Maine Tiny House Builders

Maine has its own set of building and zoning laws specifically for tiny houses. Tiny house building laws in the state changed substantially on March 18, 2020, when LD 1981, An Act Regarding the Regulation of Tiny Homes, was passed.

This law was made possible by the Secretary of State’s office, which thought the current statute should be updated to include the regulation of Tiny Houses On Wheels — a huge win for the tiny community! You can read testimonies from the legal hearing on your own to learn more.

The specifics outlined in this new law apply to tiny houses on wheels only, so let’s unpack what the law says and what that means for you as a tiny homeowner.

Are Tiny Houses On Wheels Legal In Maine?

Yes. The Tiny House Building Laws in Maine define a Tiny House On Wheels in Section 80-C of LD 1981, as “a living space permanently constructed on a frame or chassis and designed for use as permanent living quarters.” This class does not include trailers, semitrailers, camp trailers, recreational vehicles, or manufactured housing.

These are the rules and regulations that the state outlines for tiny houses on wheels in Maine:

• The tiny house cannot exceed 400 square feet in size.
• The tiny house cannot exceed dimensions allowed for operation on a public way under this title.
• The tiny house cannot exceed 45 feet in length.
• The maximum overall length of a combination of vehicles may not exceed 65 feet unless otherwise permitted by law (like a car pulling your THOWs).
• The tiny house must be a vehicle without motive power.
• The tiny house must comply with American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard A119.5 on plumbing, propane, fire, and life safety and construction or National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard 1192 on plumbing, propane, and fire and life safety for recreational vehicles.

How Do I Make My Tiny House On Wheels Legal In Maine?

In the March 2020 addendum, details for getting your tiny home on wheels certified are listed. A fee of $100 must be paid to the Secretary of State for a certificate claiming the title of your tiny home. These requirements apply to tiny homes that were:

• Sold before January 1, 2020, or
• Model year 2019 or older

Here’s what you need to know to make your tiny house on wheels legal in the state of Maine:

For new tiny houses:

• An application for a tiny home must be submitted to the Secretary of State by the retail seller.
• If the tiny home is purchased new out of state, the application must be submitted by the lien holder or the owner.
• The application must be accompanied by the manufacturer’s certificate of origin.

For used tiny houses:

• An application for a used tiny home must be submitted by the retail seller.
• In the absence of a retail seller located in this state, the application must be submitted by the lienholder.
• In the absence of a retail seller and a lienholder, the application must be submitted by the owner.
• The application must be accompanied by any previous State of Maine certificate of title.

Are Tiny Houses On Foundation Legal In Maine?

In June of 2021, Gov. Janet Mills signed a new law that gave tiny houses the same status as any other single-family dwelling in the state. This puts tiny homes on equal footing with traditional residences and subject to the same zoning and code requirements.

Additionally, in 2018, the International Residential Code (IRC) added Appendix Q to specifically define a tiny house on foundation and loosen up most of the building code regulations that were preventing their construction. Appendix Q legalizes the following in traditional dwellings:

• Addition of lofts
• Lowered minimum ceiling height
• Stairs and ladders

Of course, states have the individual freedom to override the rules set by the IRC and create their own regulations. Defer to Maine’s laws about traditional single-dwelling units to make informed decisions about your tiny house on foundation.

Maine’s Section R401 of the Residential Building Codes outline the requirements for traditional homes. The laws I felt were worth noting for the tiny community are as follows:

• Habitable rooms shall have a floor area of not less than 70 square feet with the exception of the kitchen.
• Habitable rooms shall be not less than 7 feet (2134 mm) in any horizontal dimension with the exception of the kitchen.
• Buildings should have no more than two floors and a roof.
• The interior basement and foundation walls should be constructed at intervals not exceeding 50 feet (15 240 mm).
• Access shall be provided to all under-floor spaces. Access openings through the floor shall be a minimum of 18 inches by 24 inches (457 mm by 610 mm).
• Habitable space, hallways and portions of basements containing these spaces shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet (2134 mm).
• Bathrooms, toilet rooms and laundry rooms shall have a ceiling height of not less than 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm).
• Each dwelling unit shall be provided with a kitchen area and every kitchen area shall be provided with a sink.
• Bathtub and shower floors and walls above bathtubs with installed shower heads and in shower compartments shall be finished with a nonabsorbent surface. Such wall surfaces shall extend to a height of not less than 6 feet (1829 mm) above the floor.
• Solar thermal systems shall be designed and installed in accordance the International Fire Code.

Tiny House Laws in Key Maine Counties And Cities: Local Zoning Ordinances

The coastal state of Maine is made up of 16 counties, 488 cities, towns, and villages, and 232 special districts. Each of these locales have the freedom to amend the statewide laws in any way they choose. Let’s take a closer look at the way cities and counties in Maine welcome the tiny living community!

Kennebec County, ME

The decision from Gov. Janet Mills to sign L.D. 1530 into law in June of 2021 affects most counties in Maine. Kennebec County, Augusta, in particular, was especially elated by the change.

As aforementioned, the law defines what a tiny home is and gives them the same status as traditional single-family dwellings. This law took effect in September of 2021, making it easier for people to live in tiny homes as their primary place of residence.

Under the bill’s definition, a tiny home is defined as a dwelling that is no more than 400 square feet in size and is built on either a standard foundation or wheeled platform towable by a vehicle. Similarly to statewide mandates, semitrailers, camp trailers, recreational vehicles, or manufactured housing do not fall in this category.

Caribou, ME

Caribou, Maine, has recently become more tiny-house friendly. In November of 2021, councilors unanimously approved Caribou resident Dale Johnson’s purchase of land to use for the construction of building tiny houses.

At this time, Caribou’s zoning regulations and building laws do not specifically address tiny houses. Instead, the city follows the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code, which contains the state statute regarding tiny house construction.