Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Stoneham, Maine
Town of Stoneham is a town in Oxford County, Maine. Town of Stoneham adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Town of Stoneham’s rules apply, not the county’s. Septic permits inside Town of Stoneham come from Town of Stoneham. 14 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on October 29, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Oxford County page.
Answers from the rulebook for Town of Stoneham
Town of Stoneham’s own rules
Building permitRequired
Erection, reconstruction, alteration, enlargement or moving of buildings or structures inside Stoneham town
Applications go to the town office on forms before any earthwork begins (Section 16(b)(1)).
The Code Enforcement Officer may approve and issue permits alone for structures under 1500 square feet not within the shoreland zone (Section 16(b)(3)).
A permit expires if work is not commenced within one year or not substantially complete within two years (Section 16(b)(7)).
Use changes such as summer camp to year-round home also require a change of use permit (Section 16(d)).
“All building or structures hereafter erected, reconstructed, altered, enlarged or moved in or into the Town of Stoneham shall require a permit”
InspectionsRequired
New buildings in Stoneham town before occupancy
The inspection is made by the Code Enforcement Officer before occupancy, and a plumbing permit must be completed first.
“The Code Enforcement Officer shall make the necessary inspection prior to occupancy”
Certificate of occupancyRequired
New buildings in Stoneham town before occupancy
A certificate cannot be issued without a completed plumbing permit (installation and approval by the local plumbing inspector).
“A “Certificate of Occupancy” will be required before moving into a new building.”
Local zoningPresent (with conditions)
Land inside Stoneham town limits; the Building Ordinance states its purpose is to conform to the town zoning ordinance.
The zoning ordinance text itself was not opened; its districts and standards are not captured here.
Structures in the shoreland zone must also conform to the town shoreland zoning ordinance (Building Ordinance Section 6(e)).
“to conform to the Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Stoneham.”
Minimum lot sizeSpecified
Lots inside Stoneham town under the Building Ordinance land use standards; the ordinance names no districts, so this is town-wide as written
Shoreland zoning may impose stricter lot requirements in the shoreland zone.
Zoning district lot sizes were not reviewed.
minimum lot size: >= 1 acre · minimum lot size: >= 43264 sq ft
“Minimum lot size is one acre (43,264 sq. ft.).”
SetbacksSpecified
Principal and accessory structures on lots fronting Maine Street (State Route 5) inside Stoneham town
Applies only to the Maine Street corridor (Section 6(d)).
setback from Maine Street centerline: >= 75 ft · setback from boundary lines: >= 20 ft
“seventy-five (75) feet from the center of Maine Street (a.k.a. State Route 5) and twenty (20) feet from all boundary lines.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Specified — Principal and accessory structures on lots fronting a town road inside Stoneham town
“fifty (50) feet from the center of a town road and twenty (20) feet from all boundary lines.”
Lot coverageSpecified
All lots inside Stoneham town under the Building Ordinance land use standards
If more than one principal building is on a lot, dimensional requirements apply to each principal structure separately (Section 6(f)).
maximum lot coverage by structures: <= 20 percent
“Structures shall not cover more than twenty (20) percent of any lot.”
Manufactured homesLimited
Mobile homes occupied as dwellings inside Stoneham town
A permit is required (Section 14(a)).
Mobile homes more than 20 years old are not permitted (Section 14(c)).
Wheels must be removed and the unit becomes part of the realty and taxed as such, except for units placed in town less than 30 days in a calendar year (Section 14(d)).
Site inspection is required; a gravel base with 4-inch cement pad and 7-inch cement runners, or a full foundation, is required (Section 14(e)-(f)).
The mobile home must connect to a sanitary system approved by the town plumbing inspector (Section 14(b)).
“no mobile home shall be occupied as a dwelling unit in the Town of Stoneham without obtaining the appropriate permit.”
Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)
Subsurface sewage disposal systems inside Stoneham town
The state plumbing code is the standard and the Town plumbing inspector certifies systems (Section 8(b)).
The Shoreland Zoning Ordinance sanitary standards also apply (Section 8(b)).
“shall be certified by the Town of Stoneham Plumbing Inspector.”
Septic inspectionRequired
Sewage disposal systems inside Stoneham town
Systems must be certified by the town plumbing inspector; the visit procedure was not captured.
“shall be certified by the Town of Stoneham Plumbing Inspector.”
Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)
Creation of new lots inside Stoneham town
Enacted and effective June 10, 2009; the ordinance text was only opened at its title page, so review criteria and dimensional standards were not captured.
“The provisions of these regulations shall pertain to all land and buildings proposed for subdivision within the boundaries of the Town of Stoneham.”
Driveway accessRequired
New driveways inside Stoneham town
Driveways over 100 feet must have a 24-foot travel surface (Section 15(b)).
A 32-foot entrance is required for all construction sites (Section 15(c)).
“All new driveways shall conform with the Town of Stoneham Driveway Ordinance.”
Permit processPartial
Building and use permit applications inside Stoneham town
The Planning Board and CEO meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at the town office (Section 16(b)(2)).
Forms are listed in Appendix A, which was not captured.
“All applications for Building or Use Permits shall be submitted in writing to the Town Office on associated forms”
Still unanswered
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Stoneham or Oxford County directly.
Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built construction inside Stoneham town
Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Stoneham town
Minimum dwelling size — Dwelling size inside Stoneham town
Building height — Building height inside Stoneham town
Living in an RV — Recreational vehicle occupancy inside Stoneham town
10 more unanswered
Camping on your land
Tiny homes
Accessory dwellings
Off-grid sanitation
Well permit
Mandatory utility hookup
Agricultural exemption
Building in a floodplain
Short-term rentals
Permit fees
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 Stoneham publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Oxford County’s page lists the county offices to call.
Off-grid gear
Going off-grid in Town of Stoneham means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
