Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Harpswell, Maine

Town of Harpswell’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New structures and existing structures that are enlarged, altered, repaired, renovated, remodeled, or updated inside Harpswell town.

  • Permit must be posted before work starts.
  • A building permit is valid for one year; with a substantial start it can remain open for five years.

  typical review time: 14 business days (plus or minus; incomplete applications take longer)

  “Permits are required to build and/or move onto the property a new structure and/or enlarge, alter, repair, renovate, remodel or update any existing structure.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside Harpswell town.

  • Town page states adoption is in accordance with MUBEC.
  • Effective April 7, 2025.

  adopted code: 2021 I-Codes (in accordance with MUBEC)

  “Effective April 7, 2025 - Harpswell adopts the 2021 I-Codes in accordance with MUBEC”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside Harpswell town.

  • A final inspection is required to close the permit.

  “Inspections are required (see Inspection Notice) including a final inspection to close the permit.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New buildings and additions inside Harpswell town.

  • Required before occupancy.

  “A final certificate of occupancy is required before new buildings and additions can be occupied.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Harpswell town, Maine.

  • Town ordinances include the Basic Land Use Ordinance and Shoreland Zoning Ordinance.

  “Shoreland Zoning Ordinance amended 3.22.25”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Land-use and shoreland zoning controls inside Harpswell town.

  • Opened ordinance list establishes Basic Land Use and Shoreland Zoning ordinances but does not supply a complete district schedule.

  “Basic Land Use Ordinance amended 3.14.26 [...] Shoreland Zoning Ordinance amended 3.22.25”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures in the Town flyer’s Interior Zones and Shoreland Zones.

  • All structures must be within the building envelope.

  interior-zone setback from traveled way: 40 feet · interior-zone setback from boundary lines: 20 feet · shoreland-zone setback from highest astronomical tide: 75 feet · shoreland-zone setback from boundary lines: 25 feet

  “All structures must be within the building envelop - Interior Zones: 40’ from traveled way and 20’ from boundary lines, Shoreland Zones: 75’ from the highest astronomical tide (HAT) and 25’ from boundary lines.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Tiny homes and recreational vehicles without valid registration and license plates inside Harpswell town.

  • Requires a Seasonal Permit and RV Pumping Agreement.

  “Tiny Homes and Recreational Vehicles that do not have a valid registration and license plate require a Seasonal Permit and a RV Pumping Agreement.”

• Tiny homesLimited

  Tiny homes without a valid registration and license plate inside Harpswell town.

  • Requires a Seasonal Permit and RV Pumping Agreement.

  “Tiny Homes and Recreational Vehicles that do not have a valid registration and license plate require a Seasonal Permit and a RV Pumping Agreement.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Septic-system permitting inside Harpswell town.

  • Town Code Enforcement Office issues permits pertaining to septic systems.

  “The Code Enforcement Office is responsible for the issuance of all permits pertaining to land use, structures, flood plain, internal plumbing, septic systems, wharf systems and signs.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New, expanded, and replacement septic systems inside Harpswell town.

  • Uses the Subsurface Waste Water Disposal System HHE-200 permit.

  “Subsurface Waste Water Disposal System (HHE-200) permits are required for new, expanded, and replacement septic systems.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision applications inside Harpswell town.

  • Planning Board review assesses conformance with local land-use regulations and applicable state and federal rules.
  • Applications are processed through the Code Enforcement Office.

  “The Planning Board is an administrative board which has the responsibility of reviewing all site plan and subdivision applications for conformance to all local land use regulations, as well as for conformance to State and Federal rules that may apply.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway openings on state, town, and private roads inside Harpswell town.

  • Flyer states driveway openings require a permit.

  “Driveway Openings on state, town, and private roads requires a permit.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Development within the scope of Harpswell’s Site Plan Review Ordinance.

  • No activity or land/structure use within the ordinance’s scope may occur until Planning Board site-plan review and approval.
  • Application materials are submitted to the Planning Office.

  “The applicant must prepare and submit a site plan review application, including the development plan and supporting documentation that meets the submission requirements set forth below. This material must be submitted to the Planning Office.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Harpswell or Cumberland County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Harpswell town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside Harpswell town.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Harpswell town.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Harpswell town.
• Building height — Buildings inside Harpswell town.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Harpswell means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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