Maine Legislature Enacts Speaker Fecteau’s Bill to Increase Housing Development
LD 1829 will amend zoning to encourage density and unlock financing for construction
AUGUSTA – The House and Senate Tuesday enacted LD 1829 unanimously. The bill, sponsored by Speaker Ryan D. Fecteau (D-Biddeford), will make it easier to build new housing units by amending zoning requirements and providing clarity for municipalities, developers, and Maine people.
“Too often, the creation of new housing units is hampered by onerous and overly complex rules that make it too expensive, or too frustrating, for homeowners to build,” said Speaker Ryan Fecteau. “This law will cut red tape, remove government roadblocks, and empower everyday Maine people to build housing for their own families and neighbors.”
LD 1829 will:
Reduce minimum lot sizes to no more than 5,000 square feet in designated growth areas.
Remove owner occupancy requirements for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to unlock financing for construction.
Streamline municipal review for smaller housing developments.
Create a one-story height bonus for qualified affordable housing.
Require training for municipal planning board members within 180 days of their appointment.
“Building any type of housing in Maine is extremely difficult and expensive. These costs and our home shortage are not isolated to one town or region. It is structural, systemic, and statewide,” said Laura Mitchell, Executive Director of the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition. “LD 1829 sets us on a better path. Maine communities will always be able to shape their futures, but with the understanding that solving our shared housing challenge requires consistency and commitment at all levels of government.”
"The enactment of LD 1829 is a significant step toward addressing Maine’s housing shortage in a way that respects local communities and strengthens individual property rights. This law cuts through outdated and overly restrictive regulations that have limited the ability of Mainers to make reasonable use of their own land,” said Sen. Rick Bennett, (R-Oxford), Senate Republican Lead on the Housing and Economic Development Committee. “It reflects a balanced approach—encouraging sensible development while preserving the character of our towns. I’m proud to have supported this bipartisan legislation that will help more Maine people secure housing they can afford."
The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk for signature.
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