Bolthole Index

Oxford County, Maine

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Oxford County, Maine

82Index Score / 100
#7 of 16 in Maine

Oxford County, Maine does not issue one countywide building permit: organized towns handle local permits, while the Maine Land Use Planning Commission generally requires a building permit for a new house or camp in unorganized and deorganized territory12. Oxford County has no county zoning authority; towns regulate organized areas and the LUPC regulates unorganized and deorganized areas34. Septic permits are issued locally under Maine's statewide program5.

At a glance

Building permit
Ask the town in an organized municipality; an LUPC permit is generally required for a new house or camp in unorganized territory12
Zoning
No countywide zoning; municipalities set their own, and the state LUPC governs the unorganized and deorganized territory4
Septic
State-permitted via the HHE-200 application; approved by the town's Local Plumbing Inspector5
Owner-builder exemption
A contract-disclosure exemption exists, but it doesn't waive the building permit itself6
Tiny homes
Allowed statewide on any single-family lot, or as an accessory structure, under Maine's tiny-home statute7
RV living in LUPC territory
No permanent foundation and wheels can't be removed; campground occupancy is capped at 150 days a year8
Minimum lot size (LUPC territory)
40,000 sq ft per home, or 20,000 sq ft if served by a shared sewer instead of on-site septic9
Setbacks (LUPC territory)
100 ft from major water, 75 ft from smaller water, 50 ft from the road, 15 ft from side/rear lines10

Who to call

Septic permits

Maine CDC Subsurface Wastewater Program

Statewide subsurface wastewater permitting guidance and forms; the Local Plumbing Inspector examines applications and issues disposal-system permits

(207) 287-2070

Online permits →

Building permits

Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) — Western Regional Office (Wilton)

LUPC residential-development inquiries for the Western Region, serving Franklin and Oxford Counties

(207) 670-7492

932 U.S. Route 2 East, Wilton, Maine 04294

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 28, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Oxford County, Maine?

Oxford County does not provide one countywide building permit: organized towns handle local permits, while the state Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) administers land-use permitting in unorganized and deorganized territory14. Maine's building code, MUBEC, must be enforced by municipalities with at least 4,000 residents, while smaller municipalities may choose to enforce it11. A town's decision not to enforce MUBEC does not by itself answer whether that town requires a local building permit, so ask its code enforcement officer before designing the project1. In LUPC territory, a new house or camp, or expansion of an existing residential structure, generally requires an LUPC building permit unless an accessory-structure exception applies2. A separate state permit applies when a project qualifies as a public building, including a business occupancy of two or more stories12.

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

For a building permit in an organized Oxford County town, contact that town's code enforcement officer; municipal rules vary, and Oxford County is not the general permitting authority14. For land in unorganized or deorganized territory, contact the Maine Land Use Planning Commission's Western Regional Office in Wilton, which serves Franklin and Oxford Counties and handles residential-development inquiries13. The LUPC building-permit application must be sent to its Augusta office by email or U.S. mail, staff calculate the fee, and construction cannot begin before the permit arrives14. For septic questions, the Maine CDC Subsurface Wastewater Program publishes the statewide process and forms15. The parcel's Local Plumbing Inspector examines the septic application and issues the permit when it complies with applicable rules1617.

Does Oxford County have zoning?

Oxford County has no countywide zoning ordinance of its own: in organized towns, each town regulates land use under state municipal law, while the LUPC "serves as the planning and zoning authority for the unorganized and deorganized areas of the State," which covers a large share of Oxford County's townships and plantations4. In LUPC territory, that authority comes with real numbers: a house lot generally needs at least 40,000 square feet, or 20,000 square feet if the dwelling uses a shared sewer instead of its own septic system9. Single-family setbacks in LUPC territory are 100 feet from major flowing water draining 50 square miles or more, or a pond of 10 acres or more, 75 feet from smaller water bodies, 50 feet from the road (30 feet in the higher-density D-RS and D-GN subdistricts), and 15 feet from side and rear property lines10. Maximum lot coverage in LUPC territory is 30% of the lot for any use involving one or more buildings18. Outside LUPC territory, in Oxford County's organized towns, zoning districts, setbacks and lot sizes are set locally and vary town by town — Oxford County itself sets none of them4.

How do septic permits work in Oxford County?

Septic systems in Oxford County are permitted under Maine's statewide Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules; Maine CDC administers the rules and each town's Local Plumbing Inspector reviews and issues the local permit — there is no county septic authority16. Installing a new, expanded, or replacement system, or any component, requires a permit before work begins, prepared by a licensed site evaluator or a professional engineer for an engineered system; the permit is valid for work started within 24 months17. Every system must pass two inspections — one before installation and one before final backfilling, with the Local Plumbing Inspector notified at least 24 hours ahead — and a Department-certified inspector is required if a shoreland-zone system is being inspected for a property transfer19. Oxford County's soils make this the harder end of Maine for a conventional drain field: only about 0.8% of the county's soils have no severe limitations for a standard system, so budget for an engineered system and an early site evaluation on most lots20. A "primitive/limited" permit category covers graywater systems and alternative toilets, with a scheduled fee around $100.00 plus a 25% fee and a $15.00 water-quality surcharge21.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Oxford County?

Living in an RV or tiny home on your own land in Oxford County depends on whether the parcel sits in an organized town or in LUPC territory. Maine's tiny-home statute requires every municipality to allow a tiny home — a small dwelling permanently built on a frame or chassis — on any lot zoned for a single-family home, or as an accessory structure, subject to the same land-use rules as other homes7. Manufactured housing gets the same statewide guarantee, and a municipality may only add reasonable design standards like a pitched roof or permanent foundation22. In the county's unorganized and deorganized townships, an RV at an individual site or in a campground may not have a permanent foundation and its wheels may not be removed, and if it's within a campground, occupancy is capped at 150 days in a calendar year8. An accessory dwelling unit of at least 190 square feet is a separate statewide right on a lot with a single-family home, once water and wastewater service are verified23. Outside LUPC territory, Oxford County itself sets no rule on RV living — that's a town-by-town decision, so ask your organized town's code enforcement officer before moving onto raw land4. One statewide rule applies to organized towns too: any campground with 5 or more tents or RVs on a commercial lot is presumed to be operated for compensation and needs a Maine DHHS campground license, so a hosted RV site your neighbor or landowner runs at that scale is a licensed operation, not informal land use24.

Building a home in Oxford County: the steps, in order

First, find out whether your parcel is in an organized town or in Maine's unorganized or deorganized territory — that determines whether your town or the LUPC issues your building permit4. Second, if you're in LUPC territory, confirm your lot meets the minimum size — 40,000 square feet for a septic-served home, or 20,000 square feet with a shared sewer — and the required setbacks of 100 or 75 feet from water, 50 or 30 feet from the road, and 15 feet from side and rear lines, before you design a site plan910. Third, get a licensed site evaluator to test soils and prepare an HHE-200 septic application; Oxford County's soils have no severe limitations on only about 0.8% of the land, so plan for an engineered system on most sites51720. Fourth, submit your septic application to your town's Local Plumbing Inspector and schedule both required inspections — one before installation, one before final backfill19. Fifth, submit your building permit application to your town's code enforcement officer in an organized town, or by mail or email to the LUPC's Augusta office in LUPC territory, budgeting its footprint-based fee of $0.15 to $0.20 per square foot1425. Sixth, if your driveway will connect to a state or state-aid highway, apply to MaineDOT separately; an existing entrance is grandfathered only for the use it had as of May 25, 2002, and a use change or physical alteration needs a new permit26. Seventh, before occupying, confirm whether your town requires a certificate of occupancy — Maine requires one in any municipality of more than 2,000 residents27.

What to check before you buy land in Oxford County

Water and soils: Oxford County averages about 47.8 inches of precipitation a year, with severe drought in only about 1.6% of years, but its septic soils are difficult — only 0.8% lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so plan for a professional site evaluation and likely an engineered system before you count on a build site282920. Terrain: only about 64% of Oxford County's land sits at 15% slope or less, meaning many parcels — especially in the mountainous western part of the county — will need extra grading, driveway, and foundation planning30. Flood risk: development in a flood-prone area needs a state-defined Flood Hazard Development Permit, determined from your community's FEMA flood map through a published decision tree31. Access: a driveway onto a state or state-aid highway needs a separate MaineDOT permit whenever the use changes or the entrance is physically altered, even if an older entrance is grandfathered from before 200226. Taxes: Oxford County's effective property tax rate averages about 1.1%, with a median annual bill near $2,1033233.

Watch-outs

  • Whether a specific Oxford County town requires a local building permit below Maine's 4,000-resident MUBEC threshold varies town by town; confirm with that town's code enforcement officer11.
  • The Title 10 owner-builder exemption only waives certain home-construction-contract disclosures, not the building permit, inspection, or certificate-of-occupancy requirements themselves6.
  • Short-term rentals in Oxford County's LUPC territory need a notice filed with the Commission; operators running before January 12, 2026 had until July 11, 2026 to file34.
  • Oxford County's published LUPC zoning subdistrict maps and standards cover its unorganized and deorganized areas only; organized towns set their own zoning separately, and this guide could not confirm a single countywide rule for every town35.

Sources

  1. Maine DECD - Code Enforcement & Building Codes (2026 county census)
  2. Your Building Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
  3. Maine DECD - Code Enforcement & Building Codes (2026 county census)
  4. About Us - Land Use Planning Commission, quoted and re-checked
  5. Maine CDC - Subsurface Wastewater System Permitting (2026 county census)
  6. Title 10, §1489: Exemption (Maine statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Title 30-A, §4363: Regulation of tiny homes, quoted and re-checked
  8. Maine Land Use Planning Commission, Chapter 10, Subchapter III, quoted and re-checked
  9. Land Use Districts and Standards, Chapter 10, quoted and re-checked
  10. Land Use Districts and Standards, Chapter 10, quoted and re-checked
  11. Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code — Chapter 1: Administrative Procedures (Maine statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Title 25, §2448: Construction permit; when required (Maine statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) — Western Regional Office (Wilton) (maine.gov)
  14. Your Building Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
  15. Maine CDC Subsurface Wastewater Program (maine.gov)
  16. Subsurface Wastewater Unit, quoted and re-checked
  17. Subsurface Wastewater System Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  18. Land Use Districts and Standards, Chapter 10, quoted and re-checked
  19. Subsurface Wastewater System Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  20. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  21. Subsurface Wastewater System Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  22. Title 30-A, §4358: Regulation of manufactured housing, quoted and re-checked
  23. Title 30-A, §4364-B: Accessory dwelling units, quoted and re-checked
  24. Maine Revised Statutes Title 22, §2491: Definitions (Maine statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Maine Land Use Planning Commission Building Permit Application (Maine statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. Driveway and Entrance Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  27. Title 25, §2357-A: No occupancy without certificate; appeal, quoted and re-checked
  28. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  29. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  30. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  31. Floodplain Ordinances & Permit Forms (Maine statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  32. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  33. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  34. Operating a Short-Term Rental in the Commission's Service Area, quoted and re-checked
  35. LUPC digital and online data, quoted and re-checked

Written September 28, 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.

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County locator

Oxford County in Maine

82
County map
Oxford County highlighted among the Maine counties · colored by Index score

How Oxford County scores

Seclusion61100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency6097% ev.
Admin Boringness73100% ev.
Durability78100% ev.
Property Autonomy70100% ev.
Carry Cost76100% ev.

Evidence strength: 99%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$328kTypical home
1.1%Property tax
$3,166Land / acre
47.8"Annual rain
1.6% of yrsSevere drought
0.2 / yr (+0.2)Mid-century 100°F days
9.6 daysMid-century dry spell
1.92" (+7.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.4×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,170Home insurance / yr
1.2% / yrInsurance growth
0.67%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
25,630Radius comparison (15 mi)
28.8People / sq mi
4.8%Federal land
64%Land at 15% slope or less
0.8%Septic soil without severe limits
6,440 acWorkable land screen
90.9%Wooded land
49.4 tonsBiomass / forest ac
42.2°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Oxford County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Oxford County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New houses or camps and expansions of existing residential structures in the Maine Land Use Planning Commission service area, including applicable unorganized areas of Oxford County.

    • The LUPC page states an exception for accessory structures that meet LUPC standards.
    • The page describes the requirement as generally applicable, so project-specific exceptions or additional LUPC rules may apply.
    • An appropriate application fee is required; the page directs applicants to the LUPC Regional Representative and Building Permit Application Question 9 for fee information.
    • If a new or expanded sewage disposal system is needed, a signed HHE-200 form must be submitted with the application.
    “Except for accessory structures that meet LUPC standards, building a new house or camp, or expanding an existing residential structure generally requires a building permit from the LUPC.”
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Aggregate of incorporated municipalities and unorganized or deorganized areas within Oxford County; the claim does not treat Oxford County as the administrator of each local rule.

    • Municipal zoning ordinances may be adopted by individual municipalities under Maine Title 30-A, §4352.
    • The Maine Land Use Planning Commission serves as the planning and zoning authority for unorganized and deorganized areas, including townships and plantations.
    • The applicable local rule depends on whether the parcel is in an incorporated municipality or in LUPC jurisdiction.
    “The Maine Land Use Planning Commission (the LUPC or Commission) serves as the planning and zoning authority for the unorganized and deorganized areas of the State, including townships and plantations. These areas either have no local government or have chosen not to administer land use controls at the local level.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Varies (with conditions) — Aggregate local zoning across Oxford County municipalities and unorganized or deorganized territories; individual municipal ordinances may apply in organized municipalities, while LUPC rules apply in unorganized and deorganized areas.
      “serves as the planning and zoning authority for the unorganized and deorganized areas of the State, including townships and plantations.”
    • Varies (with conditions) — Unorganized and deorganized areas of Oxford County, including applicable townships and plantations within the LUPC service area.
      “The Maine Land Use Planning Commission (the LUPC or Commission) serves as the planning and zoning authority for the unorganized and deorganized areas of the State, including townships and plantations.”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Published zoning subdistrict information for LUPC-regulated unorganized and deorganized areas of Oxford County, including the C Surplus map area.

    • The LUPC digital zoning data covers unorganized and deorganized areas, not all incorporated municipalities in Oxford County.
    • The C Surplus map identifies M-GN, P-GP, P-MA, P-SG, P-SL2, P-WL1, P-WL2, and P-WL3 subdistricts.
    • The tabloid map is reduced-size and not definitive; official full-size maps should be used for parcel-level determinations.
    • The map includes a 2009-07-07 Oxford County Flood Insurance Study adoption and regulates mapped special flood hazard areas as P-FP.
    “The zone polygons data file contains the LUPC land use zoning subdistricts for the unorganized and deorganized areas of Maine mapped at a scale of 1:24,000 with a projection of UTM, NAD83, Zone 19 North, Meters.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Lots with proposed structural development in Maine Land Use Planning Commission-regulated areas of Oxford County's unorganized territory, where Chapter 10 applies.

    • The dimensional requirements apply to all lots on which structural development is proposed unless Section 10.26(G) provides otherwise.
    • Residential uses and residential campsites require 40,000 square feet per dwelling unit or residential campsite.
    • If each dwelling unit uses a common or community sewer and not on-site subsurface wastewater disposal, the minimum is 20,000 square feet per dwelling unit.
    • Commercial, industrial, and other non-residential uses involving one or more buildings require 40,000 square feet, except as provided in Section 10.26(A)(3).
    • Lots developed only with a campsite have no minimum lot-size requirement.
    • The Chapter 10 document states that gray text applies only to prospectively zoned areas; district-specific exceptions and reductions are governed by Section 10.26(G).

    residential minimum lot size: 40000 square feet per dwelling unit or residential campsite (20,000 square feet per dwelling unit where each dwelling unit uses common or community sewer and not on-site subsurface wastewater disposal) · commercial, industrial, and other non-residential minimum lot size: 40000 square feet (Except as provided in Section 10.26(A)(3)) · campsite-only minimum lot size: none

    “40,000 square feet”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Structures in Maine Land Use Planning Commission-regulated areas of Oxford County's unorganized territory, including single-family residential uses.

    • Shoreline setbacks are measured from the normal high water mark of the nearest shoreline of each flowing water or body of standing water and from the nearest upland edge of applicable wetlands.
    • Roadway setbacks apply to privately or publicly owned roadways used for public access and are measured from the traveled portion of the roadway.
    • For single-family residential uses, shoreline setbacks are 100 feet from flowing water draining 50 square miles or more and standing water 10 acres or greater; 75 feet from smaller flowing water, smaller standing water other than constructed ponds, coastal wetlands, and non-forested wetlands in P-WL1 subdistricts.
    • Single-family residential roadway setbacks are 50 feet, 30 feet within D-RS and D-GN subdistricts including P-FP overlap, and 20 feet on coastal islands.
    • Single-family residential side and rear property-line setbacks are 15 feet.
    • Section 10.26(G) and other cited activity-specific provisions may provide exceptions or reductions.

    single-family shoreline setback for major water: 100 feet (Flowing water draining 50 square miles or more, or standing water 10 acres or greater) · single-family shoreline setback for other listed waters/wetlands: 75 feet (Flowing water draining less than 50 square miles; standing water less than 10 acres except constructed ponds; coastal wetland; or non-forested wetland in P-WL1) · single-family roadway setback: 50 feet (30 feet in D-RS and D-GN subdistricts, including P-FP overlap; 20 feet on coastal islands) · single-family side and rear property-line setback: 15 feet

    “setbacks are 15 feet.”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Lots with one or more buildings in Maine Land Use Planning Commission-regulated areas of Oxford County's unorganized territory.

    • The default maximum lot coverage is 30% for all uses involving one or more buildings.
    • Coverage is calculated as the percentage of lot area covered by all impervious surfaces, including buildings, driveways, sidewalks, and parking lots.
    • In prospectively zoned areas outside shoreland areas, commercial and institutional development in D-GN, D-GN2, D-GN3, D-RS, and D-RS2 subdistricts on lots of 2 acres or less may be increased to 50% by waiver for infill or compact development if there is no adverse impact on water bodies from runoff.
    • D-CI lots not within 250 feet of a major flowing water or standing water 10 acres or greater have a 50% maximum for all uses involving one or more buildings.
    • D-MT lots have a 50% maximum for non-residential uses; residential uses remain subject to the 30% standard.
    • Sections 10.26(E)(3)-(5) and Section 10.26(G) provide the cited exceptions.

    default maximum lot coverage: 30 percent (Sections 10.26(E)(3)-(5) and 10.26(G)) · flexible maximum lot coverage: 50 percent (Specified prospectively zoned, non-shoreland or D-CI/D-MT conditions)

    “maximum lot coverage shall be 30%”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Structures in portions of Oxford County within the Maine Land Use Planning Commission service area, subject to the applicable LUPC land-use subdistrict and location rules.

    • Except as provided in Section 10.26,F,2, 4, and 5, maximum height is 75 feet for residential uses, campsites, and residential campsites and 100 feet for commercial, industrial, and other non-residential uses involving one or more structures.
    • Structures within 500 feet of the normal high water mark of a body of standing water 10 acres or greater, a major flowing water, or a coastal wetland must be no higher than 30 feet; the Commission may apply this provision at greater distances for scenic-value water bodies and major flowing waters where adverse scenic impact is likely.
    • Chimneys, towers, ventilators, spires, freestanding towers, and turbines may exceed the maximum heights with Commission approval.
    • In areas beyond 500 feet from the normal high water mark of a body of standing water 10 acres or greater, structure height in D-GN, D-GN2, D-GN3, D-RS, D-RS2, D-RS3, D-CI, and D-ES prospectively zoned areas must be limited to 35 feet.
    • Structures within 500 feet of the normal high water mark of a body of standing water 10 acres or greater in prospectively zoned areas must comply with the 30-foot rule in Section 10.26,F,2.
    • Structures within 500 feet of State Route 191 in Trescott Township must be no higher than 40 feet.
    • For structures in a P-FP subdistrict, the applicable maximum height may be increased by either two feet above the nearest adjacent grade or two feet above the base flood elevation, as determined under Section 10.25,T,1,b or c.

    maximum height for residential uses, campsites, and residential campsites: 75 feet (Subject to Sections 10.26,F,2, 4, and 5.) · maximum height for commercial, industrial, and other non-residential uses involving one or more structures: 100 feet (Subject to Sections 10.26,F,2, 4, and 5.) · maximum height near specified water bodies, major flowing waters, and coastal wetlands: 30 feet (Within 500 feet; scenic-value extension may apply.) · maximum height in specified prospectively zoned subdistricts beyond 500 feet from a qualifying water body: 35 feet (D-GN, D-GN2, D-GN3, D-RS, D-RS2, D-RS3, D-CI, and D-ES.) · maximum height near State Route 191 in Trescott Township: 40 feet (Within 500 feet of State Route 191.) · flood-prone-area height adjustment: 2 feet (Above nearest adjacent grade or base flood elevation in a P-FP subdistrict.)

    “1. Except as provided for in Section 10.26,F,2, 4, and 5 below, the maximum structure height must be: a. 75 feet for residential uses, campsites, and residential campsites; and b. 100 feet for commercial, industrial, and other non-residential uses involving one or more structures.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Occupancy of recreational vehicles at individual sites or campgrounds in Oxford County areas regulated by the Maine Land Use Planning Commission.

    • RVs at individual sites or campgrounds may not have permanent foundations.
    • The wheels may not be removed.
    • Within a campground, the RV or other camping device may not be occupied for more than 150 days in a calendar year to comply with transient occupancy standards.
    • This claim does not establish rules for incorporated municipalities or areas outside LUPC jurisdiction.

    maximum occupancy: <= 150 days per calendar year (Within a campground; device must be used for camping.)

    “shall not have permanent foundations and shall not have the wheels removed.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary camping using tents, trailers, campers, recreational vehicles, or similar camping devices within campgrounds in Oxford County areas regulated by the Maine Land Use Planning Commission.

    • The camping device may be stored within a campground.
    • Occupancy may not exceed 150 days in a calendar year.
    • This rule is tied to transient occupancy standards and does not establish a countywide rule for incorporated municipalities.

    maximum occupancy: <= 150 days per calendar year (Within a campground; device used for camping.)

    “the device is not occupied for more than 150 days in a calendar year.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Agricultural or conservation land divisions in Maine Land Use Planning Commission-regulated areas of Oxford County's unorganized territory, for purposes of exemption from counting as subdivision lots.

    • The exemption does not apply if the transferor intends to avoid the objectives of 12 M.R.S. Chapter 206-A.
    • The lot must be transferred and managed solely for forest management, agricultural management, or conservation of natural resources.
    • The lot must be at least 40 acres.
    • If less than 1,000 acres, no portion may be within 1,320 feet of the normal high water mark of a great pond or river or within 250 feet of the upland edge of a coastal or freshwater wetland as defined in 38 M.R.S. §436-A.
    • The original parcel may be divided into an aggregate of no more than 10 lots within any 5-year period.
    • When 3 to 10 lots each at least 40 acres are created within any 5-year period, a plan must be recorded under 12 M.R.S. §685-B(6-A).
    • Any subsequent division within 10 years after recording, or structural development unrelated to forest management, agricultural management, or conservation, creates a subdivision and may not occur without prior Commission approval.
    • A separate retained-lot exemption requires retention for at least 5 years, no sale, platting, lease, conveyance, or further division except qualifying abutter transfer, and sole use for forest or agricultural management or conservation; only one such retained lot may be created from an existing parcel.

    minimum exempt agricultural/conservation lot size: >= 40 acres (Must satisfy all additional conditions in Section 10.25(Q)(1)(g)(1)) · maximum aggregate lots from original parcel: <= 10 lots within any 5-year period (For the agricultural/forest/conservation transfer exemption) · subsequent division restriction: 10 years after plan recording (Subsequent division or unrelated structural development creates a subdivision and requires prior Commission approval)

    “at least 40 acres in size”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and lot creation in portions of Oxford County within the Maine Land Use Planning Commission jurisdiction.

    • A subdivision permit from the Commission is required for subdivisions within the Commission’s jurisdiction.
    • LUPC Chapter 10, Section 10.25,Q governs division of lots and creation of subdivisions.
    • Placement of three or more dwelling units on a single lot within a five-year period creates a subdivision; dividing one lot into two parcels combined with placement of one or two dwelling units on either or both lots does not create a subdivision.
    • Up to eight remote rental cabins within a single contiguous ownership larger than 5,000 acres within a township are allowed without subdivision review; more than eight requires Commission subdivision review.
    • Renewal of leases in a Commission-approved subdivision is not counted as creation of a lot; renewal within two years of expiration in other subdivisions is also not counted, while other renewals are counted.
    • Certain forest-management, agricultural-management, conservation, retained-lot, governmental-transfer, large-lot, and long-existing unauthorized lots are exempt subject to the detailed conditions in Section 10.25,Q,1,g.
    • Chapter 10, Subchapter II identifies subdivision types and densities allowed in individual land-use subdistricts, and Section 10.25,Q,3 adds general standards for subdivision layouts.
    • The LUPC application guidance states that subdivisions are permitted only within certain subdistricts and that rezoning may be required before filing a subdivision application.

    dwelling-unit threshold creating a subdivision on a single lot: >= 3 dwelling units within 5 years (A division into two parcels coupled with placement of one or two dwelling units on either or both lots does not create a subdivision.) · remote rental cabins allowed without subdivision review: <= 8 cabins (Single contiguous ownership larger than 5,000 acres within a township; more than eight requires Commission review.)

    “The placement of three or more dwelling units on a single lot within a five-year period creates a subdivision. The division of one lot into two parcels coupled with the placement of one or two dwelling units on either or both lots does not create a subdivision.”
  • Short-term rentalsAllowed (with conditions)

    Short-term rentals in the LUPC service area within Oxford County unorganized or deorganized territory.

    • The rental must be in a zoning subdistrict where residential dwellings or residential campsites are allowed.
    • A notice must be filed with the Commission.
    • The notice requirement applies as of January 12, 2026.
    • Operators whose rentals began before January 12, 2026 had until July 11, 2026, 180 days, to file.
    • The definition excludes recreational lodging facilities, home-based businesses, hotels, motels, and generally more than one dwelling unit, dwelling portion, or residential campsite on one lot unless the lot is part of a condominium with individually owned units.

    maximum tenancy for short-term-rental definition: < 30 consecutive calendar days · notice requirement effective date: 2026-01-12 · legacy notice deadline: 2026-07-11 (For rentals begun before 2026-01-12)

    “In the Commission’s service area, short-term rentals are an allowed use in any zoning subdistrict where residential dwellings or residential campsites are allowed.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Residential development requiring LUPC approval in Oxford County unorganized or deorganized territory.

    • Accessory structures meeting LUPC standards may be excepted.
    • Applications must be sent to the Augusta Office by email or mail.
    • The LUPC application process includes an application fee and supporting materials; additional requirements may apply.
    “Electronic submissions are encouraged. All applications must be sent to the Augusta Office via email at [email protected] or via US mail at: 22 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333.”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    Maine has no county zoning; land use is regulated by individual municipalities (and by the state Land Use Planning Commission in the county's unorganized territory), not by Oxford County.

    Maine DECD - Code Enforcement & Building Codes ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Maine rules that apply here

  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Parties to a Maine home construction contract seeking exemption from the requirements of Title 10, chapter 219-A.

    • The contractor must specifically inform the homeowner or lessee of the homeowner's or lessee's rights under the chapter.
    • The parties must mutually agree to a contract or change order that does not contain the parts listed in Title 10, sections 1487 and 1488.
    • This is an exemption from the home-construction-contract chapter; it does not by itself waive building permits, inspections, certificates of occupancy, or other building-code requirements.
    “Parties to a home construction contract may exempt themselves from the requirements of this chapter only if the contractor specifically informs the homeowner or lessee of the homeowner's or lessee's rights under this chapter and the parties then mutually agree to a contract or change order that does not contain the parts set forth in sections 1487 and 1488.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Building-code adoption and enforcement in Oxford County municipalities under Maine's statewide MUBEC framework.

    • Municipalities with populations greater than 4,000 are required by statute to enforce MUBEC.
    • Municipalities with populations under 4,000 may choose to enforce MUBEC.
    • MUBEC compliance remains mandatory for the building owner regardless of whether the municipality enforces MUBEC.
    • Other Maine plumbing, electrical, fire, and life-safety rules may also apply.

    municipal population threshold: > 4000 residents (Municipalities under 4,000 may choose to enforce MUBEC.)

    “All municipalities with a population greater than 4,000 are required, by statute, to enforce the MUBEC. Municipalities with a population under 4,000 may choose to enforce the MUBEC. Compliance with the MUBEC is mandatory and the responsibility of the building owner, regardless of whether a building is located in a municipality that enforces the MUBEC.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Buildings constructed or renovated in Maine where the municipality enforces MUBEC, including municipalities with 4,000 or more residents and smaller municipalities that elect enforcement.

    • MUBEC applies to all buildings constructed or renovated in Maine regardless of municipal population.
    • MUBEC must be enforced in municipalities with a population of 4,000 residents or more; municipalities under 4,000 may choose to enforce it.
    • Enforcement may use municipal building officials, inter-local agreements, contractual agreements, third-party inspection by report, or a third-party inspector selected and paid for by the applicant if the municipality does not elect one of the listed options.

    mandatory MUBEC enforcement population threshold: >= 4000 residents (Municipalities under 4,000 may choose to enforce MUBEC.)

    “For a building official in a municipality that is enforcing the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code pursuant to Title 10, section 9724, unless the municipality is enforcing that code by means of 3rd-party inspectors pursuant to section 2373, subsection 4, the building official shall inspect each building during the process of construction for compliance with the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code adopted pursuant to Title 10, chapter 1103.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Buildings in Maine municipalities with more than 2,000 inhabitants, including buildings in such municipalities that have adopted or enforce MUBEC.

    • The building may not be occupied until the building official gives a certificate of occupancy.
    • For buildings in a municipality that has adopted or is enforcing MUBEC, the certificate concerns compliance with MUBEC and the required enforcement and inspection options in Title 25, section 2373.
    • A building official may issue the certificate upon receipt of an inspection report from a certified third-party inspector.
    • The municipality has no obligation to review a third-party inspector's report for accuracy before issuing the certificate.
    • If the owner permits occupancy without the certificate, the owner must be penalized under Title 30-A, section 4452.
    • An appeal is available under Title 30-A, section 4103, subsection 5, or through an alternative appeal process established by ordinance.

    municipality population threshold: > 2000 inhabitants

    “A building in a municipality of more than 2,000 inhabitants may not be occupied until the building official has given a certificate of occupancy for compliance with the inspections required by section 2353‑A.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Certificates of occupancy for buildings in Oxford County municipalities governed by Maine's municipal inspection and MUBEC provisions.
      “A building in a municipality of more than 2,000 inhabitants may not be occupied until the building official has given a certificate of occupancy”
  • Tiny homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Placement or erection of a tiny home on an individual house lot where single-family dwellings are allowed, or as an accessory structure, in municipalities within Oxford County.

    • The tiny home remains subject to all applicable land-use requirements governing single-family dwellings or accessory structures.
    • The statute speaks to municipal land-use regulation; it does not eliminate building, septic, shoreland, or other applicable requirements.
    “A municipality shall permit a tiny home to be placed or erected on an individual house lot where single-family dwellings are allowed”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Placement or erection of manufactured housing on individual house lots where single-family dwellings are allowed in municipalities within Oxford County.

    • Manufactured housing is subject to the same requirements as single-family dwellings, except where §4358 provides otherwise.
    • Municipalities may establish qualifying design criteria that do not circumvent the statute.
    • State-certified manufactured housing and qualifying modular homes must be allowed in all zones where other single-family homes are allowed.
    • Mobile-home-park rules include statutory exceptions for Title 38 shoreland requirements and ordinances adopted under Title 38.

    mobile home park lot size with onsite subsurface wastewater: <= 20000 square feet (Except as required under Title 38 or an ordinance adopted pursuant to Title 38.) · mobile home park lot size with central onsite subsurface wastewater: <= 12000 square feet (Municipality may require overall density no more than one home per 20,000 square feet; except as required under Title 38 or an ordinance adopted pursuant to Title 38.) · mobile home park lot size with public sewer: <= 6500 square feet (Smaller of 6,500 square feet or the smallest residential lot permitted in the municipality; except as required under Title 38 or an ordinance adopted pursuant to Title 38.)

    “Municipalities shall allow manufactured housing to be placed or erected on individual house lots where single-family dwellings are allowed”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Placement and residential occupancy of manufactured housing on individual house lots statewide in Maine where single-family dwellings are allowed.
      “Municipalities shall allow manufactured housing to be placed or erected on individual house lots where single-family dwellings are allowed [...]”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units on lots containing a single-family dwelling or multi-unit structure in municipalities within Oxford County where residential uses are permitted, including conditionally permitted residential areas.

    • Exception: the statute does not apply as provided in Title 12, chapter 423-A.
    • At least one ADU must be allowed on any lot where a single-family dwelling is the principal structure.
    • An ADU must be allowed on a nonconforming lot if it does not further increase the nonconformity.
    • Municipalities must exempt one ADU from density requirements or calculations.
    • ADUs must comply with applicable shoreland zoning requirements, although municipalities may not categorically prohibit otherwise compliant ADUs in the shoreland zone.
    • Minimum ADU size is 190 square feet unless the Technical Building Codes and Standards Board adopts a different standard; a municipality may impose a maximum size.
    • Before occupancy certification, written verification of adequate water and wastewater service is required, including septic adequacy verification by a local plumbing inspector and plans prepared by a licensed site evaluator when connected to septic.
    • Valid private covenants, deed restrictions, easements, or other private agreements may impose greater restrictions.
    • The statute is subject to a municipal implementation date.

    minimum ADU size: >= 190 square feet (Different standard applies if adopted by the Technical Building Codes and Standards Board.)

    “a municipality shall allow an accessory dwelling unit to be located on the same lot as a single-family dwelling unit or multi-unit structure”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Accessory dwelling units on lots containing a single-family dwelling unit or multi-unit structure in any Maine municipality and any area where residential uses are permitted, including conditional-use areas.
      “A municipality shall allow the construction or occupancy of an accessory dwelling unit on a lot even if the owner of the lot [...]”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Subsurface wastewater systems in Oxford County, including incorporated municipalities and unorganized territory.

    • Maine CDC administers the statewide rules and maintains permits submitted by towns or LPIs assigned to unorganized territories.
    • Local Plumbing Inspectors administer permitting and inspection locally; the cited source does not identify Oxford County government as the administering authority.
    “The Subsurface Wastewater Unit oversees the following activities: Administers rules pertaining to subsurface wastewater disposal in Maine:”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation of a new, expanded, or replacement subsurface wastewater disposal system or component in Maine.

    • A permit is required before work begins.
    • Normal maintenance and repair are excepted.
    • The permit is valid for work commenced within 24 months after issuance.
    • Applications generally require a site evaluation and must be prepared by a licensed site evaluator or, for engineered systems, a professional engineer or licensed site evaluator.
    • The Local Plumbing Inspector examines the application and issues the permit; municipalities may impose additional fees and more restrictive ordinances.

    permit validity: 24 months (work must commence within this period) · complete non-engineered system minimum fee: 250 USD (municipalities may assess additional fees)

    “Installing a new, expanded, or replacement subsurface wastewater disposal system, or any individual components, requires a permit, except normal maintenance and repair.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Installation of a subsurface wastewater disposal system or any component in Oxford County.
      “The installation of a subsurface waste water disposal system or components;”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Installation of subsurface wastewater systems in Oxford County, with additional certified inspection requirements for shoreland-zone property transfers.

    • The system must pass two inspections: one site-preparation inspection before installation and one before final backfilling.
    • The owner or agent must notify the Local Plumbing Inspector at least 24 hours before the system is ready for inspection.
    • For a property transfer involving a system in the shoreland zone, a Department-certified inspector must complete the inspection.
    • The cited source states that certification is voluntary in most other situations.

    required installation inspections: 2 inspections (one before installation and one before final backfilling)

    “The system must pass two inspections”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Primitive, limited, graywater, and alternative-toilet sanitation systems in Oxford County.

    • Alternative-toilet applications are an exception to the ordinary licensed-site-evaluator requirement, except for pit privies.
    • A permit is still required for installation of a new, expanded, or replacement system or component unless the work is normal maintenance or repair.
    • The cited state permitting page lists a Primitive/Limited System category for graywater and alternative toilets with a scheduled permit fee of $100 plus a 25% fee and a $15 water-quality surcharge.

    scheduled permit fee for primitive/limited system: 100 USD (plus 25% fee and $15 water-quality surcharge)

    “Primitive/Limited System (graywater and alt toilet) | $100.00 | $25.00 | $15.00”
  • Well permitLimited

    New wells and new public water sources in Oxford County that serve a Maine public water system, including water districts, mobile home parks, campgrounds, restaurants, apartment buildings, and hotels.

    • Before construction of a new public water source, proposed plans must be submitted to the Maine Drinking Water Program for approval.
    • Before a new public water supply well is drilled or installed, written preliminary approval from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services is required.
    • The public-water-supply well setback from septic systems or other potential contamination sources is determined by DHHS during preliminary approval review.
    • The Maine Drinking Water Program page states a 300-foot setback from potential contamination sources, such as fuel tanks and leach fields; a setback waiver may be requested if site conditions require it.
    • For water supply wells generally, the rule states a 100-foot minimum horizontal setback from wastewater disposal fields designed to treat less than 2,000 gallons per day and 300 feet for fields designed to treat 2,000 gallons per day or more, except as provided in Sections 400.3 and 400.7.
    • Bedrock-well setback reductions may apply for specified site conditions, including insufficient property size, inability to meet other contamination-source setbacks, excessive slopes, impacts from permanent structures, lakes, ponds, streams or wetlands, or shallow bedrock; other reductions require a Specialty Well application approved by the Commission before drilling.
    • A gravel-well setback reduction is not allowed without a Specialty Well application approved by the Commission.
    • A Specialty Well application may permit a well location by written waiver when the standard requirements cannot practically be met, subject to conditions imposed for public-health protection.

    public-well approval timing: before drilling · general setback from wastewater disposal field under 2,000 gpd: 100 feet (except as provided in Sections 400.3 and 400.7) · general setback from wastewater disposal field at least 2,000 gpd: 300 feet (except as provided in Sections 400.3 and 400.7) · public-water-source setback stated by Maine DWP: 300 feet (a waiver may be requested if site conditions require it) · minimum setback from septic, holding, or lift tanks: 60 feet (cannot be reduced below 60 feet without written Specialty Well approval)

    “Wells intended to serve Public Water Supplies, as defined in Chapter 1 of these rules, must be approved in writing by the Department of Health and Human Services prior to being drilled and shall be constructed with a setback from disposal fields or other potential sources of contamination as required by the Department of Health and Human Services, Drinking Water Program.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Wastewater sewer connections where a public sewer or sanitary/sewer district is available in Maine.

    • A sanitary-district connection may be required after the district requests it, generally within 90 days, when the building is within 200 feet of the district sewer or drain.
    • A municipality may require connection by ordinance when a building abuts a street or public way containing a sewer.
    • An existing compliant private sewer or drainage system is exempt from sanitary-district connection requirements while it remains satisfactory, sanitary, and compliant with applicable law, ordinance, and the state plumbing code.
    • The sanitary-district rule does not require acquiring real property or an easement solely to make the connection.

    sanitary-district accessibility distance: <= 200 feet (no easement acquisition is required solely for connection) · connection deadline after sanitary-district request: 90 days (trustees may grant additional time)

    “Existing buildings that are already served by a private sewer or drainage system are not required to connect with any sewer or drain of the district so long as the private sewer or drainage system functions in a satisfactory and sanitary manner, and does not violate any law or ordinance applicable thereto or any applicable requirement of the state plumbing code, as determined by the municipal plumbing inspector, the inspector's alternate, or, in the event that both are trustees or employees of the district, the Division of Health Engineering.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Conditional — Buildings in Oxford County that abut a street or public way containing a sewer, where the applicable municipality has adopted a sewer-connection ordinance.
      “If required by municipal ordinance, [...] shall connect that building with the sewer”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    New, modified, or changed-use driveways and entrances affecting state or state-aid highways in Oxford County.

    • An existing driveway or curb cut on a state roadway is grandfathered only for the use existing on May 25, 2002.
    • A new MaineDOT permit is required when the use changes or the entrance is physically altered.
    • Urban Compact Areas are exempt from MaineDOT permit rules; local rules govern there.
    • Local roads and entrances are normally a municipal responsibility.
    • If state and local rules conflict, the stricter rule applies, subject to the stated Urban Compact exception.

    effective date of existing-driveway grandfathering: 2002-05-25 (Only for the use in existence at that time) · significant traffic threshold: >= 100 car trips per hour (A Traffic Movement Permit may be required)

    “If you are changing the use that existed in 2002, for example from forestry or farming to residential, you need to apply to MaineDOT for a new permit. Also, if you are physically altering the entrance, you’ll need to apply for a new permit”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in flood-prone areas in Maine communities subject to local floodplain management ordinances and the applicable flood-map category.

    • Whether a Flood Hazard Development Permit is required is determined using the state decision tree.
    • The appropriate application and two-part permit forms depend on the flood-hazard identification shown on the community's flood map.
    • A conditional-use form may legally be used only if the local floodplain management ordinance contains the state standards for a conditional use.
    “Does the development require a Flood Hazard Development Permit? Follow the Decision Tree (PDF 37KB) (MS Word 150KB) to find out.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Residential development building-permit applications within the Maine Land Use Planning Commission service area.

    • Fees are proposal-dependent and calculated by staff.
    • Application fees are nonrefundable.
    • Online debit payments add $0.25 and online credit-card payments add 3% of the transaction amount; these additional fees can be avoided by paying by check or money order.

    structure fee on lots within Commission-approved subdivisions: $0.15 per square foot of footprint · structure fee on lots not within Commission-approved subdivisions: $0.20 per square foot of footprint · special exception fee: 100 USD (Includes one or more uses allowed by special exception.)

    “Structures …on lots within Commission approved subdivisions: x $0.15 per square foot(footprint)2 $ ...not on lots within Commission approved subdivisions: x $0.20 per square foot(footprint)2 $”
  • Campground & park staysLimited

    Recreational-vehicle occupancy at campgrounds on 5 or more sites operated for compensation or indirect compensation statewide in Maine.

    • A campground is defined to include recreational vehicle parks and sites intended for recreational purposes rather than permanent residency.
    • A person may not operate a campground for compensation or indirect compensation without a license issued by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
    • If a campground consists of 5 or more tents or recreational vehicles on a commercial lot, compensation is presumed regardless of fees charged, but the owner or renter may rebut the presumption by a preponderance of the evidence.

    minimum recreational vehicle sites triggering compensation presumption: >= 5 sites (On a commercial lot; the presumption may be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence.)

    “If a campground consists of 5 or more tents or recreational vehicles on a commercial lot, regardless of fees charged, it is presumed [...]”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Minor campgrounds and transient camping in Maine's unorganized and deorganized areas under the jurisdiction of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission.
      “A minor campground may be designed to contain a maximum of 4 camping sites for transient occupancy by 12 or fewer people per site, [...]”
  • county zoning authorityLimited

    Maine counties seeking zoning for unorganized or deorganized territory within the jurisdiction of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission.

    • A county may request the Maine Land Use Planning Commission to develop and implement the regional comprehensive land use plan and associated zoning; the quoted statute does not grant the county independent statewide authority to adopt and administer general zoning.
    • The request may be made by one county or in partnership with another county or counties.
    • The zoning may cover all or only a portion of territory within the commission's jurisdiction in the requesting county or counties.
    • For mandatory shoreland zoning, the current statute expressly assigns adoption of zoning and land-use-control ordinances to municipalities; it does not identify counties in that operative grant.
    “A county, separately or in partnership with another county or counties, may request the commission to develop and implement a regional comprehensive land use plan and associated zoning for all or a portion of the territory within the jurisdiction of the commission in the county or counties making the request.”
  • county building authorityLimited

    Residential building-permit administration by Maine counties in unorganized or deorganized territory under the jurisdiction of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission.

    • The Maine Land Use Planning Commission must establish standards for delegation.
    • Delegation occurs only upon request of the county commissioners.
    • The delegation is limited to specified activities requiring a permit.
    • The county may approve, approve with reasonable conditions, or deny applications and enforce compliance with the permit.
    • A person aggrieved by a county decision may appeal to the commission within 30 days after the county decision.
    • The LUPC states that, except for accessory structures meeting LUPC standards, building a new house or camp or expanding an existing residential structure generally requires an LUPC building permit.
    • The cited sources establish delegated permit authority, not general county authority to adopt an independent residential building code.
    “The commission may establish standards by which authority may be delegated to a county, upon request of the county commissioners, to approve, approve with reasonable conditions or deny applications to conduct specified activities requiring a permit and to enforce compliance with the permit.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area in unincorporated areas of Oxford County, including areas subject to municipal or Maine Land Use Planning Commission controls.

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.

Living off-grid in Oxford County, Maine

Is Oxford County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Oxford County scores 82/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: mixed durability signals and manageable long-term carry cost.

Do you need a building permit in Oxford County, Maine?

Oxford County requires a building permit only in limited cases (such as floodplains or specific zones), and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Maine CDC Subsurface Wastewater Program (administered by municipal Local Plumbing Inspectors). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Oxford County, Maine?

Land in Oxford County runs about $3,166 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Oxford County?

Oxford County gets about 47.8" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 1.6% of years.

How remote is Oxford County?

A typical private-land location has about 25,630 people within 15 miles and 2,152,931 within 100 miles. These radius catchments are the published fallback where road routing is unavailable.

Off-grid gear

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

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How Oxford compares in Maine

Compare side-by-side →See all 16 Maine counties ranked →