Resolve, to Require the Preparation of Preapproved Building Types
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0546
Committee: Housing and Economic Development
Sponsors: GERE, BRADSTREET, FECTEAU

Legislative Document
No. 546
H.P. 365
House of Representatives, February 11, 2025
Resolve, to Require the Preparation of Preapproved Building Types
Reference to the Committee on Housing and Economic Development suggested and 
ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GERE of Kennebunkport.
Cosponsored by Senator BRADSTREET of Kennebec and
Representatives: BLIER of Buxton, CAMPBELL of Orrington, DOUDERA of Camden, 
DUCHARME of Madison, Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford, JULIA of Waterville, 
MASTRACCIO of Sanford, MINGO of Calais.
Sec. 1.  Preapproved building types.  Resolved:  That the Department of 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Resource Information and Land Use 
Planning, referred to in this resolve as "the bureau," shall contract with an appropriate 
consultant to establish a set of building types that municipalities may adopt as preapproved 
building types in order to reduce the cost and time associated with processing building 
permit applications.  
The bureau shall:
1.  Require the consultant to develop no fewer than 5 and no more than 8 preapproved 
building types. Preapproved building types may include, but are not limited to, single-
family homes, duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes and mixed-use residential and retail 
buildings. Each preapproved building type must include no fewer than 8 and no more than 
design options for building components.  For purposes of this section, "building 
components" include dormers, rear and side additions, windows, porches, stoops, cross 
gables and other elements that add volume to a building. For each preapproved building 
type, multiple design options must be prepared to reflect the vernacular architecture in the 
State, with a range of building components that allow for permitted modifications for each 
preapproved building type. For purposes of this section, "vernacular architecture" means 
an architectural style that is designed based on local needs, availability of construction 
materials and local traditions. Preapproved building types must be designed to fit on lots 
with dimensions that commonly exist in the State and that allow for efficient use of private 
and public infrastructure.  Preapproved building types must be designed to meet any 
applicable state or federal building and energy codes and have prototypical site plans for 
each preapproved building type in order to identify the location of the building on the lot, 
location of parking on the lot, access to parking on the lot, setbacks and build-to lines;
2.  Determine the area median income for each county in the State and require the 
consultant to develop preapproved building types that include units that can be rented at a 
cost that does not exceed 30% of the area median income in the county where the building 
may be used as a preapproved building type;
3.  Ensure a process of public engagement with the consultant as the consultant 
develops the preapproved building types, including, but not limited to, online 
crowdsourced visual preference surveys and at least 2 rounds of public crowdsourced 
feedback on draft preapproved building types and prototypical site plans;
4.  Require the consultant to work with the Department of Public Safety, Office of the 
State Fire Marshal to determine compliance of each preapproved building type with the 
National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code adopted by the office;
5.  Require the consultant to create a final proposed work product that includes a 
catalog of preapproved building types and prototypical site plans, including a publicly 
accessible website with information and forms relating to preapproved building types; and
6.  Seek input from a postsecondary institution in the State with a program that uses 
new technologies in developing methods to produce materials and develop building 
methods designed to make housing more efficient and affordable.
Sec. 2.  Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of 
Resource Information and Land Use Planning to provide report. Resolved:  
That the bureau shall submit a report no later than November 4, 2026 to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over housing matters with findings and 
recommendations relating to preapproved building types established under section 1.  The 
report must include recommended legislation to ensure that when a municipality adopts 
preapproved building types, applications for permits to develop a preapproved building 
type must be deemed administratively approved when the preapproved building types are 
located along existing streets or within designated growth areas served by a public, special 
district or other centrally managed water system and a public, special district or other 
comparable sewer system. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over housing matters may report out legislation relating to the subject matter 
of the report to the First Regular Session of the 133rd Legislature.
SUMMARY
This resolve directs the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau 
of Resource Information and Land Use Planning to contract with an appropriate consultant 
to establish a set of building types that municipalities may adopt as preapproved building 
types in order to reduce the cost and time associated with processing building permit 
applications. It requires the consultant to ensure that each preapproved building type can 
be developed to ensure that rent for affordable units does not exceed 30% of the median 
income in the county where the building will be located, and it requires the consultant to 
seek input from a postsecondary institution in the State with a program that uses new 
technologies to produce materials and develop building methods designed to make housing 
more efficient and affordable. The resolve also requires the bureau to submit a report no 
later than November 4, 2026 to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over housing matters. The joint standing committee may report out legislation 
relating to the subject matter of the report to the First Regular Session of the 133rd 
Legislature.