Legislative Tracking
Legislative Changes Fact Sheets:
The First Session of the 132nd Maine State Legislature adjourned in June. As with other recent sessions, we have seen an increase in land use and planning related legislation that have implications for local zoning and regulations.
KVCOG’s counterparts at the Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission (SMPDC) created the following fact sheets to detail some of the major changes in legislation over the 132nd Legislature's first session.
Key Legislative Changes
Below are three new laws enacted in this most recent legislative session that have direct impacts on local zoning ordinances.
- L.D. 1829 An Act to Build Housing for Maine Families and Attract Workers to Maine Businesses by Amending the Laws Governing Housing Density
- This "omnibus" bill includes several requirements regarding housing density allowances, accessory dwelling units, growth caps, and more. It requires that municipalities bring their local ordinances into compliance by deadlines dependent on your form of government.
- L.D. 427 An Act to Regulate Municipal Parking Space Minimums
- This new statute limits municipal parking requirements to one spot per dwelling unit.
- L.D. 997 An Act to Allow Residential Use Development in Commercial Districts
- As it's title suggests, this bill requires ordinances to allow residential use in areas currently zoned for commercial use.
As some of these are more complicated than other, they are broken down with major changes detailed in the factsheets below.
SMPDC also held an informational webinar with the following presentation slides. The webinar was recorded, and a link is also below.
If anyone has any questions, please reach out to any of KVCOG’s planning team.