Mandatory Shoreland Zoning

Introduction
Contacts
Chapter 1000 (Guidelines)
Statutory sections
State-imposed ordinance chapters
Supplemental materials -- including the Shoreland Zoning News

For information on a rulemaking currently in progress, please see the Rulemaking Page.

E-mail or call 287-3901 to order a hardcopy of a publication or form.

Introduction

This law focuses upon areas near great ponds, rivers and larger streams, coastal areas, and wetlands. The "Shoreland Zoning" law helps to prevent and control water pollution; to protect fish spawning grounds, bird and wildlife habitat; to project buildings and lands from flooding and accelerated erosion; to protect archeological and historic resources; to protect commercial fishing and maritime industries; to protect freshwater and coastal wetlands; to control building sites, placement of structures and land uses; to conserve shore cover, and visual as well as actual points of access to inland and coastal waters; to conserve natural beauty and open space; and to anticipate and respond to the impacts of development in shoreland areas.

The Shoreland Zoning law requires that municipalities protect shoreland areas through adopting shoreland zoning maps and ordinances. Zoning ordinances provide for what types of activities can occur in certain areas. For example, they address building size and setbacks, and the establishment of resource protection, general development, residential, and other zones. Shoreland areas include areas within 250 of the normal high-water line of any great pond, river or saltwater body, areas within 250 feet of the upland edge of a coastal wetland, areas within 250 feet of the upland edge of a freshwater wetland except in certain situations, and areas within 75 feet of the high-water line of a stream.

The law is primarily administered through each municipality, and the local code enforcement officer is usually the first point of contact on shoreland zoning issues. The MDEP also has a Shoreland Zoning Unit.

Contacts.  The Shoreland Zoning Unit. Richard Baker at 207-287-3901 (Augusta), Michael Morse at 207-822-6300 (Portland), and Jennifer Cayer at 207-941-4116 (Bangor).

Statutory sections.  Title 38, Chapter 3, §§ 435-449.  Note:   this link is to the text at the Office of Reviser of Statutes' site.  Always check the disclaimer there -- the text may not include the most recent changes.

DEP statutory handout (unofficial text): cover and text.

Chapter 1000 (Guidelines). These are standards that the MDEP uses as a guide when reviewing municipal ordinances. A municipalities need not adopt the guidelines word for word. Municipalities are encouraged to consider local planning documents and other special local considerations. A municipality may wish to adopt a more stringent ordinance, or an ordinance different from the "Guidelines". This is acceptable as long as the ordinance is equally or more effective in achieving the purposes of the Shoreland Zoning law.

Note: Amendments to Chapter 1000 take effect May 1, 2006.

• Chapter 1000 (amendments incorporated) (off-site)
• Chapter 1000 (showing amendments)

Supplementary materials

• Clearing of Vegetation in the Shoreland Zone (issue profile)
• Establishing the Starting Point for Measurement of the shoreland Zone and Related Setback Determinations (issue profile) (pdf file)
• GIS data layer for inland freshwater wetland waterfowl & wading bird habitat (Shorezone IWWH)
• Guidelines (modified versions):
  • Inland Version of the Guidelines. This document is a modified version of the official rule, Chapter 1000, the State of Maine Guidelines for Municipal Shoreland Zoning Ordinances .  It has been modified for use by municipalities that do not have tidal waters and coastal wetlands within the boundaries of the town.  To assist municipalities with only inland waters and wetlands, all references to coastal waters and coastal wetlands, as well as references to the Commercial Fisheries/Maritime Activities District have been removed from the document. msword version
  • Inland Timber Harvest Repeal Version of Guidelines . This document is a modified version of the official rule, Chapter 1000, the State of Maine Guidelines for Municipal Shoreland Zoning Ordinances . It has been modified for use by inland municipalities with no tidal waters that want to repeal local regulation of timber harvesting in the shoreland zone. msword version
  • Timber Harvest Repeal Version of the Guidelines. This document is a modified version of the official rule, Chapter 1000, the State of Maine Guidelines for Municipal Shoreland Zoning Ordinances . It has been modified for use by municipalities that want to repeal local regulation of timber harvesting rules.  msword version
• Guidelines for Restoration Plan for Shoreland Clearing Violation; pdf file (information sheet)
• Highest Annual Tide Levels for Year 2008 (pdf file); excel version
• Legislative reports. See the Legislative Reports Page.
• Maine Shoreland Zoning -- A Handbook for Shoreland Owners (pdf file). To request a hardcopy, email or call 287-3901
• Mandatory Shoreland Zoning Act (issue profile)
• Non-Conforming Structures in the Shoreland Zone (pdf file) (issue profile)
• Potential Effects of the Edwards Dam Removal on Shorefront Property Owners Along the Kennebec River (information sheet)
• Shoreland Zoning Newsletter;   SZ News Archive

State imposed ordinance chapters

For these chapters, please go to the Sec. of State's DEP page, and scan down.

Ch. 1235	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Centerville
Ch. 1243	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Troy
Ch. 1244	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Whitefield
Ch. 1245	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Athens
Ch. 1247	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Bradford
Ch. 1249	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Charlotte
Ch. 1250	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Chester
Ch. 1251	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Columbia
Ch. 1253	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Edinburg
Ch. 1255	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Knox
Ch. 1256	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Limerick
Ch. 1257	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Moose River
Ch. 1260	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Paris
Ch. 1261	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Springfield
Ch. 1262	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Steuben
Ch. 1263	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Talmadge
Ch. 1264	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Passadumkeag
Ch. 1265	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Waite
Ch. 1266	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Woodville
Ch. 1267	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Amity
Ch. 1268	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Bancroft
Ch. 1270	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Cooper
Ch. 1271	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Corinth
Ch. 1272	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Hersey
Ch. 1275	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Lagrange
Ch. 1277	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Ludlow
Ch. 1279	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Medford
Ch. 1281	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Merrill
Ch. 1282	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Orient
Ch. 1283	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Stacyville
Ch. 1285	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Vanceboro
Ch. 1286	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Wade
Ch. 1288	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Aurora
Ch. 1289	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Bowerbank
Ch. 1292	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Carthage
Ch. 1293	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Exeter
Ch. 1294	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Farmingdale
Ch. 1295	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Frankfort
Ch. 1296	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Guilford
Ch. 1301	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Milo
Ch. 1304	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of North Haven
Ch. 1306	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Parsonsfield
Ch. 1307	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Penobscot
Ch. 1308	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Plymouth
Ch. 1312	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Waldo
Ch. 1320	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Crystal
Ch. 1321	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Durham
Ch. 1322	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Etna
Ch. 1323	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Isle Au Haut
Ch. 1326	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Stow
Ch. 1334	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Columbia Falls
Ch. 1335	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Danforth
Ch. 1337	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Wellington
Ch. 1338	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of South Thomaston
Ch. 1339	Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Municipality of Lubec