Bolthole Index

York County, Maine

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Kennebunkport, Maine

Building in the Town of Kennebunkport, Maine requires a building permit from the town's Code Enforcement Officer1. Kennebunkport sets its own zoning under Chapter 240 of the town code, not York County2. Septic permits follow state rules and are issued by a Local Plumbing Inspector3; we could not confirm which town office fills that role, so ask the town office before you buy.

At a glance

Building permit
Required inside Kennebunkport; issued by the town Code Enforcement Officer1
Zoning
Town zoning under Chapter 240; uses not listed as allowed are prohibited2
Building code
Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code, enforced by the town4
Septic
State permit required; Local Plumbing Inspector issues it3
Height limit
2 1/2 stories or 35 feet in Village Residential and Farm and Forest56
Tiny homes
State law requires towns to permit them where single-family homes are allowed7
RV living
Not confirmed; check the town's use table first2
Online applications
Permit applications go through GovWell from October 1, 20268

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Kennebunkport Planning and Development (Code Enforcement)

Building permits, inspections, certificates of occupancy, zoning questions and code complaints inside the Town of Kennebunkport

(207) 967-1605

codes@kennebunkportme.gov

6 Elm St., Kennebunkport, ME 04046

Building permits

Kennebunkport Planning and Development: Forms and Permits

Building permit forms and the building permit fee schedule

Septic permits

Maine CDC, Subsurface Wastewater Program

Statewide septic (subsurface wastewater) rules, forms and fee schedule; the permit itself is issued by a Local Plumbing Inspector

(207) 287-2070

11 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Kennebunkport means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Kennebunkport have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size, setbacks and height?

Yes. The Town of Kennebunkport regulates the use of land and the size and placement of buildings throughout town and divides the town into zones under Chapter 240 of its town code2. York County does not zone in Maine; land use is handled town by town9.

The rule that matters most: a use that is not specifically allowed as a permitted or conditional use in a zone is prohibited2. Shoreland zoning adds a second layer within 250 feet of rivers and coastal or freshwater wetlands and within 75 feet of streams2.

Minimum lot area and setbacks are set zone by zone, so the answer depends on the parcel's district1011. We could not confirm the numbers; the Planning and Development office can read them off the zoning map for a specific address8. Buildings in Village Residential, Village Residential East, Cape Arundel, Free Enterprise and Farm and Forest may not exceed 2 1/2 stories or 35 feet5. Dock Square, Riverfront, Goose Rocks and the Cape Porpoise zones are capped at 2 1/2 stories or 30 feet5.

Do you need a building permit in Kennebunkport, and who issues it?

Yes. Kennebunkport's Code Enforcement Officer serves as the building official and issues building permits and certificates of occupancy inside town limits1. The town has adopted and enforces the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code, and the Code Enforcement Officer inspects permitted construction for compliance412. A building may not be occupied until the certificate of occupancy is issued13.

The town's permit section lists no exemption from the permit requirement1. Work started before the permit is issued is charged a double permit fee14. The fee amounts sit in § 240-11.6 of the town code, which we could not confirm; ask the Planning and Development office for the current schedule1.

From October 1, 2026 all permit applications go through the town's GovWell portal, and paper applications are no longer accepted8. The town does not issue electrical permits, but installing a generator needs a permit14. The Code Officers hold open office hours on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.8.

How do septic permits work in Kennebunkport?

Septic permits are a state-rules, local-inspector process. Maine requires a permit before anyone installs a new, expanded or replacement subsurface wastewater system, and work must not start until the Local Plumbing Inspector issues it315. The site must have passing soils and meet setbacks, and the application needs a licensed site evaluator153. The permit is valid for work started within 24 months, and the state fee for a complete non-engineered system is $250, with municipal fees possible on top3. Two inspections follow, one at site preparation and one before backfilling16.

We could not confirm who serves as Kennebunkport's Local Plumbing Inspector, whether a new home must connect to public sewer or water, or the town's well rules. Ask the Planning and Development office, and call the state wastewater team at (207) 287-2070 for the forms815.

Soils matter: across York County only about 4.2% of soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system17.

Can you live in an RV, tiny home or manufactured home in Kennebunkport?

Tiny homes: Maine law requires a municipality to permit a tiny home on a house lot where single-family dwellings are allowed, or as an accessory structure, subject to the same land-use rules7. Building, septic and shoreland rules still apply7.

Manufactured homes: the state requires towns to allow manufactured housing on individual house lots where single-family homes are allowed, though the town may set design criteria such as a permanent foundation18.

Accessory dwelling units: the state requires a municipality to allow an accessory dwelling unit on a lot with a single-family home, with a minimum size of 190 square feet and proof of adequate water and wastewater before occupancy19.

Living in an RV on your own lot: we could not confirm Kennebunkport's rule. Because any use the zone does not list as allowed is prohibited, the town's use table decides, so ask the Code Enforcement Officer before parking an RV for stays28. Maine's campground rules cover licensed campgrounds, not a private lot20.

Building a home in Kennebunkport: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the zone and the shoreland status of the parcel with the Planning and Development office; shoreland rules reach 250 feet from rivers and coastal wetlands28.
  2. Ask about lot area, setbacks and whether the parcel is in a flood hazard area; the state floodplain decision tree determines whether a Flood Hazard Development Permit is needed1021.
  3. If the lot fronts a state road, get a MaineDOT driveway permit first, because the town may not issue its permit for land abutting state roadways without it22.
  4. Hire a licensed site evaluator and apply for the septic permit through the Local Plumbing Inspector3.
  5. Apply for the building permit through GovWell8.
  6. Schedule inspections through the town as work proceeds; reinspections are not free128.
  7. Get the certificate of occupancy before anyone moves in13.

What stays with York County, and what to check before you buy in Kennebunkport

York County does not run zoning or building permits for Kennebunkport; the town does92. For land outside the town, see the York County page.

Before you buy, check four things. First, the zone and use table, since unlisted uses are prohibited2. Second, subdivision: new lots are regulated by a separate planning board chapter and may not fall below the zone's minimum lot area23. Third, septic feasibility, because few soils in the county rate well for conventional systems17. Fourth, cost: York County's typical home value is $537,224 and the median property tax bill is $3,691 a year2425. These figures are county-wide and the town's own values may differ.

Watch-outs

  • From October 1, 2026 the town accepts building permit applications only through GovWell, not on paper8.
  • Building permit and certificate of occupancy fees are set in § 240-11.6 of the town code; we could not confirm the amounts, so ask the Planning and Development office1.
  • Any use not listed as allowed in a Kennebunkport zone is prohibited, so check the use table before planning an RV, a second dwelling or a business2.
  • We could not confirm who serves as Kennebunkport's Local Plumbing Inspector, the town's well rules, or its floodplain permit process; ask the Planning and Development office8.

Sources

  1. ecode360.com (Town of Kennebunkport), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 240 Land Use, Article 1 General (eCode360) (Town of Kennebunkport), quoted and re-checked
  3. Subsurface Wastewater System Permitting (Maine statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  4. Chapter 240 Land Use, Article 6 Town-Wide Regulations (eCode360) (Town of Kennebunkport), quoted and re-checked
  5. ecode360.com (Town of Kennebunkport), quoted and re-checked
  6. ecode360.com (Town of Kennebunkport), quoted and re-checked
  7. Title 30-A, §4363: Regulation of tiny homes (Maine statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Town of Kennebunkport Planning and Development (Code Enforcement) (kennebunkportme.gov)
  9. MRS Title 30-A Ch. 187 Planning and Land Use Regulation (2026 county census)
  10. Chapter 240 Land Use, Article 6 Town-Wide Regulations (eCode360) (Town of Kennebunkport), quoted and re-checked
  11. Chapter 240 Land Use, Article 6 Town-Wide Regulations (eCode360) (Town of Kennebunkport), quoted and re-checked
  12. ecode360.com (Town of Kennebunkport), quoted and re-checked
  13. ecode360.com (Town of Kennebunkport), quoted and re-checked
  14. Kennebunkport Planning and Development: Forms and Permits (kennebunkportme.gov)
  15. Maine CDC, Subsurface Wastewater Program (maine.gov)
  16. Subsurface Wastewater System Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  17. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Title 30-A, §4358: Regulation of manufactured housing (Maine statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Maine Revised Statutes Title 30-A, §4364-B: Accessory dwelling units (Maine statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Maine Revised Statutes Title 22, §2491: Definitions (Maine statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Floodplain Ordinances & Permit Forms (Maine statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Driveway and Entrance Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  23. Town of Kennebunkport, ME code table of contents (eCode360) (Town of Kennebunkport), quoted and re-checked
  24. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  25. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Kennebunkport

Town of Kennebunkport’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Building permits for construction inside Kennebunkport town, issued by the Code Enforcement Officer acting as building official

    • The permit fee is as specified in § 240-11.6 (see fee topic).
    • Construction may proceed only after the permit is issued; the section does not list any exemption from the permit requirement.
    “the code enforcement officer of the town of kennebunkport shall serve as the building official as defined in 25 m.r.s.a. § 2371 and shall be responsible for issuing building permits and certificates of occupancy.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction, alteration and repair of buildings and structures inside Kennebunkport town, under the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (MUBEC) adopted by the town

    • Enforcement, including permits, fees, violations, penalties and appeals, follows MUBEC along with Article 11 of Chapter 240.
    • Violations are subject to penalties under 30-a M.R.S.A. § 4452; each day a violation continues after notice is a separate offense.
    • MUBEC components may be revised from time to time; the town applies them as revised.
    “the town of kennebunkport adopts and enforces the maine uniform building and energy code ("mubec"), as authorized by 10 m.r.s.a. § 9724, subsection 1-a.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    All permitted construction inside Kennebunkport town

    • Inspections are for compliance with all components of MUBEC.
    “the code enforcement officer shall be responsible for inspecting all permitted construction for compliance with all components of mubec, as such components may be revised from time to time.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Buildings in Kennebunkport town, certificate issued by the Code Enforcement Officer

    • The certificate of occupancy fee is as specified in § 240-11.6; that schedule was not opened.
    “the code enforcement officer of the town of kennebunkport shall serve as the building official as defined in 25 m.r.s.a. § 2371 and shall be responsible for issuing building permits and certificates of occupancy.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    All land inside Kennebunkport town limits, under the town's Land Use ordinance (Code Chapter 240)

    • Uses are allowed only as the zone's use rules permit; § 240-1.8 states that any use not specifically allowed as either a permitted use or conditional use is specifically prohibited.
    • Shoreland zoning provisions apply in addition within 250 feet of rivers and coastal or freshwater wetlands and within 75 feet of streams (§ 240-1.4).
    “the town of kennebunkport hereby regulates pursuant to this chapter the inspection, materials, construction, demolition, alteration, repair, height, bulk, area, ground coverage, location and use of buildings and structures, and the use of land throughout the town and also hereby divides the town into zones.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Each unit of a two-family dwelling inside Kennebunkport town (applies to two-family units only)

    • Applies only to two-family dwellings; no minimum floor area for single-family dwellings was found in § 240-6.19 subsection a.
    • Minimum floor area for single-family dwellings is not extracted (see the separate unknown claim).

    minimum floor area per two-family unit: >= 650 square feet

    “each unit in a two-family dwelling shall have not less than 650 square feet.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Any new lot created in Kennebunkport town, measured against the minimum lot area for the zone where it is located

    • Numeric minimum lot area per zone (including the main single-family residential district) is set in the chapter's dimensional tables and was not extracted.
    • Land within a right-of-way is excluded from lot area, and areas below the normal high-water mark of water bodies and wetlands are excluded from lot area (§ 240-6.1 f and g).
    “no new lot may be created with less than the minimum lot area, as defined in this chapter, that is required for the zone in which it is located.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    All structures in Kennebunkport town, measured against the setbacks for the zone in which they are located

    • Some structures are exempt from front, side and rear setbacks, including items under 10 square feet, walls and fences, and certain awnings (§ 240-6.1 b(1)).
    • Setbacks and restrictions may differ in the Shoreland and Resource Protection zones.
    • Numeric setback distances per zone (main single-family residential district and Farm and Forest) were not extracted.
    “all structures, as defined in this chapter, shall be required to meet dimensional setback requirements unless exempted as set forth below”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Farm and Forest zone inside Kennebunkport town

    • Height is measured from the average elevation of the original ground level on all sides within 20 feet of the building.
    • Chimneys, decorative cupolas, spires and similar non-inhabitable appurtenances are not counted.
    • Shoreland and Resource Protection overlays may impose different height limits; not checked.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet (also no more than 2 1/2 stories)

    “in the village residential, village residential east, cape arundel, free enterprise and farm and forest zones, no structure or building shall exceed 2 1/2 stories or 35 feet in building height as measured from the average elevation of the original ground level on all sides within 20 feet of the building, not including such building features as chimneys, decorative cupolas, spires or similar non-inhabitable appurtenances.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Village Residential zone (the sentence also names Village Residential East; both are covered by this claim)
      “in the village residential, village residential east, cape arundel, free enterprise and farm and forest zones, no structure or building shall exceed 2 1/2 stories or 35 feet in building height as measured from the average elevation of the original ground level on all sides within 20 feet of the building, not including such building features as chimneys, decorative cupolas, spires or similar non-inhabitable appurtenances.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Division of land into lots inside Kennebunkport town

    • Subdivision regulations are a separate planning board chapter; their review thresholds and procedure were not opened.
    • No new lot may be created below the minimum lot area for its zone (§ 240-6.1 g).
    “chapter 415 subdivision regulations (§ 415-1.1 &ndash; § 415-15.1)”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Kennebunkport or York County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-occupant construction inside Kennebunkport town
  • Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Kennebunkport town
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Kennebunkport town
  • Tiny homes — Tiny home occupancy inside Kennebunkport town
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured home occupancy inside Kennebunkport town
10 more unanswered
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Permit fees

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Kennebunkport publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. York County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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