1 of 19

SPEAKER FECTEAU

Lifelong Maine Conference

June 1, 2026

HOUSING IN MAINE

Unlocking Housing Opportunities

1

2 of 19

THIS MORNING:

    • HOUSING POLICY IN MAINE
    • ADVOCACY AND ENGAGEMENT
    • Q&A

2

3 of 19

MAINE NEEDS

84K HOUSING UNITS

BY 2030

MAINE NEEDS

25,000 NEW WORKERS

BY 2035

THE HOUSING CRISIS IS IMPACTING MAINE’S ECONOMIC GROWTH

3

4 of 19

IN 2023, ABOUT 4,800 HOMES WERE BEING PERMITTED PER YEAR IN MAINE.

​

TO MEET BOTH CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS BY 2030, MAINE NEEDS TO DOUBLE THAT- ADDING 8,500 TO 9,300 HOMES EACH YEAR.

CURRENT HOUSING PRODUCTION

4

5 of 19

WHAT DOES LD 1829 DO?

GIVES MUNICIPALITIES AND PROPERTY OWNERS MORE CLARITY REGARDING ADDITIONAL UNITS ALLOWED ON A LOT

STREAMLINES REVIEW FOR

PROJECTS WITH 4 UNITS OR FEWER

UNLOCKS FINANCING FOR CONSTRUCTION

ADJUSTS MINIMUM LOT SIZES IN

CERTAIN AREAS

LIGHT-TOUCH DENSITY

5

6 of 19

IN GROWTH AREAS AND/OR LOTS WITH PUBLIC SEWER AND WATER, LD 1829 WILL:

REDUCE MINIMUM LOT SIZES

STREAMLINE PROJECT REVIEW

6

7 of 19

FOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS, LD 1829:

X

REMOVED SPRINKLER REQUIREMENT

REMOVED ANY OWNER OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS,

UNLOCKING FINANCING

7

8 of 19

CREATES PARITY IN HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ACROSS MUNICIPALITIES

SIMPLIFIES ZONING REGULATION TO CREATE A COMMON STANDARD WITHIN GROWTH AREAS

8

9 of 19

LD 2173 SPONSORED BY REP. COLLAMORE

​

CORRECTED ERRORS IN THE DRAFTING OF LD 1829, INCLUDING 5,000 SQ FT LOTS OUTSIDE OF GROWTH AREAS SERVED BY PUBLIC WATER/SEWER

​

ADDED NEW PROVISIONS BASED ON CONTINUED MUNICIPAL FEEDBACK, INCLUDING REWORKING GROWTH GAPS IN GROWTH AREAS

FURTHER REFINEMENTS

IN THE SECOND SESSION

9

10 of 19

LD 2173...

    • DELAYS THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF ZONING AND DENSITY CHANGES IN LD 1829 UNTIL JULY 1, 2027, ALLOWING MUNICIPALITIES MORE TIME FOR PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION.

​

    • CLARIFIES CHANGES IN LD 1829 THAT ALLOW FOR INCREASED GROWTH IN AREAS WITH PUBLIC WATER AND SEWER, DEFINING PUBLIC SEWER SYSTEM AND ENSURING THAT ONLY AREAS WITH THE APPROPRIATE INFRASTRUCTURE ARE SUBJECT TO THE INCREASED DENSITY REQUIREMENTS.

10

11 of 19

LD 2173...

​

    • LIMITS THE RESTRICTIONS ON GROWTH IN DESIGNATED GROWTH AREAS, RATHER THAN ELIMINATING THE ABILITY FOR MUNICIPALITIES TO CONTROL GROWTH ALTOGETHER.

​

    • CHANGES THE HISTORICAL BASELINE USED FOR GROWTH CALCULATIONS FROM 5 YEARS TO 10 YEARS.

11

12 of 19

IF YOUR LOT IS AT LEAST 5,000 SQ FT

AND IS LOCATED IN A GROWTH AREA WITH PUBLIC WATER & SEWER

YOU CAN BUILD UP TO 4 UNITS

DENSITY IN REAL LIFE

4-unit in Bath, ME

12

13 of 19

SINGLE FAMILY WITH ADU

DUPLEX

SINGLE FAMILY

EAGLE LAKE ROAD, BAR HARBOR

13

14 of 19

TOWNS STILL RETAIN SIGNIFICANT DISCRETION WITH REQUIREMENTS

SUCH AS:

    • SETBACKS
    • HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS
    • HISTORICAL REQUIREMENTS
    • DESIGN STANDARDS
    • LOT COVERAGE

14

15 of 19

STAKEHOLDER INPUT

BOTH LAWS WERE DEVELOPED WITH INPUT FROM PLANNERS,

WHO ARE THE EXPERTS.

THE LAWS WERE TWEAKED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PLANNING COMMUNITY, INCLUDING GROWSMART MAINE.

15

16 of 19

HERE’S THE DEAL

POLLING SUGGESTS HOUSING REMAINS THE TOP ISSUE FOR MAINERS.

​

MAINE’S HOUSING CONTINUES TO BE EXPENSIVE AND OUT OF REACH. MAINE’S YEAR-OVER-YEAR GROWTH IN THE PRICE INDEX INCREASED BY 5.1% IN 2025,

8TH HIGHEST IN THE NATION.

​

HOUSING IS TIED TO INFLATION. MINNEAPOLIS IS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES IN THE U.S. TO TACKLE INFLATION AND IT JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE A CITY WITH A HOUSING BOOM. ECONOMISTS HAVE LINKED THEIR SUCCESS IN BRINGING INFLATION BELOW 2% TO HOUSING CREATION.

16

17 of 19

17

18 of 19

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO ADVOCATE ON THE ISSUES YOU CARE ABOUT:

    • CALL OR EMAIL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR
    • VISIT THE STATE HOUSE ON A SESSION DAY
    • TESTIFY IN A COMMITTEE - SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY OR TESTIFY IN PERSON OR ON ZOOM
    • CONNECT WITH ADVOCACY GROUPS

GETTING INVOLVED

18

19 of 19

THANK YOU & QUESTIONS

RYAN.FECTEAU@LEGISLATURE.MAINE.GOV

207-287-1300

19