# Maine LD 1829: An Act to Build Housing for Maine Families and Attract Workers to Maine Businesses by Amending the Laws Governing Housing Density Maine LD 1829, An Act to Build Housing for Maine Families and Attract Workers to Maine Businesses by Amending the Laws Governing Housing Density, is a 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by Ryan Fecteau (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-06-20 (Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 385); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1829-132 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maine LD 1829 - State: Maine - Session: 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) - Title: An Act to Build Housing for Maine Families and Attract Workers to Maine Businesses by Amending the Laws Governing Housing Density - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-04-30 - Last action: 2025-06-20, Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 385 - Sponsor: Ryan Fecteau (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: HOUSING, HOUSING - REGULATION - Touches household money: yes - Economic provisions PRIA read: 9 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Bigger, taller affordable housing projects: benefit, medium. Affordable housing in multifamily zones can use at least 2.5 times the usual unit density. Towns cannot require more than 2 off‑street parking spaces for every 3 units. Projects may exceed local height limits by at least one story or 14 feet, with fire official review. These rules apply in a design… - Easier ADUs for owners and renters: benefit, medium. The law lets you add an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on lots with a house or a multi‑unit building where homes are allowed. ADUs can be inside, attached, or detached. The first ADU on a lot does not count toward density limits. You do not have to live on the lot to build or rent an ADU. Sprinklers… - More homes allowed on each lot: benefit, medium. Where homes are allowed, towns must allow at least 3 units per lot. If the lot is in a growth area or has central water and sewer, at least 4 units are allowed. In growth areas with central water and sewer, the minimum lot size cannot be over 5,000 sq ft and the lot area per unit is capped at 1,250… - No growth caps in growth areas: benefit, medium. Towns cannot use rate‑of‑growth ordinances to limit new homes in designated growth areas, unless this chapter specifically allows it. This keeps housing from being capped in the very places meant to grow. - Faster local approvals for small builds: benefit, low. Towns cannot require planning board approval for buildings with 4 or fewer dwelling units. For covered projects, once a local plumbing inspector confirms wastewater compliance in writing, towns cannot ask for extra wastewater review before issuing a certificate of occupancy. - Subdivision rules now start at five: benefit, low. A project becomes a subdivision when it creates 5 or more dwelling units within 5 years, up from 3. Towns with different definitions must comply by July 1, 2027. - Training required for local land-use boards: benefit, low. Members of municipal reviewing bodies and zoning appeals bodies must complete land‑use training within 180 days of appointment, or the next available session if none is offered. Current members must also complete the training within 180 days of the law’s effective date, or the next available sessio… - Site plan review for 3+ units: mixed, medium. Starting January 1, 2026, splitting or creating a building into 3 or more units must go through municipal site plan review where local rules apply. The town’s ordinance must review stormwater, sewage, water supply, and vehicle access. The municipal reviewing authority decides whether the town’s sit… - When these housing rules start locally: mixed, low. The law takes effect on different dates by town. Where municipal officers can enact ordinances without a town‑wide vote, rules apply starting July 1, 2026. In all other municipalities, rules apply starting July 1, 2027. Some sections are not on this schedule and take effect separately. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Ryan Fecteau (Democratic), House ## Actions (7) - 2025-06-20: Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 385 - 2025-06-17: PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. (Senate) - 2025-06-17: PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2025-06-16: Report READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-748) READ and ADOPTED, in concurrence.Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-748), in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith. (Senate) - 2025-06-16: CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAYUnder suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-748).Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2025-04-30: The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT in concurrence (Senate) - 2025-04-30: Committee on Housing and Economic Development suggested and ordered printed. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) ## Bill text - Amendment C-A (H-748), adopted by House & Senate: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1224&item=2&snum=132) - Enacted: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1224&item=3&snum=132) - Introduced: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1224&item=1&snum=132) ## Related bills - LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program (failed) - LD 1665: An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families (failed) - LD 1872: An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (failed) - LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan for Retirement (failed) - LD 1611: An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State Employees (failed) - LD 1294: An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit (failed) ## Sources - [Amendment C-A (H-748), adopted by House & Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1224&item=2&snum=132) - [Enacted (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1224&item=3&snum=132) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1224&item=1&snum=132) ## Related - [LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1522-132) - [LD 1665: An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1665-132) - [LD 1872: An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retiremen…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1872-132) - [LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD2067-132) - [LD 1611: An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1611-132) - [LD 1294: An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1294-132) - [Maine bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maine/bills) - [Maine state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maine) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1829-132 (as of 2026-10-17).