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

Town of Levant’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Buildings, structures, and uses for which Levant Planning Board approval or a CEO permit is required.

  • The applicable approval or CEO permit must be obtained before construction.
  • Even where no permit is required, the ordinance states that compliance with its standards remains mandatory.
  • A plumbing permit is required before a building permit for work involving plumbing facilities.

  “No building, structure, or use for which Planning Board approval and/or CEO permit is required shall be constructed until and unless Planning Board approval and/or CEO permit has been obtained from the Code Enforcement Officer.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Uses or structures covered by a Levant Planning Board approval or CEO permit.

  • The certificate is obtained from the CEO after applicable ordinance provisions are satisfied.
  • For a use other than a residential structure or commercial structure open to the public, the CEO has five business days after notification to approve or deny occupancy/use; otherwise the applicant may occupy or use the permitted land or structures.

  “a certificate of occupancy/use certifying that all applicable provisions of this ordinance have been satisfied shall be obtained from the ceo.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  All uses inside Levant town limits, outside any stricter shoreland-zoning requirement.

  • The standard is 1 acre in subdivisions.
  • Multi-family housing requires one-half acre for every dwelling unit.
  • Lots must also satisfy frontage and 150-foot by 150-foot capability requirements.

  minimum lot area: >= 1.5 acres (1 acre in subdivisions.) · minimum lot area for multi-family housing: >= 0.5 acres per dwelling unit

  “the following minimum lot dimensions shall apply to all uses in the town of levant: a. minimum lot area: 1.5 acre; 1 acre in subdivisions.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Structures and buildings inside Levant town limits, outside shoreland setbacks regulated by the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance.

  • One-story accessory residential structures no larger than 1,000 square feet and no taller than 15 feet may use a 15-foot side and rear setback.
  • Handicap-access structural elements may encroach only to the minimum necessary.
  • Waterbody and wetland setbacks are regulated by the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance.

  rear and side setback: >= 25 feet (Qualifying one-story accessory residential structures may have a 15-foot side and rear setback.) · front setback: >= 50 feet

  “minimum setback of all structures or buildings from all rear or side lot lines shall be 25 feet, except that one story accessory residential structures of no more than 1000 square feet in area and no more than 15 feet in height from the first floor to the highest point of the peak may have a 15 foot side and rear setback.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Plumbing facilities and sewage disposal systems inside Levant town limits.

  • Levant requires a plumbing permit, while installation and operation must comply with State of Maine Plumbing Law.

  “all plumbing facilities in the town of levant and all sewage disposal systems shall be installed and operated in compliance with the state of maine plumbing law. plumbing and sewage disposal systems shall be installed only after a plumbing permit has been obtained.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of plumbing and sewage disposal systems inside Levant town limits.

  • A plumbing permit must be obtained before installation.
  • For a structure or use involving construction, installation, or alteration of plumbing facilities, a valid plumbing permit must be secured before a building permit issues.

  “plumbing and sewage disposal systems shall be installed only after a plumbing permit has been obtained.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  CEO permits under Levant's Land Use Ordinance.

  • CEO action is due within seven days after filing.
  • If Planning Board approval is needed, the CEO must notify the applicant in writing and explain that process.
  • If Planning Board approval is not needed, the CEO reviews applicable performance standards and issues or denies the permit.

  CEO action period: <= 7 days (Measured from filing of a CEO-permit application.)

  “any person requiring a ceo permit shall file an application with the code enforcement officer. within seven (7) days of the filing of an application for a ceo permit, the code enforcement officer shall act on the application.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Levant town limits.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Levant town limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Principal dwellings inside Levant town limits.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Levant town limits.
• Building height — Buildings inside Levant town limits.

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 Levant 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.

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.