Belfast, Maine
Belfast, ME Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules
City Acceptance Rating: 10/10
Last Updated: 6.24.2024
What You Need To Know
Both attached and detached ADUs are allowed in Belfast.
Type of ADU Permit Required
A building permit is required in Belfast for ADUs.
ADU Rules
ADUs are limited to a two bedroom maximum and are limited to 800 square feet or 75% of the square footage, whichever is less.
An ADU within a detached accessory structure is still limited to no greater than 800 square feet.
A structure of this type is limited to attached open structures, such as a deck, that are no more than 200 square feet.
Adequate capacity for sewer must be provided.
There can only be one two way driveway or two one way driveways, but there cannot be separate driveways for the principal dwelling and ADU.
If the home is on a road with a posted speed limit of 40 mph or greater, a turnaround must be constructed.
Resources:
https://www.cityofbelfast.org/DocumentCenter/View/5693/Draft-Chap-102-ADU-Standards?bidId=
Durham, Maine
Durham, Maine Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules
City Acceptance Rating: 6/10
last updated: 2021
What You Need to Know:
Accessory apartments may be utilized for rental purposes as well as in-law accommodations subject to the following requirements:
The dwelling must have only one main entrance and all other entrances must appear subordinate to the main entrance. An entrance leading to a foyer with entrances leading from the foyer to the two dwelling units is permitted. No open or enclosed outside stairways shall be permitted above the first story.
The principal dwelling unit must have at least 1500 sq. ft. of floor area and the accessory apartment must not exceed 50% of the floor area of the principal dwelling unit. Floor area measurements must not include unfinished attic, basement or cellar spaces, nor public hallways or other common areas.
Only one accessory apartment may be permitted per lot. It must be made part of the main residence, or located in a separate building whose primary function is not as a dwelling unit, such as a garage or barn.
Accessory apartments may not be permitted for any nonconforming structure or use, where the nonconformity is due to the use of the premises, as opposed to nonconforming dimensional requirements
See full text here: Durham, Maine Performance Standards, Article 5, Page 19
Brunswick, Maine
Brunswick, Maine Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules
City Acceptance Rating: 8/10
last updated 4/13/2020
What you need to know about Brunswick
Brunswick allows detached and attached accessory dwelling units by right in all residential districts! Like other towns across New England they refer to backyard homes as detached accessory apartments. Overall, Brunswick’s bylaw is very housing development friendly which means landowners have lots of flexibility with what they can do with their land creating. This means property owners have ample opportunity to create multiple backyard homes (tiny homes) for resale or to rent out.
However, Brunswick has over 30 different zoning districts, each with different rules about what and where you can build. ADUs bypass the density requirements (dwelling units per acre), but must abide by all other dimension rules such as building heights and setbacks.
Type of Permit Required:
Brunswick allows both attached and detached ADUs by right without a “development review”
Other Rules in Brunswick:
Backyard Homes (ADUs) can be built on single-family, two-family or commercial properties
Only one ADU is allowed is allowed per lot. (multiple backyard homes can be built in accordance with density rules)
The front of any building cannot be modified to build the ADU
The ADU cannot have more living area than 35% of the current home or 750SF, whichever is greater
The ADU must be secondary, incidental and subordinate to the properties primary use
See the full text here: Zoning Ordinance, Section: 3.4.2. (A) Accessory Apartments