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Kennebunk, Maine: what can you build or do?

Plain-English answers to common homeowner questions, taken from Kennebunk's published ordinances, with every rule linked to the section it comes from.

Last reviewed 2026-10-03

• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
  Yes. Kennebunk lists the accessory dwelling unit as a permitted use in its residential districts. It can be inside, attached to, or detached from a single-family home. One ADU is allowed per single-family lot, sized between 190 and 1,000 sq ft, and the owner must live in either the house or the ADU. The ADU can't be used as a short-term rental.Allowed
• Backyard Chickens
  Kennebunk's zoning has no rule specifically about backyard chickens. Raising livestock falls under 'agriculture', which is a permitted use in the Rural Conservation, Rural Residential, Coastal Residential and Suburban Residential districts. In Village Residential, agriculture is limited to crops unless the lot is 5 acres or more. State law now bars towns from banning hens on residential property, so the Village Residential limit may not be enforceable for hens.Depends on your zone
• Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb / VRBO)
  Yes, but since January 1, 2025 you must register each short-term rental (stays under 15 days) with the Town Clerk every year and pass a fire inspection by the Fire Department. The fee is $250 to register and $150 to renew. Accessory dwelling units can't be used as short-term rentals.Allowed with a permit
• Fences
  Kennebunk's zoning sets no fence height limit and no setback from property lines for a typical home. Fences are excluded from the definition of 'building', and the required yards are only kept clear of buildings. In the commercial design review districts, a fence change can trigger design review. Fences in the Historic Preservation Overlay may face other rules we didn't review.Allowed
• Sheds & Accessory Buildings
  Sheds and other accessory buildings are allowed in Kennebunk's residential districts, but they must meet the same setbacks as the house. In Suburban Residential that means 25 ft from the front and 20 ft from the side and rear lines. In Village Residential it's 20 ft front, 10 ft side and 15 ft rear. Kennebunk's zoning articles have no smaller setback for small sheds. Accessory buildings count toward the district's lot coverage limit (25% in SR and VR), and the height limit is 35 ft.Depends on your zone
• Burn Permits & Backyard Fires
  Burning brush, wood or a fire pit in Kennebunk requires a burn permit from the Kennebunk Fire Department or the Maine Forest Service. Permits are issued only on Class 1 or 2 fire-danger days. Residential burning on weekdays is allowed only from 5 PM to 9 AM. Gas or charcoal grills for cooking don't need a permit, and burning trash is illegal.Allowed with a permit
• Home-Based Businesses
  Yes. Home occupations are a permitted accessory use in Kennebunk's residential districts, as long as you meet the Article 10, Section 14 standards. You can have at most 1 full-time or 2 part-time non-resident employees and one sign of up to 2 sq ft. The business can use no more than 30% of the home's floor area or 600 sq ft, and can generate no more than 10 vehicle trips a day.Allowed
• Swimming Pools
  Kennebunk's zoning counts a swimming pool as a 'building', so a pool must meet your district's setbacks (for example 25 ft front and 20 ft side and rear in Suburban Residential) and counts toward lot coverage. The zoning articles we reviewed have no pool-specific rules on fencing or permits, so ask Code Enforcement about the building permit and barrier requirements.Allowed
• Building Near the Water (Shoreland Zoning)
  Kennebunk's Shoreland Overlay District requires buildings, driveways and other hard surfaces to be set back 100, 50 or 25 ft from the water or wetland, depending on the water body category. Lot coverage in the shoreland part of a residential lot is capped at 20%. Older buildings already inside the setback can't be expanded toward the water by more than 30% over their lifetime. Tree clearing is tightly limited within 75 to 100 ft of the shore.Restricted
• Docks, Piers & Floats
  Yes, with Planning Board approval. In Kennebunk's residential districts, a pier, dock or wharf is a special exception. It needs Planning Board review, then a building permit, plus a DEP permit if it's permanent. Your lot needs at least 60 ft of shore frontage. Private docks can be no wider than 4 ft and no longer than 100 ft in total (the Planning Board can modify the length if there's no other reasonable way to reach the water), and floats are limited to 200 sq ft.Allowed with board review