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

Town of Canaan’s own rules

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Septic system design and plumbing permits for land inside Canaan town (Somerset County, ME, ZIP 04924). Applications are taken at the Canaan Town Office, 277 Main Street, and approved by the town's code enforcement/plumbing inspector.

  • The Town Office page lists the plumbing inspector's approval and fees; the statewide Subsurface Wastewater rules and HHE-200/HHE-211 forms were not separately opened.
  • Town Office hours and the inspector's name are as stated on the town page and may be out of date.

  “please provide 3 signed copies at the time of submitting applications to the town office for code enforcement/plumbing inspector charlie worcester's approval”

• Septic permitRequired

  New septic systems (and replacement systems) installed on land inside Canaan town

  • Permit is issued by the Town's code enforcement/plumbing inspector after the application, signed copies, and the fee are submitted at the Town Office.
  • Required fees are listed separately by system type (see permit fee claims).

  “for a new septic system, you or your contractor will need to complete an hhe-200 form”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development, including placement of manufactured homes, inside the areas of special flood hazard mapped for Canaan town (FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map dated September 27th, 1985, adopted by the ordinance)

  • Permit is issued by the Canaan Planning Board after application to the code enforcement officer.
  • The permit is in addition to any other town permits; it does not apply outside the mapped special flood hazard areas.
  • Ordinance effective date is blank in the copy reviewed.

  “a flood hazard development permit shall be obtained from the canaan planning board. this permit shall be in addition to any other permits which may be required pursuant to the codes and ordinances of the town of canaan, maine.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Septic system permit fees paid at the Canaan Town Office

  • Fees are as stated on the Town Office permits page; the page does not state an effective or revision date.
  • Replacement system fees differ from new system fees.

  new septic system permit fee: 265 USD · replacement system or replacement failure system permit fee: 250 USD · replacement system using existing tank permit fee: 150 USD · replacement tank permit fee: 150 USD · replacement system variance permit fee: 270 USD

  “new system = $265 replacement system or replacement failure system = $250 replacement system using existing tank = $150 replacement tank = $150 replacement system variance = $270”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Published (with conditions) — Interior plumbing permits for buildings inside Canaan town

    “note: fees are indicated on the application as $10 per fixture”

• Permit processPartial

  Plumbing and septic permit applications for land inside Canaan town

  • The town page publishes submission steps for plumbing and septic permits only; it does not publish a process for building permits, inspections or certificates of occupancy.
  • Applications are submitted at the Town Office, which is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 7am-5pm, Wednesday 8am-6pm; Friday closed.

  “fees are to be paid at the town office. applications are to be submitted at the town office.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — General building (structure) permits for construction inside Canaan town
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permits for work inside Canaan town
• Building code adopted — Whether Canaan town has adopted a local building code
• Inspections — Building inspections for structures inside Canaan town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings inside Canaan town

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.