ADU Town Regulations
Gorham, ME

Jul 7, 2024
Last Updated
About
Gorham, Maine, is a charming and historic town located in Cumberland County, just west of Portland. Known for its scenic landscapes and strong community spirit, Gorham blends small-town charm with modern amenities. The town is home to the University of Southern Maine's Gorham campus, adding a vibrant educational presence to the community. With a rich history reflected in its well-preserved architecture and local landmarks, as well as numerous parks and outdoor spaces for recreation, Gorham offers a balanced lifestyle for residents and visitors alike. Its proximity to both rural beauty and city conveniences makes Gorham an appealing place to live and explore. The population was 18,336 at the 2020 United States Census.
ADU Rules
Only one accessory apartment per principal structure shall be permitted on a lot.
The owners of the principal structure must reside in the principal structure of the accessory unit.
The number of occupants of the accessory unit is limited to two.
An accessory unit apartment shall contain up to a maximum of 800 square feet
of living space and shall not be less than 190 square feet in area.
The septic system on the property in question shall be functioning properly at the time of application and is sufficiently designed to meet the new anticipated capacity required under all State and local regulations for septic systems. If expansion of the septic system is required to meet the increased flow, the applicant shall submit an HHE-220 form to the Code Enforcement Officer for review and approval prior to the installation of the system. Any septic system expansions will need to be completed prior to the Certificate of Occupancy” being issued for the accessory apartment.
The parking requirements of the Gorham Land Use and Development Code shall be adhered to.
Proper ingress and egress shall be provided to the accessory unit.
Should the owners of the principal structure be found in noncompliance of the standards contained in this section, the noncompliance shall be considered a violation of this code and subject to the fines and penalty section, and the accessory unit shall be discontinued, and the structure shall revert to single-family use.
An accessory apartment which complies with the requirements of this subsection shall not be considered an additional dwelling unit when calculating lot area per family under the space and bulk regulations of the Code.