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I have visited Maine a few times and loved it. I tried purchasing land in St. Albans some years ago but this was 2008 when the housing market fell and most of my 401K (how I was financing said move/purchase) went out the window with it so the deal fell through. I still dream of relocating. I would like to build using alternative materials like cob or strawbale but, at least in CT, some of these materials are prohibited in many towns and I don't know if it is the same in ME. I would also like to be able to raise goats and sheep, and live, well, I volunteer at Old Sturbridge Village in MA and have learned a lot of old time skills like cooking over a fire and antiquated crafts. I don't want to live 100% that rustic (I like running water, flushing toilets and I am a writer so will need at least a library close by for Internet service...lol!) but as much of a low-impact, back-to-basics' lifestyle as I can in today's world. Does anyone know of any towns in Maine that will allow building with alternative materials?
PS Would also like to get to know some folks in ME; it would be nice to have at least a few chat friends online before I relocate...
Towns with fewer than 2,000 people can choose not to adopt building codes. Some towns are quite severe about building codes, right down to driveway drainage. Contact a local expert for the area where you would like to live. A town rich enough to have a library will likely have building codes.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man
Towns with fewer than 2,000 people can choose not to adopt building codes. Some towns are quite severe about building codes, right down to driveway drainage. Contact a local expert for the area where you would like to live. A town rich enough to have a library will likely have building codes.
The state changed the number to a population of 4,000 before you have to enforce the code. In towns under that the only ones generally checking would be a mortgage holder and/or an insurance company. Technically all contractors still have to build to it though. I don't believe there is any town in Washington County that enforces it.
LBurbank, codes and enforcement issues vary widely among towns, so the best advice I can offer is to choose a town and then ask the town office about building codes and requirements. You could buy in Unorganized Territory and deal with LURC (Land Use Regulation Commission). There's at least one prolific poster here who has done that and could offer some guidance.
... I would like to build using alternative materials like cob or strawbale
I travel among circles of folks who do that type of things. I used to own a stone house [not carved stone but rounded stone with mortar].
Last night I attended a potluck supper and met a gentleman who attends UM-Orono and lives in a yurt.
I have observed strawbale homes out West, though not many here. We have a lot of moisture.
I have seen a few cord-wood homes here.
Quote:
... I would also like to be able to raise goats and sheep, and live, well, I volunteer at Old Sturbridge Village in MA and have learned a lot of old time skills like cooking over a fire and antiquated crafts. I don't want to live 100% that rustic (I like running water, flushing toilets and I am a writer so will need at least a library close by for Internet service...lol!) but as much of a low-impact, back-to-basics' lifestyle as I can in today's world. Does anyone know of any towns in Maine that will allow building with alternative materials?
We have had goats and sheep, now we are doing hogs.
Consider composting toilets as a possible alternative to flushing, they are much more 'sustainable'.
Maine is a hot-bed for off-grid sustainable organical permaculture low-impact no-till hippy lifestyles. In fact it is a real growing sub-culture in this state.
Most of Maine, in fact 52% of Maine townships are Unorganized. Some of them chose to be unorganized by having been organized at one point and then burning their town charters. Unorganized Townships have much less enforcement of Agenda-21 rules and building codes.
Quote:
... PS Would also like to get to know some folks in ME; it would be nice to have at least a few chat friends online before I relocate...
'chat friends'?
I mostly do forums online, it works out better for me while taking breaks between farm chores.
Submariner correctly writes:
"Unorganized Townships have much less enforcement of Agenda-21 rules and building codes."
That is true today. It will soon not be true. The new bigger, stronger and meaner LURC is called LUPC (pronounced loopsy) They are going to have zoning and codes like you wouldn't believe. Build what you can while you can. They are starting with Aroostook and Piscataquis Counties because they are the biggest. They will eventually get to all UT counties.
The state changed the number to a population of 4,000 before you have to enforce the code. In towns under that the only ones generally checking would be a mortgage holder and/or an insurance company. Technically all contractors still have to build to it though. I don't believe there is any town in Washington County that enforces it.
"I can offer is to choose a town and then ask the town office about building codes and requirements."
I recommend you ask some town offices, then choose a town. Don't buy and then find out you can't do what you want to do.
I wasn't suggesting that he buy before checking codes. That's ridiculous, given his concerns. I was suggesting he find a town he liked and then check the codes before buying.
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