Bellingham Board of Health Drops Fine, Eyes New Composting Rule

BELLINGHAM — December 16, 2025 — Bellingham Board of Health drops a leaf-pile fine and considers its first formal composting regulation. The board voted unanimously at its December 16 meeting to withdraw a fine against a resident at 835 South Main Street after she removed a brush and leaf pile that had been the subject of a neighbor dispute spanning three years. Chair David Hebert proposed asking town counsel to draft a regulation defining what a compost pile may contain and how close it may sit to a property line, with a vote targeted for the January meeting. Agent Don Labonte also told the board that with more than 70 licensed food establishments and no dedicated food agent currently on staff, three required annual inspections per site had proven unachievable; the board placed a food agent hiring discussion and a potential return to risk-based permit fees — ranging from $200 for pre-packaged food sellers to $1,000 for supermarkets — on the January agenda. Labonte noted the food permit revolving fund has accumulated a full year of permit revenue without any drawdown.