Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Richmond, Maine
Town of Richmond is a town in Sagadahoc County, Maine. Town of Richmond adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Town of Richmond’s rules apply, not the county’s. Septic permits inside Town of Richmond come from Town of Richmond. 10 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on October 29, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Sagadahoc County page.
Answers from the rulebook for Town of Richmond
Town of Richmond’s own rules
Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)
Construction subject to Richmond Code Enforcement inside Richmond town limits.
The Town's Code Enforcement page identifies the 2015 International Residential Code and 2015 International Building Code as its building codes.
“2015 International Residential Code 2015 International Building Code”
InspectionsLimited
Projects using the Town of Richmond building-permit application inside Richmond town limits.
The applicant's signature authorizes inspections necessary to issue the permit and ensure compliance.
“Signing authorizes inspections necessary”
Local zoningPresent (with conditions)
Land inside Richmond town limits.
Land-use approvals are administered under the Town of Richmond Land Use Ordinance and zoning regulations.
“Land Use Ordinance & Zoning Regulations Reference Sheet [...] Town of Richmond's Land Use Ordinance:”
Zoning districtsPartial
Zoning referenced in Richmond building-permit applications inside Richmond town limits.
The opened application identifies special zones including Shoreland, Resource Protection, Highway Commercial, and Main Street Commercial-Industrial, but it was not a complete zoning-district schedule.
“Shoreland Resource Protection Highway Commercial Main Street Commercial-Industrial”
SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)
Structures submitted on Richmond's building-permit application inside Richmond town limits.
Side and rear setbacks have a stated minimum of 10 feet.
Front setback is determined by district.
The plot plan must include all setback distances from property boundaries, roads, streets, and rights-of-way.
side setback: >= 10 feet · rear setback: >= 10 feet · front setback: determined by district
“Side and rear have a minimum setback of 10 feet”
Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)
Subsurface wastewater disposal systems inside Richmond town limits.
The Richmond Code Enforcement Officer is also the Plumbing Inspector; the replacement-tank application is issued through the Local Plumbing Inspector under Maine Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules.
Installation of a subsurface wastewater disposal system inside Richmond town limits.
Permit must be issued by the Local Plumbing Inspector before installation.
The permit authorizes installation in accordance with the application and Maine Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules.
“may not be installed until a permit is issued by the Local Plumbing Inspector.”
Driveway accessLimited
Entrances connecting private property to a public way, state highway, or state-aid highway inside Richmond town limits.
Submit the completed application and permit fee to Richmond Public Works.
Applicant must pay $250 before issuance and purchase the first culvert.
Applicant must notify Public Works at least 24 hours before beginning entrance work.
A sketch or blueprint is required as part of the application.
The entrance location and construction must meet the included entrance standards.
entrance permit payment: 250 USD (Must be paid before issuance; applicant must purchase the first culvert.) · notice before work: >= 24 hours
“The Applicant is required to make a payment of $250.00, prior to the issuance of this permit.”
Permit feesPublished (with conditions)
Code Enforcement permits inside Richmond town limits.
The fee schedule states an effective date of November 8, 2007 and a revision date of January 6, 2016.
Shoreland-zone structures add $50 to the regular fee.
An after-the-fact permit is double the original permit fee.
minimum building permit application fee: 20 USD · new residential home fee: per 0.12 USD per square foot · shoreland-zone surcharge: 50 USD (Added to regular fee.)
“Minimum Building Permit Fee (application fee) $20.00”
Permit processPublished (with conditions)
Building-permit applications inside Richmond town limits.
The Town publishes building-permit application instructions and a building-permit application.
The application states that additional permits or approvals may be required, including plumbing, septic/HHE200, driveway, planning-board, shoreland, DEP, fire-marshal, board-of-appeals, and Army Corps of Engineers approvals.
“Building Permit Application Instructions”
Still unanswered
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Richmond or Sagadahoc County directly.
Building permit — Residential construction inside Richmond town limits.
Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Richmond town limits.
Certificate of occupancy — New or altered residential structures inside Richmond town limits.
Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Richmond town limits.
Minimum lot size — Lots inside Richmond town limits.
14 more unanswered
Lot coverage
Building height
Living in an RV
Camping on your land
Tiny homes
Manufactured homes
Accessory dwellings
Off-grid sanitation
Well permit
Mandatory utility hookup
Agricultural exemption
Subdividing land
Building in a floodplain
Short-term rentals
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 Richmond publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Sagadahoc County’s page lists the county offices to call.
Off-grid gear
Going off-grid in Town of Richmond means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
