Gov. Janet Mills on Wednesday signed a bill aimed at facilitating the development of affordable housing by reforming zoning laws and cutting red tape, a top priority for advocates during this year’s legislative session.
The bill, LD 2003, is an effort to begin to address Maine’s affordable housing crisis by reducing barriers to the construction of units. Among other stipulations, the bill makes it easier for property owners to build accessory dwelling units on lots zoned for single-family use. The legislation was passed with bipartisan support in the House and Senate.
The measure comes as some advocates worry that Maine’s housing crisis is spiraling out of control. The numbers behind that crisis are startling. The state is experiencing a shortage of about 20,000 affordable options and around 25,000 Maine households are on a waitlist for federal Section 8 housing vouchers. In addition, nearly 60% of renters in the state spend half their income on housing.
Low-income Mainers are bearing the brunt of the crisis. A study from 2021 found that the average wage needed in the state to afford a two-bedroom rental home was $21.39 an hour, far above Maine’s $12.75 an hour minimum wage.
“States all over the country are struggling with housing shortages, and Maine is no exception,” said House Speaker Ryan Fecteau (D-Biddeford), the sponsor of LD 2003. “Today we are taking action in an entirely new way to grow our housing supply to meet demand. We’re seeing rising home and rent costs...
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