land use handbook

[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]

COASTAL ZONE
WORMATON CENYER

THE LAND USE
HANDBOOK
Section
o r
Handbook Index

'ION
`F@IC COLLtF

-J"

HD
184
-M2
L3
Y,

1978
Section 1 ITMENT OF CONSERVATION LAND USE REGULATION COMMISSION
C. 2

This Manual was financed in part by the National Reproduction or resale of any part of this booklet
Endowment for The Arts. The views expressed, for commercial purposes requires written permis-
however, do not necessarily represent the views sion from the Department of Conservation, State
of the Endowment. House, Augusta, Maine 04333.
November 1978 Printed under appropriation number 1509-1001.

5Rj,

k
g,
I _0
"Slni
Vi I Wv
111,@
i@ ?l -1U!VN,--6 -A
"'T IR
RIAO
D.- N
-11"a
AAK,;N,

p
ff, IC121
R
@J
4,j
. . . . . . . . . . .
&
pffA
qVIM,
4 NP n. d
@y "I -14td

1,k

g, @yl -a -@i N
5 R
-9
A;@
-i, @A,
g 1,@ "15
q U
Introduction
W
U

The Land Use Handbook is intended to help
understand Maine's land use laws and
you
make the best use of your land.
6151
tion 1 is a guide to the Handbook as a
Sec
whole. It contains a brief table of contents on
pages 2 and 3 and a comprehensive index by
v@@
@i
subjects on pages 4 through 8.
Sections 2 through 4'of the Handbook will
tell you how to find information about land
use; what the basic Maine laws are that
o-` govern land use; how and why this Commis-
Sion regulates land use in Maine's
unorganized territory, and how to go about
obtaining a Building Permit to build in this
a
ea. The last two sections of the Handbook,
r
5 and 6, present design ideas for home
owners and builders and proven methods to
control erosion on woodlots.

We hope the Land Use Handbook will give
43 you ideas and information that will save you
money and add to your enjoyment of your
land.

The Maine Land Use Regulation Commission

Please note: This Handbook is intended for general information. It is not intended for
0 legal reference.
Plea

The Land Use Handbook - Section I

Handbook Contents

Maine Land Use Laws
Section
Section 2 explains most of the important laws that
Law ij@e
61,`L&Z@ relate to land use and building in Maine.

Section Maine Land Use Regulation
Commission (L.U.R.C.)
-RiAeoliefim a @7 7,11 @5k
Section 3 describes how the Land Use Regulation
Commission, the agency responsible for planning and
zoning the 10.5 million acres of Maine's unorganized
territory, works.

The Land Use Handbook - Section 1

How to Apply for a L.U.R.C.
Section
Building Permit

Section 4 is written for people who are planning to
build a house or camp on land in the unorganized
FS; tow
nships or plantations. It has three parts: an Ox-
AFA,@-, "'N
planation of the building permit application procedure;
an explanation of how to prepare the application; and
information on other regulations affecting people plan-
ning to build a house orcamp.

Design Ideas
Section
Section 5 discusses things to consider when siting a
home, subdividing land, designing a sign, or working a
sand or gravel pit. It has f6ur parts. The first discusses
Z J i"
how to plan a home on the land and things to consider
j;
j before you build it. The second part tells how to design
a small subdivision of 3 to 10 lots. Surface mining is
j"j; discussed in the third part of the book. The final sec-
tion offers ideas for designing and placing signs to
advertise a business on your property.

Section Erosion Control on Logging Jobs
W This 'section is written for small woodlot owners,
'Erosion
woods operators, and contractors. It explains how to
plan and lay out skid and truck roads, and how to avoid
erosion problems on logging roads. The section con-
cludes with a short explanation of the laws that
woodlot owners, operators, and contractors need to
know about before they begin a harvest operation.

Controle de I'Erosion dans
les Chantiers

Cette Section a ete ecrite pour les proprietaires de
petites terres a bois. Elle decrit les facons de preparer
et de disposer les sentiers et Ies chemins de camion-
nage et de debuscage, et les facons de modifier les
chemins pour eviter ['erosion. La Section se termine
avec une courte description des lois que les pro-
prietalres de lots a bois,. les operateurs et les con-
tracteurs devraient connaitre avant de commencer la
coupe du bois.
4

The Land Use Handbook - Section 1

_gag'
,"Utv

x"'v'

7"
A, @41 n4' 'i

75
Handbook Index
Topics covered in the Handbook are listed by section and page number. Section
numbers are listed on the right in bold type, followed by page numbers, printed in
I lighter type.

Boat moorings .............. 2 lo
A Boundaries (property) ........ 4 7,16-17
Agriculture Bridges
Areas where permits may ... 3 8,12,18, Stream Alteration and ...... 2 12,14
be required 19,23 Great Pond Laws
Aquifer Recharge Areas ...... 3 22 Permits, areas where ...... 3 10,38,41
building standards apply
B Planning, log bridges ...... 6 7,21,22
Beaches ................... 2 10,12, Building
14,15 Permits, areas where ...... 3 8,9,10,
building is regulated, Lot 24,26
Boat Launching ramps ....... 2 14,15 Standards 42

The Land Use Handbook - Section 1

Building Permit and Apjpli-. . 4 3-10
cation for a Building Permit E
Energy conservation ......... 5 7,8,10,
(in homes) 16,22,
C Erosion 23,24
Campgrounds .............. 3 18,,23-24 Laws pertaining ............ 2 12,15,
Causeways ................ 2 12,14 19,21
Clearing land ............... 2 6,18 Subdistricts where erosion . 3 26,28,38,
3 34,36 is regulated 40,41
Cluster development ........ 5 33 Surface mining ........... 5 13,17,
35-37
Coastal Wetlands Law ....... 2 10,11
Timber harvesting ......... 6 3,4,7,9,
Comprehensive Land Use .... 3 5,6 19,20,
Plan(CLUP) 22,23
Cross drains ................ 6 -4 Exhibits
Required for L.U.R.C ....... 4 4,6,7,8
Culverts (timber harvesting) Building Permits
Water Crossing Standards. . 3 38,41
H ow to i nstal I cu Iverts ......6 11,12-14
open top culverts F
Fill ........................ 2 11,12,14
3 9

Fish weirs .................. 2 10
Dams Floats ..................... 2 10,15
Stream Alteration Law ..... 2 12 Flood Prone Areas .......... 3 8,23
Land Use Standards ....... 3 34 Forest type map ............ 2 23,24
Deer wintering areas ......... 3 24
Development (Commercial,
industrial) G
Permits, areas where ...... 3 8-10,12, General Development ........ 3 15
development is regulated, 15,17,21 Subdistrict
subdivisions, Protection 22-25 Gravel pits
Subdistricts
Site Law ................. 2 7
Development Districts ....... 4 13,15,16
Development Subdistricts .... 3 5,12, Permits .................. 3 8
13,24 Great Ponds
Docks ..................... 2 12,14,15 Great Ponds Law .......... 2 14
3 25
Pond and Lake Area ....... 3 25
Dredging ................... 2 10,12,14 Subdistricts
Dunes(sand) ............... 2 10 G round water ............... 3 22,31
5 14

The Land Use Handbook - Section 1

Land Use Standards
H Land Use Districts and ..... 3 5,6,12,
Houses Subdistricts 13,15-21,
Areas where bu i Id i ng ...... 3 3,18-33 23-27,
is regulated 32-43
Building permits .......... 4 3-11 Local Plumbing Inspector .... 2 17,25
(L.P.I.) 4 3
Siting a home, mobile ...... 5 6-25 Logging laws ............... 6 24,25
homes, landscaping,
driveways, energy saving Lot size
ideas Lot Standards ............ 3 42

Checklist, subdivisions,. 5 5,27-30
slopes, soils, vegetation,
lay out

Insulation .................. 5 22-24
M
Management Districts ....... 4 13,15,16
Management Subdistricts .... 3 5,12,18
Lakes Marinas ................... 2 12,14
Conversion of Seasonal .... 2 17,18,19 Marshes
Dwellings Law, Shoreland
Zoning Law Coastal Wetlands Law ..... 2 10
Land Use Districts, areas.-. . 3 12,13,25, Shoreland Areas .......... 3 29
where development is 31,36,37, Mineral extraction (mining)
regulated, mining and timber 40,41
harvesting standards Areas where mining ....... 3 23,24,31,
Landings/yards (timber ...... 6 5-7,23 is regulated, mining 37
harvesting) standards
Landscaping ............... 5 16-19,30, Planning, screening ........ 5 35-37
41 erosion, reclamation
Land Use Districts ........... 3 2,5,12, Minimum Lot Size
32 Minimum Lot Size Law ..... 2 8,9,18
Land Use Subdistricts ....... 3 12,13, Shoreland Zoning Law ..... 4 12,13
4 15-31,12,
13 Mobile homes
Land Use Guidance Maps .... 3 6,13,32, Permits .................. 3 8
33
How to apply for a permit ... 4 3-5
4 12,13 Siting, skirting, foundations 5 15,16
Land Use Laws Mountain Area Subdistricts... 3 12,13,26
Checklist ................ 2 4
L.I.I.R.C. jurisdiction ......... 3 4

The Land Use Handbook - Section 1

:0 S
On-premise signs Screening (with plantings)
Design ideas, wall signs.... 5 38-41 Siting a home, energy ...... 5 .6,8-13,
projecting, free-standing conservation, mobile homes, 15,17-19,
signs. landscaping, driveways, 21,30,36
laying out lots, borrow pits
Seeding ................... 6 23
P
Setbacks
Parking lots ................ 2 6 Shoreland Zoning ......... 2 18
Permits Pond and Lake Area ....... 3 25,29,41,
Checklist ................ 2 3 Subdistricts, Shoreland Area 42
Building, Subdivision .......3 8,10,13, Subdistricts, Timber
Development, Forestry 16,17,35 Harvesting, lot standards
Operations, Utility Line, 36,38 Regulations .............. 4 11,16-17
Road, Bridge permits Siting a home ............. 5 14
Pesticides .................. 3 34 Sewage disposal
Planned Development ....... 3 15,16 Small lots, large ........... 2 8,9,
Subdistricts projects, seasonal dwellings, 17-18,26
Plantation ................. 3 3,4 Shoreland Zoning Law,
(unorganized territory) 4 3 plumbing code
Plumbing code ............. 2 '25,26 Regulations .............. 3 34
4 11,13,17, Solis Report, choosing ..... 4 9-11,
18,19 a system, set back 17-19
Plumbing Permits ........... 2 25 Soils map, subdivisions .... 5 14,29,
4 3 31,33
Ponds ..................... See Lakes and Shoreland
Great Ponds Sewage disposal .......... 2 8,9,14,
Protection Districts .......... 3 5-9,12 construction standards, 15,17-19
20,21 Conversion of Seasonal
Dwellings Law, Shoreland
Zoning Law
R Shoreland Protection ...... 3 12,13,25,
Remote Ponds .............. 3 27 Subdistricts, Pond and Lake 29,30
Residential Development ..... 3 15,26 Area Subdistricts, Tree Clear-
Subdistricts ing Standards
Retaining walls ............. 2 12,14 Shoreline and road ........ 4 15
frontage,set back, waste
Roads disposal regulations
Frontage ................. 4 11,15 Cutting trees .............. 5 13,32,33
Permits .................. 3 8,10,24, subdivisions zoning
26,31,34, Timber harvesting ......... 6 5,9,25,
Logging ................. 6 3,4,5-8 near shoreland 26

The Land Use Handbook-Section 1

Signs State requirements ........ 5 26-34
Standards ................ 3 34,44,45 laying out lots, site features,
shoreland subdivisions
Design ideas ............. 5 38-41 Subsurface wastewater See
Site analysis ............... 5 5-9,12, disposal regulations Plumbing
28,35 Code
Site Location Law ........... 2 4-7
Skiareas ................... 3 8,26 T
Slash ( timber harvesting) Tide water
Timber Harvesting ......... 3 40,41 Frontage ................. 2 8
Standards Shoreland, wetland ........ 3 29,31,36,
Laying out roads, slash ....6 6,20,24 clearing and mining 37
on skid roads, slash in standards
streams Timber harvesting
Slopes Permit process, areas ...... 3 8-12,18,
Unstable Soil and ......... 3 28 where harvesting is control- 19,24
Geological Areas led, clearing standards 26-27,29
Slope map, laying out lots 5 28,30 31,34,36
40
Logging erosion .......... 6 4,6,7,9, Timber hauling ........... 6 3-6,8,19,
Solis 15 10,20,23
Building Permit ........... 4 4,9,12, See also Land Use Subdistricts in the Index
requirements, waste disposal 13,19 and Section 6 of the Handbook
systems Title/ Right/Interest .......... 4 6
Siting a home ............. 5 5-7,13, Tree Growth Tax ............ 2 23
subdivisions 27,29-31
Soils Report/Test ............ 2 25
4 9,10 UV.Wz
Streams USGS Map ................. 4 7
Laws or regulations ....... 2 8,12,17, Wells ...................... 4 17
18
5 31
Shoreland, wetland ........ 3 29,31,
mining and timber harvesting 36-38 Wetlands .................. 3 12,13,29,
standards 40,41 31
Stream Alteration Law ....... 2 12 Wharves ................... 2 6,12,14
Subdivisions Zones .................... See Land Use
Districts and Land
Laws .................... 2 5,6,19, Use Subdistricts in
21 theIndex
Permits, def initions ........ 3 8-11, Zoning maps .............. See Land Use
areas not allowed 16-18 Guidance Maps in
22-25,27 thelndex

The Land Use Handbook-Section I

Acknowledge me nts

Author: Brian Kent
Illustrations: Jane Frost
Research & drafting: Robert Scribner
Diagrams: Brian Kent
Book design: Brian Kent and Jane Frost
Typing: Sue Allen
Secretary: Priscilla Daiute

The Handbook was produced with guidance
from Nancy Ross, Director of Planning and
Program Services, Department of Conserva-
tion; Kenneth G. Stratton, Director of the
Land Use Regulation Commission; and
Richard E. Barringer, Commissioner, Depart-
ment of Conservation. Many persons in the
Department of Conservation, in other State
agencies and in public and private organiza-
tions assisted by reviewing parts of the
Handbook. The Land Use Regulation Com-
mission and staff were particularly helpful
with suggestions and technical advice.

We thank them all.

Photograph Credits

Nancy Ross
Cover photograph and photo on page 1.
Christopher Ayers was the photographer for
all the other photographs in Section 1.
FA c

Your Land

DATE DUE
ME
Lai
iy@L

Re sion

L L.U,RC,
GAYLORDINo. 2333 PRINTED IN J.S A
Per it
BUilding m

'v,

Design Ideas

'j-
Erosion Control on
bs--,m.@[email protected]
Loggina_i_o_

THELANDUSEHANDBOOK 3 6668-14106 0436