ADU Town Regulations
Berwick, ME
Jun 11, 2024
Last Updated
About
Berwick, Maine, is a charming small town located in the southern part of the state beside the Salmon Falls River that offers a blend of rural beauty and close-knit community spirit. Known for its scenic landscapes, historic homes, and peaceful surroundings, Berwick provides a welcoming environment for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. The town's rich agricultural heritage and growing local businesses make it a vibrant place to live or visit. With its proximity to both the New Hampshire border and Maine's larger cities, Berwick offers a quiet, yet conveniently connected lifestyle. The population of Berwick was 7,950 at the 2020 census.
ADU Rules
The Code Enforcement Officer may approve the addition of one dwelling unit to an existing single-family dwelling and must comply with the following standards below.
The accessory apartment shall be more than 190 square feet and shall not exceed 50 percent of the total living area of the building.
The principal dwelling unit or the accessory apartment shall be occupied by a person who has a possessory interest in the real estate, who bears all or part of the economic risk of decline in value of the real estate and who receives all or part of the remuneration, if any, derived from the lease or rental of the other dwelling unit.
Only one accessory apartment shall be permitted per lot. An Accessory Dwelling Unit, however, shall not be allowed in a single-family dwelling within an approved subdivision that contains a note or condition on the plan recorded in the York County Registry of Deeds that specifically allows only single-family residential uses.
Any external expansion of the structure shall have a relationship to the existing buildings and neighborhood.
All setback requirements shall be met.
Any request for an accessory apartment shall conform to all provisions of the Maine State Plumbing Code and no dwelling that is served by an on-site wastewater disposal system shall be modified to create an accessory apartment until a site evaluation has been conducted by a licensed soil evaluator which demonstrates that a new system can be installed to meet the disposal needs of the dwelling units or the existing system has adequate capacity for the proposed use.
Upon approval by the Planning Board, the owner of the accessory apartment shall record within his/her deed at the York County Registry of Deeds