Skowhegan, ME Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

The setback rule is Section (10)B of the Skowhegan Building Safety Ordinance, which was adopted March 10, 1997 and amended through June 11, 2018. Section (3) limits the whole ordinance to existing and new structures, both principal and accessory, that are constructed or placed for human habitation or occupancy. The Town has no general zoning ordinance in its posted set, so Section (10)B prints one set of minimums for the whole Town in place of a table by district.

Outside the shoreland zone, all new principal and accessory structures, and expansions of existing structures that do not have common walls, or firewalls and sprinklers, must be set back a minimum of five feet from side and rear property lines. The front distance is determined by the Road Commissioner but cannot be less than five feet. The ordinance puts the burden of finding the line on the owner: the physical location of the property lines is the responsibility of the property owner or their agent.

In the Shoreland Zone all structures must be set back at least 75 feet from the normal high-water mark of rivers and streams and 100 feet from lakes and ponds. Depending on the shoreland district, 250 feet can be required. Because of that complexity, anyone contemplating work within 250 feet of any water body (brook, river, pond, lake, or wetland) must contact the Code Enforcement Officer for a specific setback determination.

Two exceptions are printed. Under Section (10)C, a new principal or accessory structure with a common wall to a structure on an adjacent lot can be built without a setback from that property line if it is a sprinkled structure and/or is fire-resistant construction as determined by the International Building Codes; all other setbacks stay in force. Under Section (10)D, a structure with a Fire Wall as defined in the State-adopted International Building Code that is also sprinkled can skip the rear or side setback, but only if the Code Enforcement Officer and Fire Chief approve the construction and plans in writing before construction starts. Section (9)D lets a non-conforming lot of record outside the Shoreland Zone be built on if every provision except set-back can be met.