Maine Land Use Planning Commission – Augusta, ME

Maine Land Use Planning Commission

Agency Overview

The Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) serves as the planning and zoning authority for the state’s unorganized and deorganized areas, which cover nearly half of Maine’s land area. Headquartered in the Harlow Building at the Eastside Campus in Augusta, the Commission acts as the municipal authority for these regions, managing land use activities to balance development with natural resource conservation. The LUPC is responsible for guiding growth in areas without local government, ensuring that projects ranging from residential camps to large-scale commercial developments adhere to environmental and structural standards.

Key Services and Responsibilities

Property owners and developers in the LUPC’s jurisdiction rely on the agency for several critical functions:

• Permitting: Reviewing and issuing permits for building construction, subdivisions, and development projects.
• Zoning and Planning: Maintaining zoning maps and reviewing petitions to change land use districts (rezoning).
• Compliance and Enforcement: Inspecting properties to ensure compliance with land use laws and investigating violations.
• Comprehensive Planning: Developing long-term plans to guide the future use of land in the unorganized territories.

Location and Access

The Central Office is located at 18 Elkins Lane within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. While the office is staffed during regular business hours, the Commission strongly encourages the public to schedule an appointment before visiting to ensure the appropriate staff member is available. The facility is wheelchair accessible and offers free parking. For many inquiries, including accessing zoning maps and application forms, the Commission’s website is the most efficient resource.