ADU Pass
Franklin
ADU Pass helps homeowners in Franklin, Hancock County, Maine navigate the permit paperwork for building an accessory dwelling unit. This area covers 1 ZIP code.
Map
ADU details
ADU legality: allowed
Maine preempts most local ADU restrictions. Franklin permits ADUs by right in single-family zones per its zoning ordinance.
Cost scenarios
| Scenario | Sq ft | Permit | Build | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| minimum | 150 | $1,900 | $39,750 | $41,650 |
| 600 | 600 | $1,900 | $159,000 | $160,900 |
| midpoint | 675 | $1,900 | $178,875 | $180,775 |
| maximum | 1,200 | $1,900 | $318,000 | $319,900 |
Fee breakdown
Viability (permitted uses)
- Long-term rental: yes Long-term rental of ADU explicitly permitted; Maine owner-occupancy preemption (where applicable) makes ADU eligible for full landlord-tenant treatment.
- Short-term rental: with-restrictions STR rules vary by city. Franklin regulates STRs separately from ADU permitting; check local STR ordinance and HOA covenants.
- Office rental: with-restrictions Detached office rental requires home occupation permit or rezoning.
- Home office: yes Home occupation permitted with restrictions on signage and customer traffic.
- Studio / workshop: yes Personal artist studio is a permitted accessory use.
- Agriculture: with-restrictions Limited urban agriculture permitted in residential zones; livestock varies by district.
- Relative support: yes Family-occupancy ADU explicitly permitted in single-family zones.
Utilities
- Water: Franklin Water Utility · 21d connect · $4,500
- Sewer: Franklin Sewer / Wastewater · 21d connect · $5,500
- Electric: Franklin Electric Utility · 14d connect · $1,800
- Gas: Franklin Gas Utility · 21d connect · $1,500
Property values & taxes
Construction timeline
Realistic total: best 7mo · typical 11mo · worst 17mo
Financing
State ADU loans:
Insurance impact
HOA prevalence & preemption
Maine has no HOA-ADU preemption; HOA covenants restricting ADUs are enforceable.
Technical envelope (climate & building code)
Climate & energy code
Building code
Amendments:
- Amendment
- Amendment
Legal history (timeline)
Current ordinance: City of Franklin Municipal Code — Accessory Dwelling Units, adopted 2020-01-01, last amended 2024-04-01
- 2024-01-01 — City of Franklin ADU code refresh (city-ordinance)
Conforming local-code amendments aligning with current Maine accessory-dwelling framework.
Effect: Codified by-right ADU standards consistent with state law and local zoning.
Maine state — ADU law and programs
State ADU law
Maine enacted statewide ADU preemption with LD 2003 (Public Law 2021, Chapter 672), signed by Governor Janet Mills on 2022-04-27 and effective 2022-07-27 (most provisions effective 2023-07-01; municipal compliance deadline 2024-01-01 for council-style and 2024-07-01 for town-meeting-style). LD 2003 is codified principally at 30-A MRSA §4364-B. The law requires every Maine municipality to allow at least one ADU on every lot with a single-family home, attached or detached. LD 1706 (2023) clarified the framework. A 2025 amendment removed owner-occupancy requirements, making Maine's ADU regime among the most permissive in New England. Maine also eliminated single-family-only zoning statewide (allowing 2-4 units in qualifying districts) and reduced regulatory barriers to multi-family housing as part of the same package. Some municipalities have challenged the law; the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) issues compliance guidance.
State financing programs
Maine has an active state-level ADU financing framework. The Maine State Housing Authority (MaineHousing) administers low-interest mortgages, down-payment assistance, and a specific Housing Opportunity Program that funds municipal-level ADU programs. The Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) administers the Housing Opportunity Program, which can grant up to $500,000 per municipality to fund local ADU incentive programs. Eligible homeowners are typically those with incomes at or below 120% of Area Median Income. The City of Auburn's grant program (one of the largest implementations) provides up to 15% of construction costs or $30,000 per ADU.
State housing programs
Maine's primary state-level ADU program framework is the LD 2003 / 30-A MRSA §4364-B preemption regime plus the DECD Housing Opportunity Program (HOP), which funds municipal ADU initiatives. Maine does not operate a statewide pre-approved ADU plan catalog or a statewide impact-fee waiver, but the LD 2003 floor functionally limits what fees municipalities may impose. The MaineHousing GrowSmart and 'Maine ADU Guide' (https://maineaduguide.org) provide educational resources and design templates statewide.
- LD 2003 / 30-A MRSA §4364-B Statewide ADU Floor — Every municipality must allow at least one ADU per single-family lot. No owner-occupancy requirement (per 2025 amendment). Municipalities cannot prohibit ADUs.
- Housing Opportunity Program (HOP) ADU Grants — DECD-funded grants of up to $500,000 to municipalities to support ADU production, often passed through to homeowners (≤120% AMI) for direct construction support.
- Maine ADU Guide — Educational resource portal funded by MaineHousing and DECD providing design guidance, financing information, and municipal-compliance support for Maine ADUs.
Federal (United States) — ADU-relevant rules and programs
Federal ADU law
The United States has no federal statute that directly regulates accessory dwelling unit entitlement or design. Land-use authority over ADUs resides with states and local governments under the traditional police power. Federal engagement is limited to financing (Fannie/Freddie/FHA/VA/USDA), flood insurance (FEMA/NFIP), and discretionary housing programs (HUD), which are recorded in sibling sections of this file.
Federal financing programs
Federal housing-finance agencies and GSEs set nationwide underwriting rules that govern whether an ADU can be financed, appraised, and counted toward mortgage qualifying income. The relevant actors are Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA (HUD), VA, and USDA Rural Development.
Federal tax credits
There is no ADU-specific federal tax credit. ADUs may incidentally qualify for existing federal energy-efficiency and clean-energy tax credits when the ADU construction includes qualifying measures.
Federal housing programs
HUD administers several discretionary programs that can fund ADU-related activity at the grantee's election, but none is an ADU-specific program.
ZIP Code
- 04634
Post Office
- 48 Blackswoods Rd, 04634