ADU Town Regulations
Cornish, ME
May 1, 2024
Last Updated
About
Cornish, Maine, is a quaint town located in York County with a population of approximately 1,568 as of 2023. Known for its historic charm, Cornish has become a hub for antique shopping and local artisans. Visitors can explore a variety of shops such as the Cornish Trading Company, Libby's Antiques, and Full Circle Artisan's Gallery, which showcase unique vintage items, handcrafted goods, and local artwork. Cornish is also home to Thompson Park, a small but charming green space perfect for relaxing, and it serves as a gateway to the town's historic district, which is dotted with well-preserved buildings and quaint shops. The town hosts community events throughout the year like the Ossipee Valley Fair, which features carnival rides, animals, music, and more, which bring locals and visitors together to celebrate the area's heritage and vibrant small-business scene. With its welcoming community and delightful surroundings, Cornish is a wonderful place to visit and enjoy.
ADU Rules
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) shall be permitted on all lawfully conforming and nonconforming lots with legal single-family residential uses.
ADUs may be constructed internally to the existing principal single-family residential dwelling or existing accessory structure (garage), attached to the existing principal single-family residential dwelling or existing accessory structure (garage), or as a standalone unit.
One (1) ADU shall be permitted per qualifying property.
The owner(s) of the property on which the ADU is created shall occupy at least one of the dwelling units for a minimum of a continuous 6 months per year.
Neither the accessory unit nor principal unit shall be used for short-term rentals as defined under Section 1.10.2 of the Town of Cornish Land Use and Development Ordinance. The unit must have a minimum of a 6-month lease associated with it and may have up to a 2-year lease associated with it.
All required permits are obtained for construction of the ADU and a Certificate of Occupancy is obtained prior to occupation of the unit. Should the owners of the property be found in noncompliance of the standards contained in this section, the non-compliance shall be considered a violation of this ordinance and subject to fines and penalties and the accessory unit shall be discontinued and the Certificate of Occupancy revoked.
An ADU shall be at least 190 square feet, and limited to a gross floor area of 600 square feet nor more than 25% of the gross floor area of the single-family dwelling unit. The height of ADUs on a lot cannot:
exceed the height of the principal structure, if the ADU is detached from all existing structures; or
exceed the height of the existing principal or accessory structure to which the ADU will be attached, excepting an ADU constructed on the second story of an attached or detached one-story garage.
An ADU shall meet the same setback requirements as those required for single-family dwelling units in the underlying zone, as stated in Article 2.7 of the Town of Cornish Land Use and Development Ordinance.
The ADU building design shall be clearly subordinate to the principal dwelling unit in scale and position in relationship with the street and principal dwelling unit. The exterior design of the ADU shall match the architectural style of the principal dwelling unit.
The parking requirements for Residential Units as stated in Section 2.8.13 of the Town of Cornish Land Use and Development Ordinance shall not be considered when adding an ADU.
Proper ingress and egress shall be provided to the ADU. An ADU shall have its own private entrance / exit.
One non-illuminated sign, no larger than three square feet in area, may be erected on the premises when a vacancy exists.
An ADU must comply with the Shoreland Zoning requirements as stated in Chapter 13, Shoreland Zoning Ordinances of the Town of Cornish.