Housing Legislation LD 2003

LD 2003 was passed by the State Legislature and signed by the Governor in April 2022. The law went into effect July 27, 2022, however, the bill’s requirements do not take effect until July 1, 2023.

The goal of the new law is to alleviate the housing affordability issues in Maine by increase housing opportunities.

It requires towns and cities to increase housing density allowed in their zoning ordinances in several different ways.

1. It requires municipalities to allow additional units on lots zoned for single-family homes.

2. It requires municipalities allow at least one accessory dwelling unit on lots with existing single-family homes.

3. In some areas, (see below) it requires municipalities to allow 2 1/2 times the currently allowed housing units, for developments where most of the units meet standard affordability definitions.

The extent of the law’s requirements are determined by “growth areas”. The law defines a growth area as:

• Locally designated growth areas identified in a comprehensive plan which meets consistency guidelines of the Growth Management Program or (in the absence of a consistent comprehensive plan)

• an area served by a public sewer system with capacity for a growth-related project,

• an area identified in the most recent Decennial Census as a census-designated place, or

• a compact area of an urban compact municipality

Additional links have been attached- please see below:

Housing Legislation LD 2003

LD 2003 Guidance - Maine Dept. of Economic and Community Development (DECD)

Chapter 672 Public Law (LD 2003)