Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine

Town of Dover-Foxcroft’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Development inside Dover-Foxcroft town limits that is not an allowed use under the LUO's permit exemptions

  • Permits are not required for an allowed use unless the use entails an activity listed in LUO section 5.2.1, or is otherwise required by the MUBEC.
  • Section 5.2.1 includes internal plumbing and subsurface wastewater systems, road and driveway construction, floodplain development, subdivision and shoreland activities.
  • The residential building permit packet is the town form for residential building permits.

  “b. the installation or construction of a dwelling unit, mobile home, or manufactured home.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building construction inside Dover-Foxcroft town limits

  • The town enforces the state-mandated Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (MUBEC) through its code enforcement office.

  “the town of dover-foxcroft has been mandated by the state of maine to enforce the maine uniform building and energy code (mubec).”

• InspectionsRequired

  Most land use permit applications inside Dover-Foxcroft town limits

  • The owner must arrange a state-licensed third-party inspector who signs off on the work.
  • The sentence applies to most land use permits, so some exempt activities may not need it.

  “before issuance of most land use permits, the land use application must be accompanied by a letter of authorization to proceed from a state-licensed third-party inspector.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Dover-Foxcroft town limits: the town's own Land Use Ordinance (LUO) repealed and replaced the 2009 land use ordinance, which had superseded a 1973 zoning ordinance.

  • LUO may be amended by majority vote of citizens (section 1.8).
  • A separate town shoreland zoning ordinance also applies.

  “this ordinance adopted on november 6, 2018 repeals and replaces the town of dover-foxcroft land use ordinance enacted on june 8, 2009”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land use districts inside Dover-Foxcroft town limits

  • The district boundaries are shown on the official land use district map referenced in LUO section 2.2; the map itself was not opened.
  • Districts include growth districts (downtown, commercial, hamlet, village, light industrial, industrial) and rural districts (rural residential, farm and forest), per the Table 2.6.1 header.

  “table 2.6.1 dimensional requirements 9 (amended 2024) growth districts light village industrial industrial 1 downtown commercial hamlet rural districts rural farm 8 residential forest 8 minimum lot area 1”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Recreational vehicles used as a dwelling on land inside Dover-Foxcroft town limits

  • Any recreational vehicle in use more than 60 days in one year must be stationed at a campground, or when not in use stored on the owner's premises.

  maximum RV use on private premises: <= 60 days per year (Stay limit before the vehicle must be at a campground)

  “a recreational vehicle shall not be used as a mobile home or a temporary or permanent dwelling.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile and manufactured homes used as dwellings inside Dover-Foxcroft town limits

  • A mobile home may only be used as a dwelling, and mobile home use on construction sites is a special permit by the CEO.
  • An older mobile home may not be moved into the town from outside it, and may be relocated only if it meets the safety standards in section 8.7.7.
  • Mobile home parks are regulated under section 8.8; lot-size rules differ for park lots served by public sewer, central on-site or individual on-site systems.
  • Which districts allow mobile homes was not confirmed from table 2.5.1.

  “a. an older mobile home shall not be moved into the town from a location outside of the town.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of a subsurface wastewater system on land inside Dover-Foxcroft town limits

  • Section 5.2.1 of the LUO lists subsurface wastewater installation as an activity requiring a permit, so an exemption under 5.2.2 does not apply.
  • Quantities, fees and state plumbing-code details were not extracted.

  “i. the installation of internal plumbing and subsurface wastewater systems.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Any division of land inside Dover-Foxcroft town limits

  • Subdivisions are reviewed under the town's separate subdivision ordinance, referenced in LUO 5.2.1(m).
  • Subdivision ordinance text (June 2024) was not opened.

  “m. any subdivision of land or structures pursuant to this ordinance or the town of dover-foxcroft subdivision ordinance.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Construction or enlargement of a driveway or entrance inside Dover-Foxcroft town limits

  • A permit is required under LUO 5.2.1(n) for road, driveway and entrance construction.
  • State highway openings use a separate form (DOT highway opening).

  “n. the construction or enlargement of a road, driveway, entrance way and associated drainage features such as culverts, basins and similar features.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development within the regulated floodplain inside Dover-Foxcroft town limits

  • Development in the regulated floodplain must comply with the separate town floodplain ordinance.
  • Floodplain ordinance text was not opened.

  “j. any development within the regulated floodplain pursuant to the floodplain ordinance.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Residential building permits issued by the Dover-Foxcroft code enforcement office

  • After-the-fact permits are charged double fees (packet).
  • The packet's form date is 8/16/2019; current fees must be confirmed with the code enforcement office.
  • The land use form lists other fees (for example shoreland zoning permit $15, flood permit $15, site plan review $55/$110/$250) that were not separately verified.

  residential building permit fee: 1-100 sq ft $15; 101-500 sq ft $30; 501-1000 sq ft $55; 1001-2000 sq ft $100; 2001-4000 sq ft $250; 4001 sq ft and greater $500 USD (Fee schedule per packet form dated 8/16/2019)

  “1-100 square feet - $15 1001-2000 square feet - $100 101-500 square feet - $30 2001-4000 square feet - $250 501-1000 square feet -$55 4001 square feet and greater - $500”

• Permit processPartial

  Land use and building permit applications to the Dover-Foxcroft code enforcement officer

  • Applicant must show the proposed activity conforms with the LUO; the application is complete only when all sections are filled, including forms noted on it.
  • Office at 48 Morton Avenue, Suite A, Dover-Foxcroft; phone 207-564-3318.
  • Inspections by the CEO at reasonable hours are a condition of the application.

  “a permit will be issued only if the application is deemed complete, has been reviewed, and fully complies with all the provisions of the luo.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Dover-Foxcroft or Piscataquis County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-occupant building of a home inside Dover-Foxcroft town limits
• Certificate of occupancy — New dwellings inside Dover-Foxcroft town limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area for a dwelling inside Dover-Foxcroft town limits
• Camping on your land — Tent or temporary camping on private land inside Dover-Foxcroft town limits
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes used as dwellings inside Dover-Foxcroft 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.