Bolthole Index

Kennebec County, Maine

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Winslow, Maine

The Town of Winslow, Maine requires a building permit from its code enforcement officer for new buildings, additions and structural alterations1, and it administers its own zoning ordinance2. Kennebec County does not zone3. Septic permits come from the local plumbing inspector under the state's subsurface wastewater program4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the Winslow code enforcement officer for new buildings, additions and structural alterations1
Zoning
Town of Winslow Chapter 300 zoning ordinance, with districts shown on a town zoning map25
Permit fee
$0.30 per square foot of finished area and $0.15 per square foot of unfinished area for major residential construction6
Septic
State rules, permit issued by the local plumbing inspector4
Accessory dwelling units
Allowed, up to 1,000 square feet7
Tiny homes
Municipalities must allow them where single-family homes are allowed8
Manufactured homes
Allowed on house lots where single-family homes are allowed9
Owner-built electrical
Available for an owner's own newly built home with a state certificate10

Who to call

Building permits

Winslow Code Enforcement

Building, plumbing and electrical permit questions, zoning administration and permit applications inside Winslow

207-872-2776 ext. 5207

114 Benton Ave., Winslow, ME 04901

Online permits →

Also useful

Winslow Town Office

Town government, planning board and zoning board of appeals

(207) 872-2776

114 Benton Ave., Winslow, ME 04901

Septic permits

Maine CDC Subsurface Wastewater Program

Statewide septic rules and the HHE-200 permit form; the permit is issued locally

(207) 287-2070

[email protected]

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 23, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Winslow, Maine?

Yes. Inside Winslow town limits, the owner, tenant or authorized agent must get a building permit from the code enforcement officer before starting new buildings, additions that raise height or floor area, or structural alterations1. The town's code office lists sheds, decks, pools, mobile homes, demolitions and a change of use among the work that needs a permit, and says a phone call can settle whether a project qualifies11.

Fees are paid before an application counts as filed. Major residential construction costs $0.30 per square foot of finished area and $0.15 per square foot of unfinished area, with basements counted as unfinished6. Construction drawings are required for new principal structures and accessory dwelling units12. These rules apply inside Winslow; for land outside the town, see the Kennebec County page.

Who issues building permits in Winslow, and how do you reach them?

The Winslow code enforcement officer issues building permits and answers building, plumbing and electrical permit questions at 207-872-2776 ext. 520711. Applications are on the town's permit applications page, and the office is at 114 Benton Ave., Winslow, ME 0490111. Kennebec County has no building department for town land: Maine places building permits and zoning with municipalities13.

Maine's statewide building code must be enforced in any municipality of more than 4,000 residents14, and Winslow's own website gives its population as about 8,00015. We could not confirm from the town's ordinance which inspections Winslow requires, so ask the code enforcement office.

Does Winslow have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Winslow administers its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 300, with districts shown on the town's zoning map25. Shoreland zoning is an overlay, and the more restrictive provision controls2. The answers differ by district.

  • Low-density residential (LR): 1 acre without public water and sewer, 1/2 acre with both16; 25-foot street, side and rear yards17.
  • Medium-density residential (MR), with municipal sewer: 15,000 square feet18; 15-foot side yards and 25-foot street and rear yards19.
  • Rural (RD): 2 acres20; 50-foot street yard and 25-foot side and rear yards21.

Building height is 35 feet in the residential districts we reviewed22. Check the zoning map for your parcel's district before you buy.

How do septic permits work in Winslow?

Maine's Department of Health and Human Services sets septic rules statewide, and the permit is implemented at the municipal level by local plumbing inspectors and site evaluators4. A permit is required before installing a new, expanded or replacement system, and it stays valid for work started within 24 months23. Applications generally need a site evaluation by a licensed site evaluator or professional engineer23.

The state fee schedule lists $250 for a complete non-engineered system, plus surcharges24. Soils matter: only about 4.3% of Kennebec County soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system25. We could not confirm how Winslow's own plumbing inspector handles applications; ask the code enforcement office at the number above, or the state program at (207) 287-207026.

Can you live in an RV, tiny home or manufactured home in Winslow?

We could not confirm Winslow's rules on living in an RV on private land, so ask the code enforcement office before parking one. Maine's statewide campground limits cover public campsites and licensed campgrounds, not a private lot27.

Tiny homes and manufactured housing are different. State law requires a municipality to allow a tiny home on a house lot where single-family dwellings are allowed, subject to the same land-use requirements8. Manufactured housing must likewise be allowed on individual house lots where single-family homes are allowed28. Winslow also allows accessory dwelling units, up to 1,000 square feet7. After a fire or storm, a homeowner may place a single-wide mobile home for up to 2 years while rebuilding29.

Building a home in Winslow: the steps, in order

  1. Find the parcel's zoning district on the town's zoning map and check lot size and setbacks5.
  2. Call Winslow Code Enforcement at 207-872-2776 ext. 5207 to confirm what permits apply11.
  3. Hire a licensed site evaluator for the septic design if there is no public sewer, and get the septic permit before any work23.
  4. File the building permit application with construction drawings and pay the fee12.
  5. If the driveway meets a state or state-aid highway, get a MaineDOT driveway permit30.
  6. Pass the septic inspections: one before installation and one before final backfilling31.
  7. Secure a certificate of occupancy before moving in; state law requires one in municipalities of more than 2,000 inhabitants32.

What to check before you buy land in Winslow

Confirm the zoning district, any shoreland overlay and whether public water and sewer reach the lot, because lot-size minimums change with sewer service16. Ask the code office about floodplain rules; we could not confirm Winslow's floodplain ordinance, and statewide flood permits depend on the community's flood map33.

Driveways onto state highways need a MaineDOT permit, while local roads fall under municipal requirements30. Splitting off 3 or more lots within 5 years can trigger municipal subdivision review34. Kennebec County's effective property tax rate is about 1.1%35, and its typical home value is $325,42436. For land outside Winslow, see the Kennebec County page.

Watch-outs

  • No building permit issues on driveways or roads the town has not officially accepted, except as the ordinance provides1.
  • Winslow's rules on RVs, short-term rentals, wells and floodplain development, and any required connection to public sewer, are unconfirmed; ask Winslow Code Enforcement at 207-872-2776 ext. 520711.
  • Shoreland zoning overlays the base districts, and the more restrictive provision controls2.

Sources

  1. Article III: Permits - Town of Winslow, ME (Chapter 300 Zoning) (Town of Winslow), quoted and re-checked
  2. Article IV: Zoning Districts - Town of Winslow, ME (Chapter 300 Zoning) (Town of Winslow), quoted and re-checked
  3. Maine Revised Statutes Title 30-A (municipal land use enforcement) (2026 county census)
  4. Subsurface Wastewater Unit, quoted and re-checked
  5. Article IV: Zoning Districts - Town of Winslow, ME (Chapter 300 Zoning) (Town of Winslow), quoted and re-checked
  6. Article III: Permits - Town of Winslow, ME (Chapter 300 Zoning) (Town of Winslow), quoted and re-checked
  7. Article IV: Zoning Districts - Town of Winslow, ME (Chapter 300 Zoning) (Town of Winslow), quoted and re-checked
  8. Title 30-A, §4363: Regulation of tiny homes, quoted and re-checked
  9. Title 30-A, §4358: Regulation of manufactured housing, quoted and re-checked
  10. Title 32, §1102-D: Single-family dwelling exception; certificate required, quoted and re-checked
  11. Winslow Code Enforcement (winslow-me.gov)
  12. Article III: Permits - Town of Winslow, ME (Chapter 300 Zoning) (Town of Winslow), quoted and re-checked
  13. City of Augusta Code Ch. 134 Building Construction (2026 county census)
  14. Division of Building Codes and Standards, quoted and re-checked
  15. Winslow Town Office (winslow-me.gov)
  16. Article IV: Zoning Districts - Town of Winslow, ME (Chapter 300 Zoning) (Town of Winslow), quoted and re-checked
  17. Article IV: Zoning Districts - Town of Winslow, ME (Chapter 300 Zoning) (Town of Winslow), quoted and re-checked
  18. Article IV: Zoning Districts - Town of Winslow, ME (Chapter 300 Zoning) (Town of Winslow), quoted and re-checked
  19. Article IV: Zoning Districts - Town of Winslow, ME (Chapter 300 Zoning) (Town of Winslow), quoted and re-checked
  20. Article IV: Zoning Districts - Town of Winslow, ME (Chapter 300 Zoning) (Town of Winslow), quoted and re-checked
  21. Article IV: Zoning Districts - Town of Winslow, ME (Chapter 300 Zoning) (Town of Winslow), quoted and re-checked
  22. Article IV: Zoning Districts - Town of Winslow, ME (Chapter 300 Zoning) (Town of Winslow), quoted and re-checked
  23. Subsurface Wastewater System Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  24. Subsurface Wastewater System Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  25. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Maine CDC Subsurface Wastewater Program (maine.gov)
  27. Title 12, §9342: Seasonal use only, quoted and re-checked
  28. Title 30-A, §4358: Regulation of manufactured housing (Maine statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  29. Article III: Permits - Town of Winslow, ME (Chapter 300 Zoning) (Town of Winslow), quoted and re-checked
  30. Driveway and Entrance Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  31. Subsurface Wastewater System Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  32. Title 25, §2357-A: No occupancy without certificate; appeal (Maine statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  33. Floodplain Ordinances & Permit Forms (Maine statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  34. Title 30-A, §4401: Definitions, quoted and re-checked
  35. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  36. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data

Written October 23, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Winslow

Town of Winslow’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New construction, additions, structural alterations and new uses inside Winslow town limits, obtained from the Winslow code enforcement officer

    • Permit is required before the listed work is undertaken; work may proceed after the permit is issued.
    • Covers new buildings and structures including accessory dwelling units, except minor structures (§ 300-23(a)(2)); additions that raise height or floor area; and structural alterations (§ 300-23(a)(4)-(5)).
    • No building permit issues on driveways or roads not officially accepted by the town, except as provided in § 300-24(b).
    “a building permit is the responsibility of the owner, tenant in possession, or authorized agent and must be obtained from the code enforcement officer before any of the following may be undertaken:”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Accessory dwelling units and additional dwelling units inside Winslow town limits (§ 300-41.2 and § 300-41.5 submissions)

    • A certificate of occupancy is referenced as issued after water and wastewater service is verified for the new unit(s).
    • Applies to the ADU and additional-dwelling and affordable-housing divisions; the general CO rule for other construction was not found in the sections read.
    • If on sewer: proof of adequate service and proof of payment for the connection. If on septic: proof of adequate subsurface sewage disposal.
    “written verification that the proposed unit(s) can be connected to adequate water and wastewater services prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy must be provided to the code enforcement officer.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    All land inside Winslow town limits (not the unincorporated area of Kennebec County). Winslow town administers its own Chapter 300 Zoning ordinance.

    • Shoreland zoning (Article VII) is an overlay on the underlying districts; the more restrictive provision controls.
    • Uses and dimensions vary by district; see the district claims.
    “for the purpose of this chapter, the town is hereby divided into the following eight zoning districts:”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Winslow town limits

    • Eight districts: high-density residential (HR, § 300-44), medium-density residential (MR, § 300-45), low-density residential (LR, § 300-46), mixed use (MU, § 300-47), industrial (ID, § 300-48), rural (RD, § 300-49), seasonal residential (SD, § 300-50), and conservation (CVD, § 300-51).
    • Boundaries are shown on the Zoning Map of Winslow, Maine, which the Article IV text says is dated December 13, 2012.
    “boundaries of these districts are hereby established as shown on a map entitled "zoning map of winslow, maine," dated december 13, 2012, which accompanies and is part of this chapter.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family residential lots in the low-density residential district (LR, § 300-46) inside Winslow town limits

    • Lot area is 1 acre without public water and sewer.
    • Lot area is 1/2 acre with public water and sewer.
    • Additional dwelling units on the same lot add the same per-unit area (ADU rule in § 300-43).

    minimum lot area without public water and sewer: >= 1 acre (single-family residential) · minimum lot area with public water and sewer: >= 0.5 acre (single-family residential)

    “lot area without public water and sewer 1 acre n/a 1 acre per additional dwelling unit lot area with public water and sewer 1/2 acre n/a 1/2 acre per additional dwelling unit”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Single-family lots served by municipal sewer in the medium-density residential district (MR, § 300-45) inside Winslow town limits
      “dimension requirements lots with municipal sewer principal use/structure adus additional dwelling units lot area 15,000 square feet n/a 15,000 square feet per dwelling unit”
    • District specific (with conditions) — Principal and conditional uses in the rural district (RD, § 300-49) inside Winslow town limits
      “lot area 2 acres n/a 2 acres per additional dwelling lot width 200 feet”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family lots served by municipal sewer in the medium-density residential district (MR, § 300-45) inside Winslow town limits

    • Lots with municipal sewer.

    street yard: >= 25 feet (lots with municipal sewer) · rear yard: >= 25 feet (lots with municipal sewer) · side yard, principal structure: >= 15 feet (lots with municipal sewer)

    “street yard 25 feet 25 feet 25 feet rear yard 25 feet 25 feet 25 feet side yard, principal structure 15 feet 15 feet 15 feet”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    Principal structures in the rural district (RD, § 300-49) inside Winslow town limits; the same 35-foot figure appears in the LR and MR tables

    • Maximum building height 35 feet for principal, conditional and ADU uses in the tables read; other districts (HR, MU, ID, SD, CVD) may differ and were not all confirmed.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet (residential districts read)

    “maximum building height 35 feet 35 feet 35 feet minimum building area tbd”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    A homeowner whose residence was made uninhabitable by a sudden casualty, inside Winslow town limits

    • Single-wide mobile home only, personal use, while the home is rebuilt.
    • Up to two years; no extension may be granted.
    • Placement must otherwise meet all town ordinances.

    temporary placement period: <= 2 years (after sudden casualty; no extension)

    “if a homeowner's residence is rendered uninhabitable by fire, storm or other sudden casualty, the homeowner may place a single-wide mobile home, as defined in § 300-91, on the property for the homeowner's personal use while the home is being rebuilt for a period of up to two years, provided the mobile home and its placement otherwise meet the requirements of all town ordinances. no extension of the two-year period may be granted.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on residential lots inside Winslow town limits, in districts where the primary residential uses are allowed

    • ADU must meet the same minimum dimensional requirements as a residential structure in the district (Article IV tables).
    • Additional dwelling units on one lot are subject to Article III divisions 3-5 and the district lot size requirement.
    • Section 300-43 lists up to four additional dwelling units on a single lot.
    • ADU building area maximum is 1,000 square feet (ADUs only) per the district tables.

    ADU building area maximum: <= 1000 square feet (ADUs only, per Article IV district tables)

    “is permissible in zoning districts where these primary and conditional uses are allowed: (1) single-family dwellings. (2) two-family dwellings. (3) multifamily dwellings. (4) new mobile homes outside a mobile home park.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Building and use permit application fees for construction inside Winslow town limits

    • Fees are paid before a building permit application is considered filed.
    • Schedule amended 4-11-2022 (ord. nos. 02-2022, 03-2022) and 1-13-2025 (ord. no. 12-2024) per the section history; only the residential new-construction fee was read.
    • Other fee categories in § 300-27 were not read.

    major residential construction fee, finished area: 0.3 USD per square foot (includes garages, sunrooms, decks and structures in the site plan; accessory dwelling units count as finished area) · major residential construction fee, unfinished area: 0.15 USD per square foot (includes basements)

    “(a) major construction: $0.30 per square foot of finished area; $0.15 per square foot of unfinished area (includes basements).”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building permit application procedure inside Winslow town limits

    • Application items are listed in § 300-26, which was not opened.
    • Construction drawings are required for new principal structures and accessory dwelling units, with enough detail for the CEO to check compliance with the building and zoning codes (§ 300-26 item 10).
    • ADU permit applications also require written proof of water and wastewater service (§ 300-41.2).
    “in addition to the applicable items listed when filing an application for a building permit, outlined in § 300-26 of this chapter”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Winslow town limits
  • Building code adopted — Whether Winslow town adopts a state or model building code for construction inside its limits
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Winslow town limits
  • Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage inside Winslow town limits
  • Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Winslow town limits
11 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Winslow publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Kennebec County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Kennebec County: county rules, score and offices