How big can an ADU be in Eliot?

190 sq ft min; max 1,000 sq ft or 50% of the house, whichever is less; max 2 bedrooms, per § 45-459(c)(5) as read 2026-11-15.

Does the owner have to live on the lot in Eliot?

Owner must live in the house or the ADU as principal residence; recorded covenant required (§ 45-459(b), (c)(4), (c)(7), (c)(8)).

Can an ADU in Eliot be detached?

In the house, attached or sharing a wall, or in an accessory building, under § 45-459(c)(1).

York County · Maine

ADU rules in Eliot, ME

Eliot is a York County town on the Piscataqua River.

This is a reference guide. Eliot is not on our service-area list, so call to ask whether we can take on a build there.

Call (978) 987-0089

Town ADU rules

What’s allowed on your lot in Eliot.

Eliot’s ADU rules are in §45-459 of its code, last amended November 7, 2023.

Size limit: 190 sq ft min; max 1,000 sq ft or 50% of the house, whichever is less; max 2 bedrooms
Where it can go: In the house, attached or sharing a wall, or in an accessory building
Owner on site: Owner must live in the house or the ADU as principal residence; recorded covenant required
Parking: No spaces required
Approval: Building permit from the Code Enforcement Officer; no Planning Board approval
Rentals: ADU in an accessory structure permitted after July 1, 2023 cannot be a short-term rental unless it meets principal-structure setbacks
Water setback: 75 ft from the normal high-water line of most water bodies, streams and wetlands (100 ft for GPA great ponds; 250 ft in Resource Protection)

Allowed

Attached or detachedOne ADU per lot, as an accessory use to a single-family home: in the same building, attached or sharing a wall, or in a building accessory to the principal dwelling.§ 45-459(c)(1)
ApprovalCEO building permit; Planning Board approval not required (except as specified by § 44-34, the shoreland use table). A new single-family home permit may include an ADU; an ADU may be included in a new home on a lawful nonconforming lot of record.§ 45-459(c)(2)-(3); § 45-290 (ADU: CEO in R, S, V, MU, C/I)
Owner on siteOwner must occupy either the principal unit or the ADU as principal residence (proved by voter registration or other evidence) and may not take rent for the owner-occupied unit. New owners must continue to comply or discontinue the ADU. A covenant must be recorded at the registry of deeds.§ 45-459(b), (c)(4), (c)(7), (c)(8)
SizeMaximum gross floor area 1,000 sq ft or 50% of the principal dwelling's gross floor area, whichever is less; minimum 190 sq ft (tiny-home-on-wheels and foundation-built tiny home ADUs have no minimum); no more than two bedrooms.§ 45-459(c)(5)
LotNo additional lot area per dwelling unit is required for an ADU.§ 45-405(a) note u
LotSetbacks: an ADU within or attached to the house meets principal-structure setbacks. An ADU in an accessory structure permitted after July 1, 2023 meets accessory-structure setbacks. ADUs in accessory structures permitted as of July 1, 2023 keep principal setbacks or their existing reduced setbacks without expansion.§ 45-459(d)(1)-(3)
RentalsAn ADU in an accessory structure permitted after July 1, 2023 may not be used as a short-term rental unless it meets principal-structure setbacks. Short-term rental is defined as a rental of 30 days or less through a transient rental platform.§ 45-459(d)(3)b; § 1-2 definitions
ParkingNo off-street parking spaces required for an ADU.§ 45-495(a)(1)
DesignADU must keep the main building's single-family architectural style; additions beyond the footprint must match facade, roof pitch, siding and windows (not for tiny homes on wheels). Exterior stairs only at the rear or sides.§ 45-459(c)(11)
OtherOccupancy limited to two persons per bedroom unless the CEO and fire chief approve more. Occupancy permit required before occupancy. CEO may inspect on 48 hours' notice; uncorrected violations lead to revocation of the ADU certificate of occupancy.§ 45-459(c)(12)-(14)
OtherNew ADUs are exempt from the growth management ordinance (Chapter 29).§ 45-459(c)(9)
ShorelandChapter 44 Shoreland Zoning (250 ft of great ponds, rivers, coastal and freshwater wetlands; 75 ft of streams). All new principal and accessory structures set back at least 100 ft from GPA great ponds and rivers flowing to them, and 75 ft from other water bodies, tributary streams or the upland edge of a wetland; 25 ft in General Development; 250 ft in Resource Protection. Zoning table also lists 75 ft 'Setback-normal high water mark' in every district. Shoreland use table: ADUs 'no' in Stream Protection (SP) and Resource Protection (RP); CEO permit in Limited Residential (LR), Limited Commercial (LC) and General Development (GD).§ 44-35(b)(1); § 44-34 table row (32); § 45-405(a)

Not allowed

Not allowedMore than one ADU per lot.§ 45-459(c)(1)
Not allowedADUs in two-family or multifamily dwellings.§ 45-459(c)(10)
Not allowedADU in Stream Protection or Resource Protection shoreland districts.§ 44-34 table row (32)
Not allowedReceiving rent for the owner-occupied unit.§ 45-459(c)(4)
Not allowedMore than two bedrooms.§ 45-459(c)(5)

Read 2026-11-15 from Town of Eliot Municipal Code, Chapter 45 Zoning (§ 45-459 Accessory dwelling unit; § 45-405 Dimensional standards; § 45-290 Table of land uses; § 45-495 Parking) and Chapter 44 Shoreland Zoning (Municode Supplement 29. § 45-459 history ends 'T.M. of 11-7-2023(2), art. 15'. § 45-405 history ends 'T.M. of 11-4-2025(3) art. 1; T.M. of 6-9-2026(4), art. 15'. Read live 2026-11-15.). Anything not listed here, we check with the Eliot land-use office for your lot.

Setbacks

Front, side and rear in Eliot.

Maine 30-A M.R.S. §4364-B - at least one ADU with a single-family home; from July 1, 2027, also with a two- or three-unit building, and at least three units per lot

Eliot's dimensional table, as printed in the ordinance.

District	Front	Side	Rear	Lot / cover / height
RprimaryRural§ 45-405(a) table; § 45-290. R frontage 200 ft. R accessory buildings: front 30 ft; side and rear 10 ft (accessory buildings at least 30 ft from principal buildings on adjacent property).	30 ft	20 ft	30 ft	3 ac · 10% (lot coverage = all buildings) · Height 35 ft
SSuburban§ 45-405(a) table; § 45-290. S frontage 150 ft. S accessory buildings: front 30 ft; side and rear 10 ft.	30 ft	20 ft	30 ft	2 ac · 15% (lot coverage = all buildings) · Height 35 ft
VVillage§ 45-405(a) table; § 45-290. V frontage 100 ft; 75 ft (WS). V accessory buildings: front 30 ft; side and rear 10 ft.	30 ft; 25 ft (WS)	20 ft; 15 ft (WS)	30 ft; 25 ft (WS)	1 ac; 0.5 ac with public water and sewer (WS) · 20% (lot coverage = all buildings) · Height 35 ft
MUMixed Use§ 45-405(a) table and notes b, d, x; § 45-290. MU frontage 18 ft. MU accessory buildings: see § 45-424 (note x).	20 ft max	25 ft max (100 ft where abutting an existing residential use outside the zone)	5 ft min (100 ft where abutting an existing residential use outside the zone)	No minimum · 90% (lot coverage = all buildings) · Height see § 45-424 (note x); measured to eaves or base of parapet

Verified 2026-11-15 against Town of Eliot Municipal Code, Chapter 45 Zoning (§ 45-459 Accessory dwelling unit; § 45-405 Dimensional standards; § 45-290 Table of land uses; § 45-495 Parking) and Chapter 44 Shoreland Zoning. Towns amend ordinances, so confirm with the land-use office before you build. Official source

FAQ

ADUs in Eliot.

How big can an ADU be in Eliot?: 190 sq ft min; max 1,000 sq ft or 50% of the house, whichever is less; max 2 bedrooms, per § 45-459(c)(5) as read 2026-11-15.
Does the owner have to live on the lot in Eliot?: Owner must live in the house or the ADU as principal residence; recorded covenant required (§ 45-459(b), (c)(4), (c)(7), (c)(8)).
Can an ADU in Eliot be detached?: In the house, attached or sharing a wall, or in an accessory building, under § 45-459(c)(1).

Planning an ADU in Eliot?

Call (978) 987-0089 and we will say whether we can build there. See the ADU models

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