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

Town of Georgetown’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New or relocated principal structures and accessory structures inside Georgetown town, Maine.

  • Planning Board permits are required for new or relocated principal structures.
  • CEO permits are required for new or relocated accessory structures.
  • The checklist separately lists expansion, demolition, signs, and other project categories.

  “Planning Board Permits are required for the following: • the construction or placement of any new or relocated principal structure, Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), or tiny home; [...] Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) Permits are required for the following: • The construction or placement of any new or relocated accessory structure”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Georgetown town, Maine, including land subject to the Town's Shoreland Zoning Ordinance.

  • The ordinance index identifies the ordinance as the Town's "Shoreland Zoning Ordinance 2026."

  “Minimum Lot Size Ordinance 2026 [...] Shoreland Zoning Ordinance 2026”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  The Shoreland and Resource Protection zones identified in Georgetown's building-permit process.

  • Applicants in the Shoreland or Resource Protection Zone must check the applicable permit-application boxes.
  • The source directs applicants to the Georgetown Shoreland Zone Map; it does not furnish the full zoning-district schedule.

  “If you are in the Shoreland or Resource Protection Zone, you will check the appropriate boxes. If you do not know, you can reference the Georgetown Shoreland Zone Map.”

• Tiny homesLimited

  Construction or placement of a new or relocated tiny home inside Georgetown town, Maine.

  • A Planning Board permit is required for construction or placement of a new or relocated tiny home.

  “Planning Board Permits are required for the following: • the construction or placement of any new or relocated principal structure, Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), or tiny home;”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Construction or placement of a new or relocated accessory dwelling unit inside Georgetown town, Maine.

  • A Planning Board permit is required for construction or placement of a new or relocated ADU.

  “Planning Board Permits are required for the following: • the construction or placement of any new or relocated principal structure, Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), or tiny home;”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  New or replacement subsurface wastewater systems, holding tanks, and overboard discharge serving land inside Georgetown town, Maine.

  • The Town checklist directs applicants to obtain the permit from the Local Plumbing Inspector.
  • The checklist identifies the Georgetown Codes Enforcement Officer/Local Plumbing Inspector as the local contact.

  “If it is a new or replacement system, a permit must be obtained from the Local Plumbing Inspector.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New or replacement septic systems inside Georgetown town, Maine.

  • Permit must be obtained from the Local Plumbing Inspector for a new or replacement system.
  • For an existing structure expanding bedrooms without septic alteration, the original sewage-disposal permit copy is required.

  “Copy of sewage disposal permit (if required): This is for complete septic systems, holding tanks, and overboard discharge. If it is a new or replacement system, a permit must be obtained from the Local Plumbing Inspector.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Georgetown town, Maine.

  • The Town's official ordinance index identifies a "Subdivision Ordinance 2026." Specific review thresholds and standards require the ordinance text.

  “Shoreland Zoning Ordinance 2026 [...] Small Wind Powered Energy Systems Ordinance 2024 [...] Subdivision Ordinance 2026”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Municipal permit applications inside Georgetown town, Maine.

  • The Select Board adopted a fee schedule revised June 2026.
  • The forms page directs applicants to call for the total HHE-200 and HHE-211 fee.

  “The Select Board has adopted a new schedule of fees: Fee Schedule – Revised June 2026”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building and plumbing permits inside Georgetown town, Maine.

  • A completed permit may be emailed, mailed, or delivered at Town Hall.
  • The CEO reviews for compliance and completeness and may arrange a Planning Board meeting.

  “Once a permit has been completed, you can email, mail, or drop off at the Town Hall. The Codes Enforcement Officer (CEO) will review for compliance and completeness. The CEO will contact the applicant with any questions and arrangements for attending the Planning Board meeting if applicable.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Georgetown town, Maine.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Georgetown town, Maine.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Georgetown town, Maine.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of dwellings inside Georgetown town, Maine.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Georgetown town, Maine.

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 Georgetown 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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