Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Plantation of Highland, Maine

Plantation of Highland’s own rules

• Local zoningAbsent (with conditions)

  Land inside Highland plantation's limits: the plantation's own zoning / land use ordinance. The plantation no longer has one.

  • The plantation's comprehensive plan and land use ordinance were repealed by residents at the April 26, 2025 annual plantation meeting.
  • Zoning authority in the plantation is held by the Maine Land Use Planning Commission (see hp-local-zoning-lupc-interim-map); this claim does not mean there are no land-use rules inside the plantation.

  “at the annual plantation meeting on april 26, 2025, residents in attendance voted to repeal the comprehensive plan and land use ordinance.”

Rules another office applies inside Plantation of Highland

Plantation of Highland does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Highland plantation's limits: LUPC land use guidance map subdistricts (for example D-RS, D-GN, D-CI, M-GN) as named on the LUPC Highland Plantation zoning page.

  • The map subdistrict list and per-district standards were not fully opened; only the subdistrict names visible in the update notes are confirmed here.
  • Subdistrict rezonings of about 12 acres (D-RS to D-GN) and about 10 acres (M-GN to D-CI) were adopted February 11, 2026.

  “the changes include rezoning a total of approximately twelve (12) acres in the vicinity of the intersection of long falls dam road and sandy stream valley road from residential development (d-rs) subdistrict to general development (d-gn)”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family residential lots inside Highland plantation that use subsurface (septic) waste disposal; statewide floor under 12 M.R.S. 4807-A, not a Highland plantation dimensional standard.

  • Applies notwithstanding any other provision of state or local law or regulation.
  • If the lot abuts a lake, pond, stream, river or tidal area it must also have a minimum frontage of 100 feet on that body of water.
  • A smaller lot may be used if approved in writing by the local plumbing inspector under 12 M.R.S. 4807-B.1 and the criteria in that section are met.
  • Multiple-unit housing and other higher-waste uses need proportionally larger lots under 4807-A subsection 2.

  minimum lot size for single-family subsurface waste disposal: >= 20000 square feet (smaller lots may be approved in writing under 12 M.R.S. 4807-B) · minimum frontage on lake, pond, stream, river or tidal area: >= 100 feet (applies only where the lot abuts such a body of water)

  “unless such lot of land on which such single family residential unit is located contains at least 20,000 square feet; and if the lot abuts a lake, pond, stream, river or tidal area, it shall further have a minimum frontage of 100 feet on such body of water;”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Subsurface (septic) waste disposal on lots inside Highland plantation: state subsurface wastewater rules administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, plus a local plumbing inspector for unorganized territory approving smaller lots.

  • Smaller-than-minimum lots need written approval by the local plumbing inspector for the municipality or unorganized territory, under 12 M.R.S. 4807-B.1.
  • Subsurface disposal that does not meet 4807-B.1 criteria must comply with DHHS subsurface rules and be approved in writing by DHHS (4807-B.2).
  • Whether a specific local plumbing inspector serves Highland plantation was not confirmed from an official page.

  “a lot of less than the size required in section 4807-a may be used for subsurface waste disposal if approved in writing by the local plumbing inspector for the municipality or unorganized territory”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Review fee for approving a smaller-than-minimum lot for subsurface waste disposal inside Highland plantation (12 M.R.S. 4807-B.3). Other Highland permit fees were not found.

  • The fee is charged by DHHS or by the municipality or unorganized territory, and the statute caps it at $50.
  • Applies only to approval of smaller lots under 4807-B; not a building or septic permit fee.

  smaller-lot subsurface review fee: <= 50 USD (charged only for approval of a smaller lot under 12 M.R.S. 4807-B)

  “the department of health and human services or the municipality or unorganized territory may charge a review fee not to exceed $50.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Whether a new home in Highland plantation needs an LUPC or other building permit
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for building inside Highland plantation
• Building code adopted — Which building code applies to construction inside Highland plantation
• Inspections — Whether building inspections are required for new homes inside Highland plantation
• Certificate of occupancy — Whether a certificate of occupancy is required inside Highland plantation

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.