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

Town of Fayette’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Structures and uses needing a land use permit inside Fayette town (code enforcement officer issues permits; planning board in some districts)

  • Some uses that need a permit also require planning board approval.
  • The ordinance lists low-impact uses that do not require a development permit; a full list was not checked.

  “ceo = allowed with permit issued by the code enforcement officer.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Newly constructed residential structures inside Fayette town

  • Occupancy requires a certificate of occupancy from the code enforcement officer confirming NFPA 101 life safety compliance.
  • Partially destroyed and rebuilt residential structures may require CEO review and permit.

  “no newly constructed residential structure may be occupied without a certificate of occupancy obtained from the code enforcement officer confirming that the structure meets nfpa 101 life safety standards.”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Fayette town limits, under the Town of Fayette Land Use Ordinance (2024 PDF)

  • The ordinance is the town's own; it is not county zoning. Shoreland zone districts add separate standards.

  “the town is hereby divided into the following six districts: a rural district, a village district and four shoreland zone districts as described below and depicted on the town of fayette land use district map.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Land inside Fayette town limits

  • Shoreland zone districts (resource protection, stream protection, wetland protection, lakefront) overlay land within 250 feet of great ponds, rivers and freshwater wetlands and 75 feet of streams.

  “a. rural district the rural district covers most land within the town of fayette.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Rural and village districts of Fayette town

  • Height above 35 feet requires planning board approval, which may be granted if the proposed height will be visually compatible in the neighborhood.
  • Chimneys, towers and agricultural structures are exempt from height requirements.

  maximum building height without planning board approval: <= 35 feet (rural and village districts; higher requires planning board approval)

  “b. in rural & village districts, building height in excess of thirty-five (35) feet requires planning board approval which may be granted if the proposed height will be visually compatible in the neighborhood, does not contain occupied space presenting a fire risk, and no other public health or safety hazard is identified.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles used as private campsites on individual lots inside Fayette town

  • Individual, private campsites are allowed for one campsite per lot existing on the effective date of the ordinance, or per the minimum lot size, whichever is less.
  • A written sewage disposal plan approved by the code enforcement officer is required for each campsite.
  • If an RV, tent or similar shelter is on site more than 120 days per year, all residential requirements apply, including a state-compliant subsurface sewage disposal system.

  days per year before residential requirements apply: 120 days (RV, tent or similar shelter on site)

  “individual, private campsites not associated with campgrounds are permitted provided the following conditions are met:”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Tents and temporary shelters on private land inside Fayette town

  • Individual private campsites require a written sewage disposal plan approved by the code enforcement officer.
  • Placement for more than 120 days per year triggers full residential requirements.

  days per year before residential requirements apply: 120 days (tent or similar shelter on site)

  “a written sewage disposal plan describing the proposed method and location of sewage disposal shall be required for each campsite and shall be approved by the code enforcement officer.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes and mobile home parks inside Fayette town

  • All mobile home installations must follow the state manufactured home installation standard, chapter 900; a copy is kept at the town office.
  • Mobile home parks are subject to the subdivision review standards in article X and 30-a M.R.S. section 4358.

  “mobile home parks are only allowed within the village district.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units in the rural and village districts of Fayette town

  • Up to two principal dwelling units, or one principal and one accessory unit, may be allowed on a single lot meeting minimum dimensional requirements.
  • Accessory dwelling units require a permit from the code enforcement officer in the rural and village districts (planning board permit in shoreland districts).

  “accessory dwelling unit pb1 pb 1 pb pb ceo ceo”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Sanitation for RVs and tents on private campsites inside Fayette town

  • Each campsite needs a written sewage disposal plan approved by the code enforcement officer.
  • Long-term occupancy triggers a state-compliant subsurface sewage disposal system.

  “a written sewage disposal plan describing the proposed method and location of sewage disposal shall be required for each campsite and shall be approved by the code enforcement officer.”

• Well permitLimited

  Dug or drilled drinking water wells on land inside Fayette town

  • Notice to the code enforcement officer is required 14 days before installation; this is a notice rule, not a permit requirement shown in the text checked.
  • Emergency installations may proceed with notice as soon as possible.

  advance notice to code enforcement officer: >= 14 days (emergency wells: as soon as possible)

  “at least fourteen (14) days prior to the installation of a new or replacement dug or drilled drinking water well (or as soon as possible if an emergency), the property owner or their designated agent must notify the code enforcement officer of the planned installation.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions inside Fayette town

  • Subdivision review standards are in article X of the Land Use Ordinance; the excerpt here addresses mobile home parks.

  “all mobile home parks are subject to the subdivision review standards within article x and must meet the requirements of 30-a m.r.s. §4358 as may be amended.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Commercial lodging including multiple simultaneous short-term rentals on one lot, Fayette town

  • Not allowed in resource protection, stream protection, wetland protection or lakefront districts; allowed with planning board permit in village and rural districts.

  “commercial lodging (including multiple simultaneous short-term rentals on one lot) no no pb pb pb pb”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for building in Fayette town
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted by Fayette town
• Inspections — Construction inspections inside Fayette town
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area of a dwelling inside Fayette town
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes used as dwellings inside Fayette 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.