Source: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/38/title38sec439-A.html
Timestamp: 2014-08-28 03:06:02
Document Index: 589681609

Matched Legal Cases: ['§439', '§439', '§439', '§439', '§439', '§439', '§7', '§5', '§40', '§47', '§6', '§8', '§8', '§8', '§8', '§8', '§9', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§21', '§2', '§10', '§21', '§1', '§10', '§1', '§10', '§1', '§10', '§1', '§10', '§2', '§11', '§2', '§11', '§2', '§11', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§12', '§1', '§12', '§1', '§2', '§2', '§2', '§7', '§8', '§1', '§2', '§7', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§42', '§3', '§3', '§5', '§2', '§1', '§21', '§2', '§1', '§1', '§8']

Title 38, §439-A: Additional municipal powers, limitations
§439-A PDF
§439-A MS-Word
§439§439-B
§439-A. Additional municipal powers, limitations
1. Additional controls. In addition to the ordinances required by this chapter, municipalities may adopt
zoning and land use controls applicable to other bodies of water as may be required
to protect the public health, safety and general welfare and further the purposes
1987, c. 815, §§7, 11 (NEW)
2. Jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the scope of shoreland areas as identified in section 435, the jurisdiction
of municipal shoreland zoning and land use control ordinances adopted under this article
may include any structure built on, over or abutting a dock, wharf, pier or other
structure extending or located below the normal high-water line or within a wetland.
Accordingly, municipalities may enact ordinances affecting structures that extend
or are located over the water or are placed on lands lying between high and low waterlines
or within wetlands.
1999, c. 243, §5 (AMD)
3. Soil evaluation reports. Any other law notwithstanding, when a zoning ordinance adopted in conformity with
this article requires a written report of soil suitability for subsurface waste disposal
or commercial or industrial development, that report must be prepared and signed by
a duly qualified person who has made an on-the-ground evaluation of the soil properties
involved. Persons qualified to prepare these reports must be certified by the Department
of Health and Human Services and include Maine State Certified Soil Scientists, Maine
Registered Professional Engineers, Maine State Certified Geologists and other persons
who have training and experience in the recognition and evaluation of soil properties
and can provide proof of this training and experience in a manner specified by the
Department of Health and Human Services. The Department of Health and Human Services
may promulgate rules for the purpose of establishing training and experience standards
1989, c. 890, Pt. A, §40 (AFF); 1989, c. 890, Pt. B, §47 (AMD); 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6 (REV)
4. Setback requirements. Notwithstanding any provision in a local ordinance to the contrary and except as provided in this subsection, all new principal and accessory structures and expansions of such structures within the shoreland zone as established by section
435 must meet the water body or wetland setback requirements approved by the board, except functionally water-dependent uses.
This subsection is not intended to prohibit a municipal board of appeals from granting
a variance, subject to the requirements of this article and Title 30-A, section 4353,
nor is it intended to prohibit an otherwise permissible expansion of a legally existing nonconforming structure, as long as the expansion
does not create further nonconformity with the water body or wetland setback requirement.
A. All new principal and accessory structures, excluding functionally water-dependent
uses, must meet the water body or wetland setback requirements approved by the board.
An expansion of a legally existing nonconforming structure pursuant to this subsection
may not create further nonconformity with the water body or wetland setback requirement. [2013, c. 320, §8 (NEW).]
B. Expansion of any portion of a structure within 25 feet of the normal high-water line
of a water body or upland edge of a wetland is prohibited, even if the expansion will
not increase nonconformity with the water body or wetland setback requirement. Expansion
of an accessory structure that is located closer to the normal high-water line of
a water body or upland edge of a wetland than the principal structure is prohibited,
even if the expansion will not increase nonconformity with the water body or wetland
(1) Notwithstanding this paragraph, if a legally existing nonconforming principal
structure is entirely located less than 25 feet from the normal high-water line of
a water body or upland edge of a wetland, that structure may be expanded as follows,
as long as all other applicable standards of land use adopted by the municipality
are met and the expansion is not prohibited by paragraph A.
(a) The maximum total footprint for the principal structure may not be expanded to
a size greater than 800 square feet or 30% larger than the footprint that existed
on January 1, 1989, whichever is greater. The maximum height of the principal structure
may not be made greater than 15 feet or the height of the existing structure, whichever
is greater. [2013, c. 320, §8 (NEW).]
C. All other legally existing nonconforming principal and accessory structures that do
not meet the water body or wetland setback requirements may be expanded or altered
as follows, as long as other applicable standards of land use adopted by the municipality
are met and the expansion is not prohibited by paragraph A or B.
(1) For structures located less than 75 feet from the normal high-water line of a
water body or upland edge of a wetland, the maximum combined total footprint for all
structures may not be expanded to a size greater than 1,000 square feet or 30% larger
than the footprint that existed on January 1, 1989, whichever is greater. The maximum
height of any structure may not be made greater than 20 feet or the height of the
existing structure, whichever is greater.
(2) For structures located less than 100 feet from the normal high-water line of
a great pond classified as GPA or a river flowing to a great pond classified as GPA,
the maximum combined total footprint for all structures may not be expanded to a size
greater than 1,500 square feet or 30% larger than the footprint that existed on January
1, 1989, whichever is greater. The maximum height of any structure may not be made
greater than 25 feet or the height of the existing structure, whichever is greater.
Any portion of those structures located less than 75 feet from the normal high-water
line of a water body or upland edge of a wetland must meet the footprint and height
limits in subparagraph (1).
(3) In addition to the limitations in subparagraphs (1) and (2), for structures that
are legally nonconforming due to their location within the Resource Protection District
when located at less than 250 feet from the normal high-water line of a water body
or the upland edge of a wetland, the maximum combined total footprint for all structures
may not be expanded to a size greater than 1,500 square feet or 30% larger than the
footprint that existed at the time the Resource Protection District was established
on the lot, whichever is greater. The maximum height of any structure may not be
made greater than 25 feet or the height of the existing structure, whichever is greater,
except that any portion of those structures located less than 75 feet from the normal
high-water line of a water body or upland edge of a wetland must meet the footprint
and height limits in subparagraph (1). [2013, c. 320, §8 (NEW).]
D. As used in this subsection, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following
(1) "Water body" means a great pond, river or stream.
(2) "Wetland" means a coastal wetland or freshwater wetland. [2013, c. 320, §8 (NEW).]
Plans approved by the municipality for expansions under this subsection must be filed
in the registry of deeds of the county in which the property is located within 90
days of approval.
2013, c. 320, §8 (AMD)
4-A. Alternative expansion requirement. [
2013, c. 320, §9 (RP)
4-B. Exemption from setback requirements for decks over rivers within a downtown revitalization
project. In accordance with the provisions of this subsection, a municipality may adopt an
ordinance that exempts a deck from the water and wetland setback requirements otherwise
applicable under this section.
A. Notwithstanding subsections 4 and 4-A, a municipality may adopt an ordinance pursuant
to this subsection that exempts a deck from the otherwise applicable water or wetland
setbacks if the following requirements are met:
(1) The deck does not exceed 700 square feet in area;
(2) The deck is cantilevered over a segment of a river that is located within the
boundaries of a downtown revitalization project; and
(3) The deck is attached to or accessory to a use in a structure that was constructed
prior to 1971 and is located within a downtown revitalization project. [2013, c. 140, §1 (NEW).]
B. A downtown revitalization project under this subsection must be defined in a project
plan approved by the legislative body of the municipality and may include the revitalization
of buildings formerly used as mills that do not meet the water or wetland setback
requirements in subsections 4 and 4-A. [2013, c. 140, §1 (NEW).]
C. Except for the water and wetland setback requirements in subsections 4 and 4-A, a
deck that meets the requirements of this subsection must meet all other state and
local permit requirements and comply with all other applicable rules. [2013, c. 140, §1 (NEW).]
D. A deck exempt under this subsection may be either privately or publicly owned and
maintained. [2013, c. 140, §1 (NEW).]
2013, c. 140, §1 (NEW)
5. Timber harvesting. Municipal ordinances must regulate timber harvesting within the shoreland area.
Notwithstanding any provision in a local ordinance to the contrary, standards for
timber harvesting activities may not be less restrictive than the following:
A. Selective cutting of no more than 40% of the trees 4.5 inches or more in diameter, measured at 4 1/2 feet above ground level, in any 10-year
period, as long as a well-distributed stand of trees and other natural vegetation remains; [2007, c. 292, §21 (AMD).]
B. Within a shoreland area zoned for resource protection abutting a great pond there
may not be timber harvesting within the strip of land extending 75 feet inland from
the normal high-water line except to remove safety hazards or if a municipality adopts
an ordinance pursuant to this paragraph. A municipality may adopt an ordinance that
allows limited timber harvesting within the 75-foot strip in the resource protection
zone when the following conditions are met:
(1) The ground is frozen;
(2) There is no resultant soil disturbance;
(3) The removal of trees is accomplished using a cable or boom and there is no entry
of tracked or wheeled vehicles into the 75-foot strip of land;
(4) There is no cutting of trees less than 6 inches in diameter; no more than 30%
of the trees 6 inches or more in diameter, measured at 4 1/2 feet above ground level,
are cut in any 10-year period; and a well-distributed stand of trees and other natural
vegetation remains; and
(5) A licensed professional forester has marked the trees to be harvested prior
to a permit being issued by the municipality; and [1999, c. 370, §2 (AMD).]
C. Any site within a shoreland area zoned for resource protection abutting a great
pond, beyond the 75-foot strip restricted in paragraph B, where timber is harvested
must be reforested within 2 growing seasons after the completion of the harvest, according
to guidelines adopted by the board. The board shall adopt guidelines consistent with
minimum stocking standards established under Title 12, section 8869. [1991, c. 66, Pt. A, §10 (RPR).]
The board may adopt more restrictive guidelines consistent with the purposes of this
subchapter that must then be incorporated into local ordinances. Timber harvesting
operations exceeding the 40% limitation in paragraph A may be allowed by a planning
board upon a clear showing, including a forest management plan signed by a Maine licensed
professional forester, that such an exception is necessary for good forest management
and is carried out in accordance with the purposes of shoreland zoning. The planning
board shall notify the commissioner of each exception allowed.
2007, c. 292, §21 (AMD)
6. Clearing of vegetation. Within the shoreland area, municipal ordinances must provide for effective vegetative screening between buildings and shorelines. Notwithstanding
any provision in a local ordinance to the contrary, vegetative screening requirements must be no less restrictive than the following:
A. Within a strip extending 100 feet inland from the normal high-water line of a great pond classified as GPA
under section 465-A or a river that flows to a great pond classified as GPA under
section 465-A or within a strip extending 75 feet inland from the normal high-water line of other water bodies or the upland edge of a wetland, there may be no cleared opening or openings greater than 250 square feet and a well-distributed stand of vegetation must be retained. The restrictions in this paragraph do not apply to the construction of a structure
or the establishment of a land use within 75 feet of the normal high-water line of
a water body or upland edge of a wetland that is specifically allowed by municipal
ordinance in a general development district, commercial fisheries and maritime activities
district or other equivalent zoning district approved by the commissioner; [2013, c. 231, §1 (AMD); 2013, c. 320, §10 (AMD).]
B. Within a shoreland area zoned for resource protection abutting a great pond there may be no cutting of vegetation within the strip of land extending 75 feet inland from
the normal high-water line except to remove safety hazards; and [2013, c. 231, §1 (AMD); 2013, c. 320, §10 (AMD).]
C. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, selective cutting of no more than 40% of the total volume of trees 4 inches or more in diameter, measured at 4 1/2 feet above ground level, is allowed
in any 10-year period. Rules adopted by the board may allow for 70% of a lot to be nonvegetated in a general
development district, commercial fisheries and maritime activities district or other
equivalent zoning district approved by the commissioner. [2013, c. 231, §1 (AMD); 2013, c. 320, §10 (AMD).]
subchapter, which must then be incorporated into local ordinances.
2013, c. 231, §1 (AMD); 2013, c. 320, §10 (AMD)
6-A. Clearing of vegetation; exception. The following exceptions to the standards governing the clearing of vegetation apply.
A. The standards in subsection 6, paragraphs A and C do not apply to properties that
are located within areas designated as commercial fisheries and maritime activities
districts or other equivalent zoning districts approved by the commissioner that support
commercial fisheries and maritime activities if:
(1) The commissioner determines that special local conditions exist and a local municipal
ordinance is approved in accordance with section 438-A, subsection 3; and
(2) The districts are in existence at the time this subsection becomes effective. [2013, c. 231, §2 (NEW); 2013, c. 320, §11 (NEW).]
B. The standards in subsection 6, paragraphs A and C and any standards related to the
clearing of vegetation contained in a municipal ordinance enacted in accordance with
section 438-A, subsection 3 do not apply to remediation activities that are necessary
to clean up contamination on a site in a general development district, commercial
fisheries and maritime activities district or other equivalent zoning district approved
by the commissioner that is part of a state or federal brownfields program or a voluntary
response action program under section 343-E and that is located along:
(1) A coastal wetland; or
(2) A river that does not flow to a great pond classified as GPA under section 465-A. [2013, c. 231, §2 (NEW); 2013, c. 320, §11 (NEW).]
2013, c. 231, §2 (NEW); 2013, c. 320, §11 (NEW)
7. Special exception. A municipal ordinance adopted pursuant to this article may include a provision for
the municipal planning board to issue a permit for construction of a single-family
residence in a Resource Protection District if the applicant demonstrates that all
of the following conditions are met.
A. There is no location on the property, other than a location within the Resource
Protection District, where the structure can be built. [1993, c. 318, §1 (NEW).]
B. The lot on which the structure is proposed is undeveloped and was established and
recorded in the registry of deeds of the county in which the lot is located before
the adoption of the Resource Protection District. [1993, c. 318, §1 (NEW).]
C. The proposed location of all buildings, sewage disposal systems and other improvements
(1) Located on natural ground slopes of less than 20%; and
(2) Located outside the floodway of the 100-year floodplain along rivers and artificially
formed great ponds along rivers and outside the velocity zone in areas subject to
tides, based on detailed flood insurance studies and as delineated on the Federal
Emergency Management Agency's Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps and Flood Insurance
Rate Maps; all buildings, including basements, are elevated at least one foot above
the 100-year floodplain elevation; and the development is otherwise in compliance
with any applicable municipal floodplain ordinance.
If the floodway is not shown on the Federal Emergency Management Agency maps, it is
deemed to be 1/2 the width of the 100-year floodplain. For purposes of this subparagraph,
"floodway" means the channel of a river or other watercourse and adjacent land areas
that must be reserved in order to discharge the 100-year flood without cumulatively
increasing the water surface elevation more than one foot in height and "velocity
zone" means an area of special flood hazard extending from offshore to the inland
limit of the primary frontal dune along an open coast and any other area subject to
high-velocity wave action from storms or seismic sources. [1993, c. 318, §1 (NEW).]
D. The total footprint of all principal and accessory structures is limited to a maximum of 1,500 square
feet. [2013, c. 320, §12 (AMD).]
E. All structures, except functionally water-dependent structures, are set back from
the normal high-water line or upland edge of a wetland to the greatest practical extent,
but not less than 75 feet. In determining the greatest practical extent, the planning
board shall consider the depth of the lot, the slope of the land, the potential for
soil erosion, the type and amount of vegetation to be removed, the proposed building
site's elevation in regard to the floodplain and its proximity to moderate-value and
high-value wetlands. [1993, c. 318, §1 (NEW).]
2013, c. 320, §12 (AMD)
8. Archaeological excavation. A permit is not required for an archaeological excavation that is within a shoreland
zone as long as the excavation is conducted by an archaeologist listed on the Maine
Historic Preservation Commission level 1 or level 2 approved list and unreasonable
erosion and sedimentation is prevented by means of adequate and timely temporary and
permanent stabilization measures.
2001, c. 207, §1 (NEW)
9. Cupolas. For the purpose of determining the height of a structure, a municipal ordinance adopted
pursuant to this article may exempt a cupola, dome, widow's walk or similar feature
added to a legally existing conforming structure if:
A. The legally existing conforming structure is not located in a Resource Protection
District or a stream protection district as defined in guidelines adopted by the board;
and [2011, c. 231, §2 (NEW).]
B. The cupola, dome, widow's walk or other similar feature:
(1) Does not extend beyond the exterior walls of the existing structure;
(2) Has a floor area of 53 square feet or less; and
(3) Does not increase the height of the existing structure, as determined under section
436-A, subsection 7-A, by more than 7 feet. [2011, c. 231, §2 (NEW).]
For purposes of this subsection, "cupola, dome, widow's walk or other similar feature"
means a nonhabitable building feature mounted on a building roof for observation purposes.
2011, c. 231, §2 (NEW)
1987, c. 815, §§7,11 (NEW). 1989, c. 403, §8 (AMD). 1989, c. 803, §1 (AMD). 1989, c. 838, §2 (AMD). 1989, c. 878, §G7 (AMD). 1989, c. 890, §§A40,B47 (AMD). 1991, c. 66, §A10 (AMD). 1991, c. 346, §§7-9 (AMD). 1993, c. 55, §1 (AMD). 1993, c. 318, §1 (AMD). 1993, c. 383, §1 (AMD). 1993, c. 383, §42 (AFF). 1997, c. 726, §3 (AMD). 1997, c. 748, §3 (AMD). 1999, c. 243, §§5-7 (AMD). 1999, c. 370, §2 (AMD). 2001, c. 207, §1 (AMD). 2003, c. 689, §B6 (REV). 2007, c. 292, §§21, 22 (AMD). 2011, c. 231, §2 (AMD). 2013, c. 140, §1 (AMD). 2013, c. 231, §§1, 2 (AMD). 2013, c. 320, §§8-12 (AMD). Data for this page extracted on 12/03/2013 12:04:20. The Revisor's Office cannot provide legal advice or