Town Services

Welcome to the Town of Osborn, where we are dedicated to providing a variety of essential services to support our community. Our goal is to ensure that residents have access to the resources they need for a safe, healthy, and connected life. Below is an overview of the services offered by the Town of Osborn.

Emergency Services

Osborn partners with nearby towns to provide emergency services, ensuring prompt response in case of fire, medical emergencies, or other critical situations.
Fire Department: Our volunteer fire department works alongside neighboring fire services to ensure the safety of residents.
Police Services: Osborn does not have a police department. Call the Hancock County Sheriffs Department at 207-667-7575, or the Maine State Police. In the event of an emergency, please call 911.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS): Ambulance services are available through local regional EMS providers, ensuring quick response and care during medical emergencies.

Town Office Services

Our Town Office is the heart of local government, handling a variety of administrative and civic functions.
Property Tax Information: The office manages property tax assessments and collections. Taxpayers can find information on due dates, tax rates, and payment options.
Town Clerk Services: Residents can obtain vital records such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, and death certificates. The office also processes vehicle registrations, dog licenses, and hunting/fishing licenses.
Voter Registration: New residents can register to vote at the Town Office. Election information and absentee ballots are also available.

Public Works

The Town of Osborn is committed to maintaining and improving our town’s infrastructure. Public Works services include:
Road Maintenance: Ensuring town roads are properly maintained, especially during winter months when snow removal is critical.
Solid Waste and Recycling: Residents can use the designated transfer station for waste disposal and recycling. Check the station’s operating hours and recycling guidelines for more information. Starting on Monday, February 1, 2025, trash will be picked up road side by Casella Waste Systems. We do not have a recycling center.

Community Services

Parks and Recreation: While Osborn may be small, we encourage residents to explore our beautiful natural surroundings. Community members enjoy recreational activities such as hiking, fishing, and boating in nearby lakes and trails.
Senior Services: The town collaborates with regional organizations to provide services and support for senior citizens, including transportation assistance and access to health resources.

Animal Control

Osborn employs an Animal Control Officer to handle issues related to pets and wildlife. Services include:
Lost and Found Pets: Assistance in locating lost pets and reuniting them with their owners.
Animal Welfare: Reporting of animal neglect or abuse is taken seriously. Contact the Animal Control Officer for concerns regarding the safety and well-being of animals in our town.

Online Services

1. Property Tax Payments
You can now pay your property taxes online using our secure payment portal. Avoid the hassle of mailing checks or visiting the Town Office in person. Simply enter your property details and follow the steps to complete your payment. We accept most major credit and debit cards.

2. Vehicle Registration Renewals
Renew your vehicle registration quickly and easily online. Through our partnership with the State of Maine’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), residents can renew registrations for cars, trucks, and trailers. The process is fast, secure, and can be done 24/7. New and re-registrations can be processed at the Osborn town office. The Town of Amherst and Waltham can also process registrations for Osborn. Rapid renewal is available at https://www1.maine.gov/online/bmv/rapid-renewal/

3. Hunting & Fishing Licenses
Osborn residents can purchase or renew their Maine hunting and fishing licenses online. Whether you’re looking to get a seasonal permit or a lifetime license, the online portal allows you to manage your licenses without the need for a trip to the Town Office. Licenses are sold through the MOSES system. https://moses.informe.org

4. Vital Records Requests
Request copies of vital records, including birth, death, and marriage certificates, online. Fill out the required information, submit your payment, and receive your records by mail. For more detailed instructions, visit our Vital Records page.

Marriage is not permitted in Maine between two people who are related by blood to one another under Title 19-A, §651 (3) with the following exception: If the parties recording notice of their intentions to marry are related (first cousins) as described in Title 19-A, section 701, subsection 2, the parties shall submit to the clerk, at the time of recording their intentions to marry, a certificate from a physician stating that the parties have received genetic counseling from the physician.

FILING INTENTIONS/FEES The first step in obtaining a marriage license is to have the marriage intentions recorded in writing. Both parties must complete and sign the intentions, stating they are free to marry, in the presence of a municipal clerk or a notary public. There is a $40.00 fee to obtain a marriage license. If either of the parties are residents of Maine, they must file their intentions with the Department or in the municipal office in the which one of them resides. If only one party to the marriage resides in Maine and the other party resides outside the State of Maine, then both parties must file their intentions at the municipal office in the town/city where the Maine resident lives. If neither one of the parties is a resident of Maine, they must file intentions, but may file in any municipal clerk’s office. Once the intentions are filed and the license is issued, the parties are free to marry anywhere within the State.

WAITING PERIOD

There is NO waiting period in the State of Maine. Once the intentions are filed, the license may be issued immediately.

OBTAINING YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE

Once the intentions have been filed, the two parties have signed the marriage license, and all other requirements for obtaining a marriage license have been met, the marriage license may be issued to the either party. The license must be used within 90 days (not three months) from the date the intentions were filed.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN MARRIED BEFORE

If either party has been married before and are divorced or widowed, a certified copy of documentation showing how the last marriage ended is required.

COPIES Copies of your marriage certificate are available from the municipal clerk who issued the license and also from the Department. A fee does apply.

DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS IN MAINE Beginning in 2004, Maine implemented a Domestic Partners Registry. If you are planning to be married in Maine and you have already registered in Maine as a Domestic Partner, the partnership becomes void upon the date of the marriage. When completing the marriage intentions, parties are required to report if they are a registered Domestic Partner in Maine. If you would like more information on Domestic Partnerships in Maine, please go to our web site at http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/public-healthsystems/data-research/vital-records.

5. Building Permits
Permits must be obtained through the Maine LUPC (Land Use Planning Commission). Our contact is Ashley Weikert at (207) 215-4685. Failure to obtain permits or violations of various ordinances, carry substantial penalties. Additionally, when applying for a building permit for new residential construction, contact must be made with the town office, at that time, to secure the proper address through the E-911 Addressing Officer.

6. General Assistance Applications
The Town of Osborn offers the application for general assistance in the “public document” section. If you’re experiencing financial hardship and need help with basic necessities such as food, shelter, or heating assistance, please bring the completed application to the office. If you do not have access to a printer, an application is available at the town office.

In the event of an emergency situation, please contact Christy Jordan-Rebar at 207-460-5581 or Dean Murphy at 207-460-9723.

The select board follows the town ordinance to determine eligibility for assistance.

§4304. General assistance offices

1. Local office. There must be in each municipality a general assistance office or designated place where any person may obtain an application for general assistance during the municipality’s regular business hours. A municipality shall designate the daily hours when an application for general assistance will be accepted and processed. These designated hours may not total less than 50% of the municipality’s regular business hours.At all times the local office or designated place must display in a prominent location a posted notice that includes the following information:
   1. The regular business hours when an application may be obtained; [PL 2025, c. 149, §1 (NEW).]
   2. The daily business hours when an application may be accepted and processed; [PL 2025, c. 149, §1 (NEW).]
   3. The name of the overseer available to take applications in an emergency at all times, including times outside the daily business hours under paragraph B; [PL 2025, c. 149, §1 (NEW).]
   4. The fact that the municipality must issue a written decision on all applications within 24 hours; and [PL 2025, c. 149, §1 (NEW).]
   5. The department’s toll-free telephone number for reporting alleged violations in accordance with section 4321.[PL 2025, c. 149, §1(NEW).][PL 2025, c. 149, §1 (AMD).]
2. District office. In situations where in the judgment of a municipality the number of applicants does not justify the establishment of a local office or designated place, or where for other reasons a local office or designated place is not necessary, 2 or more municipalities, by a vote of their respective legislative bodies, may establish a district office for the administration of general assistance and make agreements as to the payment of expenses and any other matters relevant to the operation of the office.Any district office established pursuant to this subsection shall be located so as to be accessible by a toll-free telephone call from any part of every municipality it is designated to serve.Every district general assistance officer shall be available for the taking of applications at least 35 hours each week and shall make provision for designated personnel to be available to take applications in an emergency 24 hours a day.[PL 1983, c. 577, §1 (NEW).]
3. Emergencies. In any case when an applicant is unable, due to illness, disability, lack of transportation, lack of child care or other good cause, to apply in person for assistance or unable to appoint a duly authorized representative, the overseer shall accept an application by telephone subject to verification by mail and a visit to the applicant’s home with the consent of the applicant. Municipalities may arrange with emergency shelters for the homeless to presume eligible for municipal assistance persons to whom the emergency shelter provides shelter services.

7. Dog Licensing
Maine State Statute requires all canines be registered when they reach six months of age. Dog licenses expire on December 31st of every year. Dog licenses are available at the town office beginning on October 15th of every year. A mandated penalty will be assessed if your dog is not licensed by January 31st. Proof of rabies vaccination is required to register all dogs.

8. Online Boat Registration
This service allows you to register your Boat (vessel) with the State of Maine. Following your transaction, you will receive a temporary registration form to print for immediate use. Your official registration and stickers will arrive at the shipping address specified within 30 days.Boat registrations are valid from January 1 through December 31.

Starting on December 1st each year, boat registrations done through this service will be for the following calendar year.

The Boat Registration Renewal service is available to registrants who:

• have previously registered their boat
• live in or primarily dock their boat in a municipality that participates in this online service
• and are required to pay excise tax https://apps1.web.maine.gov/online/boat/

9. Contact Us
For any questions or assistance with our online services, please contact us. Our team is here to help!