Bolthole Index

York County, Maine

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

Town of Buxton is a town in York County, Maine. Town of Buxton adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Town of Buxton’s rules apply, not the county’s. 17 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on October 29, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the York County page.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Buxton

Town of Buxton’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction regulated by Buxton Code Enforcement inside town limits.

    • Town states enforcement began April 7, 2025.
    • Town identifies the updated MUBEC as the 2021 IRC, IBC, and IECC.
    “Effective beginning April 7, 2025 the Town of Buxton will be enforcing the newly amended Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (MUBEC).”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction inside Buxton.

    • Town asks for at least 24-hour advance notice.
    • Required inspections listed by the town include footings, foundations, framing, electrical, plumbing, external wastewater disposal, and final inspection before occupancy.
    “The Following Inspections are Required: - Footings inspected prior to pouring the cement.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New buildings, additions, relocated or altered buildings, and newly established uses inside Buxton.

    • CEO examines the work after notification by owner or agent.
    • Temporary certificate may be issued for six months where occupancy will not jeopardize health, life, or property; renewal needs reasonable cause.
    “No new building or addition shall be occupied after its construction, alteration or relocation, nor shall a new use be established in an existing building until a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued by the Code Enforcement Officer.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    All land and structures inside Buxton town limits.

    “The provisions of this ordinance shall govern all land and structures within the boundaries of the Town of Buxton, Maine.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts within Buxton town limits.

    • The official Buxton Zoning Map held in the Town Clerk’s office is the final authority on current district boundaries.
    “To implement the provisions of the Ordinance, the Town of Buxton is hereby divided into the following districts as defined in Article 9:”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational-vehicle occupancy in a campground inside Buxton.

    • A continuing camping-space occupancy is limited to 12 weeks from May 15 through September 15 and two weeks at other times.
    • This claim does not establish rules for an RV on other private land.
    “A time limit is placed on the occupancy of any one camping space on a continuing basis as follows: Twelve weeks for the period May 15 to September 15 of each year and two weeks for all other time.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Tent or camping-unit occupancy in a campground inside Buxton.

    • A continuing camping-space occupancy is limited to 12 weeks from May 15 through September 15 and two weeks at other times.
    • This claim does not establish rules for temporary camping on other private land.
    “A time limit is placed on the occupancy of any one camping space on a continuing basis as follows: Twelve weeks for the period May 15 to September 15 of each year and two weeks for all other time.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units in zoning districts where residential uses are permitted inside Buxton.

    • No more than one ADU is permitted on a lot containing one or more single-family dwelling units.
    • An ADU meeting §11.23 is not counted for the listed lot-size, access-to-lot, subdivision, and cluster-density calculations; a noncomplying ADU is a dwelling unit and must meet single-family standards.

    ADUs per qualifying lot: <= 1 (Lot contains one or more single-family dwelling units)

    “The ADU must be located in a zoning district where residential uses are permitted. No more than one ADU shall be permitted on a lot containing one or more single family dwelling units.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    External wastewater disposal systems associated with construction inside Buxton.

    • Two inspections are required: pre-bed and final inspection before backfilling.
    “External Wastewater Disposal Systems, Two inspections are required: Pre-bed inspection Final inspection (prior to backfilling)”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Land and buildings proposed for subdivision, as defined by the ordinance, inside Buxton.

    • Submissions go through the Code Enforcement Office.
    • Applicants are placed on the agenda by date of receipt of a complete submission meeting the applicable review stage.
    “The provisions of these standards shall pertain to all the land and buildings proposed for subdivision, as defined under Article 2, within the boundaries of the Town of Buxton.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Code Enforcement and Planning Board applications inside Buxton.

    • Fee schedule effective October 8, 2025.
    • Select Board may reduce a fee in its sole discretion; CEO, Planning Board, or Board of Appeals may assess an additional actual-cost review fee.

    minimum building-permit fee: 50 USD · new residential living finished floor area fee: per 1 USD per square foot

    “Effective October 8, 2025 BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION FEES Minimum Fee .............................................................................................................................. $50.00”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications inside Buxton.

    • Applications must include engineered floor plans and drawings showing lot lines and proposed/existing structure size and location; other listed features must be shown where applicable.
    • CEO must approve or deny a complete application within ten working days.
    • Work must commence within six months; renewal is required if not completed within 18 months and is subject to application and fees.

    CEO decision period after complete application: <= 10 working days

    “The Code Enforcement Officer shall approve or deny an application for a permit within ten working days of receipt of a complete application.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Buxton

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

  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family dwellings in Buxton Residential (Res) District.

    • Figure is a minimum requirement.
    • Table footnote identifies the residential figure as per dwelling unit and states minimum lot size/buildable area does not apply to an ADU constructed under §11.23.

    minimum single-family lot size: >= 120000 square feet (Per dwelling unit; ADU exception in Table A footnote)

    “Single Family 80,000(2) 120,000(2) 200,000(2) n/a 80,000(2)”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Structures in Buxton Residential (Res) District.

    • All Table A figures are minimum requirements.
    • Table notes contain exceptions for nonconforming lots and accessory buildings that were not fully extracted in this bounded review.

    front yard: >= 40 feet · side yard: >= 30 feet · rear yard: >= 30 feet

    “Front Yard(ft) 40 40 50 40 40 Side Yard(ft)(3) (4) (5) 20 30 50 20 20 Rear Yard(ft)(4) (5) 20 30 50 20 20”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction or other development within Buxton’s designated special flood-hazard areas.

    • Includes placement of manufactured homes.
    • Flood Hazard Development Permit is in addition to other Town permits.
    • Designated zones are A and AE in the FEMA study and map dated July 17, 2024, as amended.

    application fee: 25 USD (Additional expert fee may be charged under §14.4)

    “Before any construction or other development (as defined in Article 2 of this ordinance), including the placement of manufactured homes, begins within any areas of special flood hazard established in Section 14.1, a Flood Hazard Development Permit shall be obtained from the Code Enforcement Officer.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Buxton.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Ordinary single-family dwellings inside Buxton.
  • Lot coverage — Land inside Buxton town limits.
  • Building height — Ordinary structures inside Buxton town limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Buxton.
6 more unanswered
  • Septic permit
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • 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 Buxton publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. York County’s page lists the county offices to call.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Buxton means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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