QUICK FACTS:
Are Tiny Houses Legal In Maine: YES*
Tiny House Costs In Maine: $30,000 – $130,000
Tiny House Friendly Cities: Augusta, Portland, Bangor, Hampden
Maine Tiny Houses Builders
Maine is a wonderful location to adopt the tiny life, especially northern Maine. If you’re searching for a nice piece of land that’s secluded or remote, Maine is a wise place to look.
There are several local builders throughout the Pine Tree State that can help make your dream of owning a tiny house on wheels a reality. I’ve also linked some local builders from neighboring states to help you create a tiny house you love.
Tiny Homes of Maine Houlton, ME
Corinne Watson founded Tiny Homes of Maine to fulfill her dream of owning a tiny house on wheels. Like many others who love the tiny life, Corinne found herself inspired by an alternative way of living. Tiny Homes of Maine was founded on the desire to share this avant-garde, ecologically friendly, freeing lifestyle with others.
The family-owned business sold their first tiny house in 2016. Since then, Tiny Homes of Maine has been designing and building tiny homes and tiny spaces for customers in cities all across the state. The family has dreams of making tiny houses more accessible to more people. The group currently has six designs fore sale.
Tiny House Northeast Wakefield, NH
Tiny House Northeast is located in Wakefield, New Hampshire, about 50 miles west of Portland, Maine. The company sells a huge range of different products that can apply to tiny living, including the following:
- Custom tiny house floorplans
- Tiny houses on wheels
- Tiny offices and workspaces
- Tiny house RVs
- Tiny house shells
- Off-grid energy resources
- Tiny house furniture
- Trailers for tiny houses
Backcountry Tiny Homes Hampstead, NH
An entirely female-owned tiny house manufacturer in Hampstead, New Hampshire, Backcountry Tiny Homes has many available services for those who love tiny living. Backcountry is located about 87 miles south of Portland, serving customers all over New England.
The builders specialize in the design and construction of tiny houses on wheels, with five tiny house on wheel designs that are built to order. When you buy from Backcountry, you have the option of purchasing your house as a shell or turnkey model. The company also provides custom carpentry services and has an online shop for tiny house-specific items like small furniture and stairs.
Maine Trailer Hampden, ME
Located in Hampden, Maine, in the northern most region of the state, Maine Trailers serves customers primarily within the state. Hauling products are available from this trailer dealer both for rent and to purchase. You also have the option to purchase individual parts and pieces to fit your trailer’s needs.
Maine Trailers sells ATV, utility, equipment, enclosed cargo, chassis, and flatbed trailers. Equipment and flatbed are likely most conducive to your tiny house needs.
Coldbrook Trailers & Equipment Hermon, ME
Serving Bangor, Maine, and the surrounding cities, Coldbrook Trailers provides many workable options for transporting your tiny home. Its supply includes both new and used trailers, as well as individual pieces of equipment and repair services. Construction trailers are likely the best bet to hold your tiny home.
Dayton Trailer Sales Dayton, ME
Dayton Trailer Sales has three categories of hauling products for sale: Aluminum Enclosed, Aluminum Open, and Steel. It offers all kinds of models of each kind, but aluminum open is likely the best type for tiny house transportation.
Maine Tiny Houses For Sale
Maine isn’t as up with the times in terms of the tiny house craze, but there are still many reasons why you and your family or partner may want to consider living there in your own tiny house on wheels.
For one, the state is gorgeous. Maine is frequently regarded as one of the most beautiful states in the U.S. The coastal lands are filled to the brim with lush forests and dazzling lakes. It’s no mystery why “summering in Maine” is a common colloquial phrase.
With 32 majestic state parks, Maine is filled with an abundance of natural wonders that draw tourists in annually. The State maintains over 500,000 acres of protected land where you can become one with nature, hike, bike, climb, swim, or camp out with loved ones.
It is also renowned for its landmarks, historic mansions, and famous lighthouses. There are many reasons why moving to Maine in your own tiny house on wheels is worth it. Check out these listings below to kickstart your dream life in this natural oasis.
Maine is also a popular state to take a family summer vacation in. With an array of coastal beach towns that offer sun, sand, and surfing alongside natural forests and lakes for hiking and camping, Maine truly has it all.
If you’re feeling inspired to delve into the tiny living without buying your own tiny house, check out the above Airbnb listings to book your next vacation.
Joining an ecovillage or tiny house community will typically grant you access to things like shared food and resources, friendships with others who live in the community, freedom and fulfillment, and interpersonal growth.
You can even look to vacation homes to experience the fullness of tiny living with others. Check out these communities in the Down East.
Blue Hill Ecovillage
Blue Hill Cooperative Ecovillage, also known as The Farming Artists, is a co-op of, you guessed it, farmers and artists. The goal of this intentional living community is to celebrate and bring awareness to the importance of living in tandem with the natural rhythms of our world. They hope that their community will be a space where individuals can come together to learn and share their talents and visions with one another.
The village is located about 45 minutes from Acadia National Park in Blue Hill, Maine. They live on a 133-acre farm property that has been in one family for five generations. The property includes single-family homes, multi-family homes, tiny houses, yurts, tee-pees, domes, treehouses, and tents for members. Common facilities that the whole community has access to include:
- Common house
- Garden
- Greenhouse
- Workshops
- Outbuildings
- Swimming pool
- Outdoor kitchen
- Tractor and farm equipment
- Fire pit
- Swing sets and play areas
The requirements for memberships are moderately complex, but more information about joining Blue Hill can be assessed on their group Facebook page.
Skyline Ridge Vacation Rentals
Skyline Ridge is a vacation rental property in the mountains of Maine, with several tiny homes for rent. The property is near the tiny town of Andover, where two state highways meet. If you drive an additional 3 miles north of town, you drive off the pavement, and are met with a babbling brook and endless mountain views. The top of Skyline Ridge sits at the end of a gravel road in the middle of a beautiful birch forest.
Choosing to vacation in a tiny house village breeds camaraderie as well as opportunity. Skyline Ridge offers many activities to its guests like hunting, fishing, skiing, hiking, and more. The property holds thousands of acres of forest, trails, streams, and beautiful secret waterfalls. The Appalachian Trail is just 2 miles north of the most popular rentals.
The Mountain Village Tiny House rental is a common pick with its mountain overlook, a private playground, camp fire pit, hammock, and vast mountain views. See their main website to inquire about booking a vacation for you and your family.
If you aren’t ready to buy your own tiny home quite yet but are still looking to learn more about the tiny houser social community in Maine, it might be worth your while to check out some of these groups. Social groups are key for helping you to connect with others and learn what tiny living is truly about.
The tiny living community goes beyond the mere size of your home. The tiny life can be about so much more, like homesteading, gardening, and minimalist habits. Check out these social groups that tap into the heart of the tiny life.
Tiny House Peeps Of Southern Maine
Tiny House Peeps of Southern Maine is a small Facebook group of about 900 tiny house enthusiasts. This page is a place where tiny house lovers in the southern region of the state can ask questions, swap stories, and bond over their love of tiny living through posts, photos, and conversations.
Maine Homesteading
The natural coastal landscape of the state makes it a unique and challenging place to raise livestock and engage in farm life. The Maine Homesteading Facebook group is a great place to discuss the challenge with others who have similar homesteading goals.
Members of this group engage in conversations about raising chickens and other farm animals, canning and gardening, and all other topics related to homesteading. When you join the Maine Homesteading Group, you are free to share stories, photos, and questions with the group.
Worchester Growers Meetup Group
The Worchester Growers Meetup Group is a virtual gardening club based in Worchester, Maine. These gardening enthusiasts meet via livestream every Thursday from 6–8 p.m. EST to talk about all things gardening centric. Topics might include best indoor and outdoor gardening practices, the difference between medicinal and recreational gardening, propagation, and more. Worchester Growers also hosts free weekly virtual workshops for anyone who loves gardening and wants to learn more.
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:
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.
Tiny House Building Codes In Maine:
Tiny House Laws In Maine:
*Disclaimer: The information provided on this website should not be taken as an expert opinion, consultation, or advisement of any kind. Building codes, home building, zoning, local laws etc are complicated and ultimately your responsibility to execute legally and safely. You must do your own research, consult with and verify with all applicable authorities, local officials, regulatory bodies, code and zoning officials, and city/state/federal governments. See our full legal page for further information here: https://thetinylife.com/about-us/legal/
So much good info here! The only thing not addressed is where to place your tiny home, if you don’t buy land and its on wheels.