When buying a Maine waterfront property always make your offer contingent on having a satisfactory discussion with the local Code Enforcement Officer. No matter how knowledgeable your buyer’s agent may be, he or she has no jurisdiction over the application of state and local rules and ordinances. The Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) does.
Make an appointment to meet the CEO at the property. Walk the property with him or her and be prepared to ask questions. Here are some suggestions.
A good place to start is to confirm the things you already think you know. Never assume! For example, how close to the water can I build? What are the sideline setbacks? How far do I need to be from the road? Is that distance measured from the middle of the road or the side of the road? What are the location requirements for my septic tank, leach field, and well? If there is an existing structure in the 100 foot zone, can I utilize the 30% expansion rule?
Regarding what can and cannot be done within the 100 foot protected zone, here is a list of questions you may want to ask:
What bushes and trees can I cut down?
Can I prune back the bushes that grow along the shoreline?
Can I remove a half-dead or diseased tree?
Can I disturb a wildlife habitat, e.g. woodchuck burrow, bobolink nest, or beaver dam?
Can I keep a field area mowed and fertilized?
Can I pasture a horse in this area? What about other animals?
Where can I put in a dock and how big can it be?
Are there any limitations for boat and motor size for this body of water?
Can I have a firepit down by the water?
Can I plant anything I want, from vegetable garden to trees and schrubs?
Can I use Round Up to kill off the poison ivy growing along the shoreline?
Can I move rocks, branches, leaves and debris that are currently under water?
Where can I move them to? To one side underwater, or can I remove them from  the water and dispose of them?
These are some of the more common questions that come up when buyers contemplate a lakefront property purchase. Remember – make sure you protect yourself by always adding this contingency to your offer: “Offer is contingent upon having a satisfactory discussion with the local Code Enforcement Officer”. Do your homework, ask good questions and make sure to get clear, satisfactory answers. Do this and you may save yourself some bitter disappointments and difficulties after the sale has closed.
By the way, if you’d like to take a look at some current lakefront listings it’s as easy as clicking right here on our Lakefront Locator. View all the current lakefront listings for the entire state on this single website!