3 min read

As Maine continues to grapple with a housing shortage, a growing number of homeowners, municipalities and builders are exploring one newly accessible and practical solution: accessory dwelling units, commonly known as ADUs. In recent years, Maine lawmakers passed sweeping zoning reforms requiring towns and cities to allow at least one ADU on most residential lots. Practically overnight, thousands of Maine homeowners gained the legal right to build an in-law apartment, backyard cottage, or converted garage, often without fully understanding how to begin or how the investment could help their household and increase their property’s value.

These law changes are piquing the interest of Maine residents. Google search data from the past year shows a marked increase in Maine-based searches for terms like “ADU” – an indicator that curiosity is accelerating as housing pressures mount. Municipalities have had to figure out how to implement the state law into their existing zoning rules. Some, such as Saco, Brunswick and Kittery have begun offering local incentives through the Midcoast Council of Governments ADU Boost Pilot Program. Banks and credit unions are rolling out loan products tailored specifically to ADU construction, and builders are adopting modular solutions and new floor plans that can fit into smaller spaces.

WHAT IS AN ADU? | ADU stands for accessory dwelling unit, a second, smaller dwelling located on the same property as a main single-family residence. | ADUs can be attached or freestanding and can be used to house family members or, depending on the local laws, generate rental income. | It’s pronounced by saying the letters individually: ‘A-D-U’ (‘ay-dee-you’)

That knowledge gap is precisely what a new statewide resource aims to address. MaineADUguide.org, launched by the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) with support from the State of Maine, serves as a central, public-facing hub for ADU information. The site offers plain-language explanations of costs, design options, financing pathways and permitting requirements, as well as an interactive “ADU Wizard” that lets property owners check what may be allowed on their specific lot.

Sarae Pacetta and her parents were able to complete this 1,100-square-foot ADU with two bedrooms, one and a half bathrooms, central air conditioning, and a sunroom for $400,000—about the same amount her parents received from selling their home in Georgia. The modular home was built by Backyard ADUs. Courtesy MaineADUguide.org

This spring, the Maine Trust for Local News (METLN) is partnering with GPCOG to bring this resource to life. The Maine ADU Housing Expo on Friday, May 15 at the University of Southern Maine in Portland will be a place where homeowners and practitioners can connect in person, share best practices and accelerate timelines to build more ADUs in Maine.

The free afternoon event will be open to homeowners exploring whether an ADU could work for their family or property. Exhibitors will include builders, designers, financial institutions and service providers, alongside hands-on workshops and panel discussions that will help people define their next steps, create a potential timeline, or get creative about financing.

As the Expo concludes, attendees are welcome to stay for a Maine Voices Live event in Hannaford Hall with special guests – the cast of the Maine Cabin Masters, who will be interviewed live on stage by METLN Executive Editor Carolyn Fox and answer audience questions about their own builds, as well as housing, construction and Maine’s evolving built environment.