Plain-English answers to common homeowner questions, taken from York's published ordinances, with every rule linked to the section it comes from.
Last reviewed
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Yes. York allows one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) per single-family lot in every zone, inside the house, attached, or in a detached accessory building. You need a building permit and an occupancy permit from the Code Enforcement Officer, and no Planning Board approval. The ADU can be no larger than 850 sq ft or 50% of the main house's floor area, whichever is smaller, and no short-term rentals are allowed anywhere on a lot with an ADU.Allowed with a permit
Backyard Chickens York's ordinances have no backyard-chicken rules: no hen limit, rooster ban, coop setback or chicken permit. The Zoning Ordinance allows "General Purpose Farm, Agriculture" (which includes poultry raised for sale) in RES-1, RES-2, RES-3 and RES-7 but expressly prohibits it in RES-4, RES-5, RES-6 and several village and business zones. State law now bars towns from banning hens on residential property.Depends on your zone
Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb / VRBO) York's Zoning Ordinance lists "Short-Term Residential Rental" (stays of 30 days or less) as a permitted use in its residential zones, with the Code Enforcement Officer as the permitting authority, and requires 1.25 parking spaces per bedroom. STRs are banned on any lot with an accessory dwelling unit. The ordinance says permitting standards are in a separate Short-Term Residential Rental Ordinance, which we didn't have, so confirm current registration rules with Code Enforcement.Allowed with a permit
Fences York's Zoning Ordinance sets no separate fence height limits for front or back yards. Fences 7 feet tall or less are exempt from the zoning setbacks, so they can go up to the property line. A fence taller than 7 feet must meet the same setbacks as other structures. Near street corners, fences that block sight lines aren't allowed within a 20-foot triangle, and in a historic district you need Historic District Commission approval.Allowed
Sheds & Accessory Buildings A shed is an accessory structure and normally has to meet your zone's full setbacks: from 50 ft front and 30 ft side/rear (RES-1A, RES-2, RES-3) down to 20 ft front and 12 ft side/rear (RES-5, RES-6, RES-7). One "minor" shed per lot (150 sq ft or less, walls no taller than 10 ft, no utilities) may sit just 5 ft from any property line if the lot is in the Growth Area and in certain zones, including RES-1A/1B, RES-5, RES-6 and RES-7. The height limit is 35 ft. The Zoning Ordinance doesn't set a size threshold for building permits, so check with Code Enforcement.Depends on your zone
Burn Permits & Backyard Fires York has no local open-burning ordinance for backyards, so state rules apply. You need a burn permit for brush burning and for recreational campfires on bare ground. The York Beach Fire Department issues permits at its station after 9 AM and issues none on Class 3 or higher fire-danger days. Grills and outdoor fireplaces used for cooking don't need a permit. Fires on York's beaches are banned unless the Selectboard approves a special event permit.Allowed with a permit
Home-Based Businesses Yes. York allows one home occupation per single-family home with a Use Permit from the Code Enforcement Officer. The allowed size depends on your area's class on the town's Home Occupation Classes map: Class 1 is up to 450 sq ft inside the house with one outside employee; Class 3 is up to 1,600 sq ft with three employees. You can have one unlit sign of up to 4 sq ft.Allowed with a permit
Swimming Pools York's Zoning Ordinance has no pool-specific rules. It doesn't set pool setbacks, fencing or barrier requirements, or a pool permit. An in-ground or above-ground pool fixed to the ground likely counts as a "structure," so ask Code Enforcement whether the zone's setbacks and the Shoreland rules apply, and about building-code barrier requirements.Not specifically regulated
Building Near the Water (Shoreland Zoning) York's Shoreland Overlay District covers land within 250 ft of tidal waters, coastal wetlands and certain ponds, and you need a Shoreland Permit for most work there. New houses and accessory structures must be set back 100 ft from the normal high-water mark in the Resource Protection, Limited Residential and Mixed-Use subdistricts. Older buildings closer to the water can expand only within strict footprint and height caps. A vegetated buffer of 75 to 100 ft limits tree cutting and clearing.Allowed with board review
Docks, Piers & Floats Possibly, but York's rules are strict. Any new or altered dock, pier or float in tidal waters needs prior approval from the York Harbor Board after a public hearing ($50 fee, engineer-certified plan), then a Shoreland Permit from the Code Enforcement Officer. On the York River, a new pier is allowed only on a tract that had river frontage as of 1977 and has no existing pier. Floats are capped at 200 sq ft per pier, and only one pier is allowed per lot.Allowed with board review