ADU Town Regulations
Shapleigh, ME
Mar 9, 2024
Last Updated
About
Shapleigh, Maine, is a small, scenic town nestled in York County, known for its beautiful natural surroundings, including lakes, forests, and rolling hills. A popular spot for outdoor recreation, Shapleigh offers activities such as hiking, boating, and fishing, particularly around Mousam Lake and Square Pond. The town has a quiet, rural atmosphere, making it ideal for those looking for a peaceful lifestyle close to nature. With its close-knit community and proximity to larger towns, Shapleigh provides a perfect blend of rural charm and accessibility to modern amenities. Shapleigh was incorporated as the state's 43rd town in 1785 and the population was 2,921 at the 2020 census.
ADU Rules
As an accessory use to a single-family dwelling, the creation and renting of a single apartment within the dwelling, attached to the dwelling or freestanding from the main dwelling, shall be permitted, provided all of the following conditions are met:
Only one (1) accessory dwelling unit shall be permitted per lot.
An accessory dwelling unit must meet a minimum size of 190 square feet and shall be no larger than 800 square feet.
The owner of an accessory dwelling unit must provide written verification to the municipality that the accessory dwelling unit is connected to adequate water and wastewater services before the municipality may certify the accessory dwelling unit for occupancy.
An accessory dwelling unit shall not be subject to any additional parking requirements beyond the parking requirements of the single-family dwelling unit on the lot where the accessory dwelling unit is located. An accessory dwelling unit shall be exempt from any density requirements or calculations related to the area in which the accessory dwelling unit is constructed.
The primary dwelling is owner-occupied. These units shall not be leased or rented as short-term rentals for any time period of less than 12 consecutive months.
The building is located on a conforming lot for a single-family dwelling in the district in which it is located.
All required permits are obtained for construction of the accessory dwelling, including a design review approval for ADU's in all zones, and a certificate of occupancy is obtained prior to the accessory dwelling being occupied.
For any accessory dwelling unit located within the same structure as a single- family dwelling unit or attached to or sharing a wall with a single-family dwelling unit, the setback requirements and dimensional requirements must be the same as the setback requirements and dimensional requirements of the single-family dwelling unit, except for an accessory dwelling unit permitted in an existing accessory building or secondary building or garage as of July 1, 2023, in which case the requisite setback requirements for such a structure apply.