Plain-English answers to common homeowner questions, taken from Freeport's published ordinances, with every rule linked to the section it comes from.
Last reviewed
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Yes. Freeport allows one ADU on a lot with a single-family home (or one or two single-family homes, or a duplex). It can be inside the house, an addition, in an accessory building that already existed on January 1, 2024, or a new detached building that meets the house setbacks. It can be no larger than 1,100 sq ft or 75% of the main home's floor area, whichever is smaller, and no smaller than 190 sq ft. You need a building permit and a Certificate of Occupancy from Codes Enforcement.Allowed with a permit
Backyard Chickens Freeport has no ordinance written specifically for backyard hens: no hen limit, no rooster ban, and no coop setback rule. Zoning treats poultry as 'Agriculture', a permitted use in the rural and medium-density residential districts (RR-I, RR-II, MDR-I, MDR-II, MD-A/B) but not listed for Village I. Since Sept. 24, 2025, state law bars towns from banning hens on residential property, so confirm with Codes Enforcement how your district is treated.Depends on your zone
Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb / VRBO) Yes, but you need an annual short-term rental registration from the Freeport Town Clerk before you list or rent. A short-term rental is any stay under 28 days. Occupancy is capped at 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 more, every guest vehicle needs an off-street space, and the town issues no more than 300 registrations per year. Renting no more than twice a year for under 14 total days doesn't count as a short-term rental.Allowed with a permit
Fences Freeport's Zoning Ordinance has no fence section, so it sets no fence height limit and no setback from property lines; this rests on the code's silence, plus the fact that fences are excluded from the definition of 'structure', so district setbacks don't apply. On a corner lot, nothing between 3 and 10 feet tall may sit within the 20-foot sight triangle at the intersection.Allowed
Sheds & Accessory Buildings Plan on a building permit from Codes Enforcement. Freeport requires one for any building or structure covered by the state building code, and the zoning ordinance has no small-shed exemption. In the rural districts (RR-I, RR-II), a storage shed up to 200 sq ft and 12 ft tall must be at least 25 ft from side and rear lines. Everywhere else, sheds must meet the district's full setbacks, for example 20 ft side and 30 ft rear in MDR-I and MDR-II.Allowed with a permit
Burn Permits & Backyard Fires We found no Freeport rules on brush burning, backyard fire pits, or burn permits in the ordinances we reviewed. The town has adopted the NFPA 1 Fire Code, which is enforced by the Fire Chief. Before you burn anything, check with Freeport Fire Rescue and get a permit through the Maine Forest Service online burn permit system.Not specifically regulated
Home-Based Businesses Yes. Home occupations are allowed in every Freeport zoning district if they stay secondary to living in the home. Limits: no more than 25% of the home's floor area (basement excluded) or 600 sq ft of an accessory building, at most 2 non-resident employees on site, enough off-street parking for employees and customers, and no nuisance noise, odor, or traffic. Signs must follow the town Sign Ordinance.Allowed
Swimming Pools Yes. Freeport zoning treats outdoor swimming pools as structures, so a pool must meet your district's setbacks (for example 30 ft front, 20 ft side, and 30 ft rear in MDR-I and MDR-II) and needs a building permit from Codes Enforcement. The zoning ordinance has no pool-fence rule; Maine's building code leaves pool fencing to towns, so ask Codes whether Freeport requires a barrier when you apply.Allowed with a permit
Building Near the Water (Shoreland Zoning) Freeport's Shoreland Zone covers land within 250 ft of the ocean, tidal areas, and freshwater wetlands, and within 75 ft of streams. New houses, additions, and sheds must be at least 75 ft from the high-water line or wetland edge (250 ft in Resource Protection 1). Inside the 75-ft buffer, clearing is limited to openings of 250 sq ft or less, and most work needs a Codes Enforcement permit.Allowed with a permit
Docks, Piers & Floats Yes, with approval. For tidal waters, your first step is approval from the Freeport Coastal Waters Commission. After that you need a town building permit, a Maine DEP Natural Resources Protection Act permit, and an Army Corps of Engineers permit. You may have one pier, dock, or float per lot, the lot needs at least 60 ft of shore frontage, and the project can extend no more than 125 ft from the highest annual tide line.Allowed with board review