The three overlays that turn buildable land into a permitting maze, and what to do before you spend a dollar on it* You own land in Maine. The zoning says residential. The tax map shows a buildable lot. Maybe you’ve even gotten informal confirmation from the town office that a house could go there. And…

If you own land in Maine — or you’re financing or developing it — you’ve probably heard that the state “banned single-family zoning.” That’s technically true, but it’s also an oversimplification that has caused real confusion on the ground. What did LD 2003 actually do? What did it leave alone? And what does it mean…