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

Town of Union’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Buildings and structures inside Union town.

  • A building or structure requires a CEO building permit in addition to other required approvals.
  • A one-story building with a footprint no larger than 100 square feet is exempt from the building-permit requirement, but other ordinance requirements, including setbacks, remain applicable.
  • An addition making a building exceed 100 square feet triggers a permit for the entire building; after exceeding 100 square feet, any addition requires a permit.

  permit-exempt building footprint: <= 100 square feet (Only if no greater than one story; exemption applies only to the permit.)

  “a building permit from the Code Enforcement Officer will be required.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Erected, structurally altered, or changed-use buildings, structures, and land uses inside Union town.

  • A change of occupancy maintaining the same land-use classification does not require a certificate.
  • Where a building or other land-use permit is required, the certificate application must be filed concurrently.
  • The CEO/BI must determine conformance with applicable code, plans, ordinances, and approval conditions before issuance.

  “A certificate of occupancy shall be required and obtained from the CEO/BI prior to the occupancy or use of any building, structure or any portion thereof which has been erected, structurally altered or changed in its use or structure, or with regard to the creation of a new use or change in use of any parcel of land or portion thereof currently existing or hereinafter created.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land and land uses inside Union town, Maine.

  • Land-use approvals and variances are administered under Union's Land Use Ordinance.

  “the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Union is hereby created and established.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Lots in Union's Village, Commercial, Industrial, Rural, and Community Center districts.

  • Specific land uses may have different requirements under § 1.10.3.
  • Cluster housing and stated ordinance exceptions may modify dimensional treatment.

  Village District minimum lot size: 20000 square feet · Rural District minimum lot size: 60000 square feet

  “Standard dimensional requirements for lot size, lot coverage, frontage, setbacks, and building height shall be as listed in Table 1.10-2, unless otherwise specified for specific land uses in 1.10.3.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Development in Union zoning districts.

  • The standard table controls unless a specific land-use provision supplies a different requirement.

  “Standard dimensional requirements for lot size, lot coverage, frontage, setbacks, and building height shall be as listed in Table 1.10-2, unless otherwise specified for specific land uses in 1.10.3.”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Development in Union zoning districts.

  • The standard table controls unless a specific land-use provision supplies a different requirement.

  “Standard dimensional requirements for lot size, lot coverage, frontage, setbacks, and building height shall be as listed in Table 1.10-2, unless otherwise specified for specific land uses in 1.10.3.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Development in Union zoning districts.

  • The standard table controls unless a specific land-use provision supplies a different requirement.

  “Standard dimensional requirements for lot size, lot coverage, frontage, setbacks, and building height shall be as listed in Table 1.10-2, unless otherwise specified for specific land uses in 1.10.3.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Septic and plumbing permits inside Union town.

  • Union identifies its Code Enforcement Officer as the Local Plumbing Inspector.

  “The Code Enforcement Officer issues permits for all land use activities, internal plumbing, septic systems, signs, and structures.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Occupancy buildings or structures inside Union town requiring sewage disposal facilities.

  • The sewage-disposal permit is in addition to other permits or approvals that may be required.

  “If the building or structure is for occupancy, sewage disposal facilities and a permit for same will be required from the local Plumbing Inspector.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  All land proposed for subdivision within Union town.

  • The Town Planning Board administers the Subdivision Ordinance.
  • A complete application requires the applicable fee and required final-plan information, unless the Board waives information.

  “The Planning Board of the Town of Union, hereinafter called the Board, shall administer this Ordinance.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town Code Enforcement permits and land-use applications.

  • The Town's Code Enforcement page directs applicants to its fee schedule.

  “Please see the links below for applications, forms, information, and the fee schedule:”

• Permit processPartial

  Building, land-use, plumbing, entrance, site-plan, and subdivision applications inside Union town.

  • The Town publishes application forms, but the materials opened do not establish a complete unified permit process for every project type.

  “Please see the links below for applications, forms, information, and the fee schedule:”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Union town.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Union town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Principal single-family dwellings inside Union town.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Union town.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Union 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 Union 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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