.  From May through October, bags must be placed inside of garbage cans with lids. Please refrain from putting trash out the night before, as animals can easily tear apart a bag.  If your bag is torn apart and debris scattered, it is YOUR responsibility to pick it up. Garbage is always picked up on the scheduled day even if it falls on a holiday.

 

Trash stickers can be purchased at 

• Town Office on Pomola Avenue during regular office hours

• The Dunbar Store, 1983 US-1, Sullivan, ME

• Nautilus Marine Hardware, 2317 US-1, Sullivan, ME

 

Town Office Hours

 

Town Office hours are posted on the front page of this website.  At the Town Office you can purchase trash stickers, pay for licenses, permits, registrations, pay taxes and get information about the town and surrounding areas and services. Many services are available online as well.

 

Building Permits

 

The Town of Sorrento requires that anyone performing plumbing or construction submit an application and pay for permits. Applications will be reviewed and permits issued by the Code Enforcement Officer. Common projects that require permits include plumbing renovations, repairs and additions, septic systems, driveways, fences, signs, building construction and Shoreland projects. The Town enforces the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code, as adopted by the State of Maine, and the Maine Subsurface Wastewater System Rules. Plumbing projects, both internal and external, require inspections by the Code Enforcement Officer (see Contacts page for Code Enforcement Officer information.)

 

All contractors doing soil work in the shore land must have State Certification and must furnish a copy to code enforcement for every shore project.

 

See Code Enforcement page for more information. 

 

Parking

 

Parking on town roads is allowed from April 15 to November 1.  In the village (area down around the harbor), the roads are narrow and parking is limited.  Please read signs to note where parking is allowed or not.  Parking spaces at the town dock are quite limited, and the parking spaces are not big enough to accommodate trailers or RVs. Overnight parking in the dock parking lot is not permitted.

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Citizen Education

 

Maine Municipal Association has a website page on Citizen Education https://www.memun.org/Training/Citizen-Education. Here MMA is building a "toolkit" where municipal leaders can find answers when citizens ask fundamental questions about municipal government. 

"While citizen participation is vital to democracy, it is not enough to simply invite participation. It is necessary to first educate citizens to provide them with the ability to understand the structure, workings and benefits of local government, and to help them realize their role in local government."

 

Harbor

 

Sorrento harbor is a well-protected and beautiful natural harbor with panoramic views of local islands and the mountains of  Mount Desert Island to the south.  Dock facilities and moorings, including visitor moorings, are overseen by the Harbor Master, Louis Sutherland, Jr., who can be reached at (207) 266-5706 or harbormaster@sorrentomaine.org. Anchoring in the harbor is permitted only as approved by the Harbor Master.  Speed within the harbor is limited to “headway” speed which is the minimum speed necessary to maintain steerage and control of the watercraft while the watercraft is moving.  

 

Please note that during the summer season kayakers often are paddling through the harbor and children often are in small sailboats for sailing lessons. Please be careful and keep your speed and wake down.

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Dock

 

You will notice two docks in the harbor. One is the “public” dock, located by the parking lot and available for public use. A commercial fishing dock is also in the harbor.  In the summer season these facilities are in heavy use, and docking times for boats is limited.  Dinghies and launches with motors are not allowed at the “public” dock.

 

There is a portable toilet at the town dock in the summer. Please be mindful of others and keep it clean, as this toilet is not serviced regularly.  There is no trash receptacle or dumpster at the town dock, so please remove any waste you create or bring with you.

 

Boat Launch Ramp

 

The Sorrento boat launch ramp beside the commercial fishing dock is a town-owned facility.  Please read the posted signs regarding parking and usage. For example, the use of the ramp for commercial purposes is limited to residents only.

 

Nearby Islands

 

The islands you see near the Sorrento shoreline include Stave (private with some conserved lands), Calf (private), Preble (conserved), Dram (conserved), Bean (conserved) and Ingalls (private).  Please plan in advance for any mooring or beach activities. Check with Frenchman Bay Conservancy, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, and the Nature Conservancy for the latest information on these islands.

 

Fires and Brush Burning

 

You are required by Maine law to have a permit to burn, even for a small pile of grass clippings or leaves. A Forestry Warden will be called if you burn without a permit. 

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See Fire Department under Town Office and Departments for more information on burn permits. 

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Hunting

 

Hunting is popular in Maine and permits can be obtained for many species, including deer, turkey, bear and moose.  One of the most popular seasons is deer season running from the end of October to the beginning of December. For your safety when walking in Sorrento during deer season, please be advised that wearing bright/“blaze” orange or yellow hats and clothing is strongly recommended as hunting is allowed in many parts of the community.

 

https://www.maine.gov/ifw/hunting-trapping/hunting/index.html

 

Fishing and Shellfish

 

Recreational and commercial fishing and shellfish harvesting require licenses in Maine. Please be careful to check which waters are open, particularly for shellfish harvesting, as many areas are closed for water quality or conservation reasons.  See below and the Licenses, Permits & Applications section for more information on licenses and permits.

 

Saltwater fishing: 

https://www.maine.gov/dmr/fisheries/recreational

https://www.maine.gov/dmr/fisheries/commercial

 

Inland fishing: 

https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing-boating/fishing/licenses-permits/index.html

 

Shellfish:

https://www.maine.gov/dmr/fisheries/shellfish

 

Wildlife and invasive species

 

While Sorrrento is a coastal peninsula, we do have plenty of wildlife which – unless you are hunting – you should stay away from for their safety and yours.  In Sorrento you may find porcupines, bears, coyotes, fisher cats, bobcats, deer, raccoons, skunks, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, golden and bald eagles, ospreys, and even the occasional moose.  Some of these animals (e.g., bobcats) are rare/valuable so please be careful about posting specifics about your sightings on social media.

 

Both browntail moths and deer ticks present real health problems. The hairs on browntail moth caterpillars cause dermatitis similar to poison ivy on sensitive individuals, and are active from April to late June. Hairs remain toxic throughout the summer but get washed into the soil and are less of a problem over time. 

 

https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/vector-borne/browntail-moth/index.shtml

 

Deer ticks may carry lyme and other diseases. If you spend time outdoors, know how to protect yourself.

 

https://www.mcht.org/story/tips-for-avoiding-ticks/

https://extension.umaine.edu/ticks/maine-ticks/

 

Recreation facilities

 

In Sorrento you will notice (or find online) many recreational facilities, some of which are owned by the Town and some of which are seasonal and owned by the Village Improvement Association (VIA),  a membership-based organization.  The Town of Sorrento has a Town office and Community Center on Pomola Avenue, the Village Green at 310 Ocean Ave and a town dock and boat ramp. The Community Center and Village Green are available to rent by contacting the Town Office. 

 

The VIA facilities are for the use of its paying members; full-time residents of Sorrento are eligible for discounts.  The VIA maintains a 9-hole golf course, salt-water swimming pool, four tennis courts (including pickleball), and croquet.  You can find more information about the VIA and how to join here: https://www.sorrentovia.org/.  The 9-hole, walking only golf course is open to the public for daily greens fees or memberships. Read more about Blink Bonnie here: https://www.sorrentovia.org/golf

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Water

 

While many properties in Sorrento have wells, much of the Town has both year round and seasonal water service provided by Long Pond Water District. Seasonal water is generally on from May through October. Seasonal water lines mostly are above ground and Long Pond will shut off service prior to freezing conditions.  

 

https://www.longpondwater.com/

(207) 422-3499

operator@longpondwater.com
 

Visiting Considerations

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• The speed limit in the village area is 25 mph and is strictly enforced.  Other roads in Sorrento are posted at 40 mph.  

• This is a year-round, residential community. There are a great number of children, pedestrians and bicyclists on our roads during ALL seasons, so please use caution and obey our speed limits.

• Route 185, also known as East Side Road and Pomola Avenue, is a state maintained road. Large, commercial trucks should use this road whenever possible.  West Shore Road is intended for local traffic only.

• There is no local EMS service in town.  Response times will vary depending on the availability of responders from surrounding areas.  Please be safe! Dial 911 for emergency services.

• There are no restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores or gas stations in the Town of Sorrento.  

• The Sorrento Post Office is located at 16 Main St.  The phone number is (207) 422-6896

• West Cove Boatyard at 41 Waukeag Avenue has full boat repair services. They can be contacted at (207) 422-3137 and westcoveboatyard.com