Me. Rev. Stat. » Title 30-A
Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 30-A, § 4312 (2026)

Statement of findings, purpose and goals

✓ current as of May 2026
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1.  Legislative findings. 
[PL 1991, c. 622, Pt. F, §16 (RP).]
2.  Legislative purpose.  The Legislature declares that it is the purpose of this subchapter to:  
A. Establish, in each municipality of the State, local comprehensive planning and land use management;   [PL 1991, c. 622, Pt. F, §17 (AMD).]
B. Encourage municipalities to identify the tools and resources to effectively plan for and manage future development within their jurisdictions with a maximum of local initiative and flexibility;   [PL 1991, c. 622, Pt. F, §17 (AMD).]
C. Encourage local land use ordinances, tools and policies based on local comprehensive plans;   [PL 1991, c. 622, Pt. F, §17 (AMD).]
D. Incorporate regional considerations into local planning and decision making so as to ensure consideration of regional needs and the regional impact of development;   [PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW).]
E. [PL 1991, c. 622, Pt. F, §18 (RP).]
F. Provide for continued direct state regulation of development proposals that occur in areas of statewide concern, that directly impact natural resources of statewide significance or that by their scale or nature otherwise affect vital state interests;   [PL 2001, c. 578, §7 (AMD).]
G. Encourage the widest possible involvement by the citizens of each municipality in all aspects of the planning and implementation process, in order to ensure that the plans developed by municipalities have had the benefit of citizen input; and   [PL 2001, c. 578, §7 (AMD).]
H. [PL 1991, c. 622, Pt. F, §20 (RP).]
I. [PL 2025, c. 393, §14 (RP).]
J. Encourage cooperation and efficiency among municipalities in the development of multimunicipal growth management programs, multimunicipal comprehensive plans, regional inventory and analyses and local and regional policy development.   [PL 2025, c. 393, §15 (NEW).]
[RR 2025, c. 1, Pt. A, §41 (COR).]
3.  State goals.  The Legislature hereby establishes a set of state goals to provide overall direction and consistency to the planning and regulatory actions of all state and municipal agencies affecting natural resource management, land use and development. The Legislature declares that, in order to promote and protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the State, it is in the best interests of the State to achieve the following goals:  
A. To encourage orderly growth and development in appropriate areas of each community and region while protecting the State's rural character, working lands, natural resources and natural resource-based industries and preventing development sprawl and sprawl-associated impacts on public health, safety and welfare;   [PL 2025, c. 393, §16 (AMD).]
B. To plan for, finance and develop an efficient system of public facilities, transportation infrastructure and public services to accommodate anticipated growth and economic development;   [PL 2025, c. 393, §17 (AMD).]
C. To promote an economic climate which increases job opportunities and overall economic well-being;   [PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW).]
D. To promote and work to ensure choice, economic diversity and affordability in housing for low-income and moderate-income households and use housing policy to remove barriers to housing production and to help address disparities in access to educational, occupational and other opportunities;   [PL 2025, c. 393, §18 (AMD).]
D-1. To promote land use policies and land use ordinances that encourage housing in proximity to jobs and services;   [PL 2025, c. 393, §19 (NEW).]
E. To protect and improve the quality and to manage the quantity of the State's water resources, including lakes, aquifers, great ponds, estuaries, rivers and coastal areas;   [PL 2025, c. 393, §20 (AMD).]
F. To protect the State's other critical natural resources, including without limitation, wetlands, wildlife and fisheries habitat, sand dunes, shorelands, scenic vistas and unique natural areas;   [PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW).]
G. To protect the State's marine resources industry, ports and harbors from incompatible development and to promote access to the shore for persons who fish commercially and the public;   [PL 2025, c. 393, §21 (AMD).]
H. To safeguard the State's agricultural and forest resources from development which threatens those resources;   [PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §45 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §10 (NEW).]
I. To preserve the State's historic and archeological resources;   [PL 2015, c. 349, §1 (AMD).]
J. To promote and protect the availability of outdoor recreation opportunities for all Maine citizens, including access to surface waters;   [PL 2019, c. 38, §2 (AMD); PL 2019, c. 145, §2 (AMD); PL 2019, c. 153, §1 (AMD).]
K. [PL 2021, c. 657, §2 (RP).]
L. To encourage municipalities to develop policies that accommodate older adults with aging in place, including the creation of age-friendly communities; and   [PL 2025, c. 393, §22 (AMD).]
Revisor's Note: Subsection 3, paragraph L as enacted by PL 2019, c. 145, §4 is REALLOCATED TO TITLE 30-A, SECTION 4312, SUBSECTION 3, PARAGRAPH M
Revisor's Note: Subsection 3, paragraph L as enacted by PL 2019, c. 153, §3 is REALLOCATED TO TITLE 30-A, SECTION 4312, SUBSECTION 3, PARAGRAPH N
M. (REALLOCATED FROM T. 30-A, §4312, sub-§3, ¶L) [PL 2021, c. 657, §4 (RP).]
N. (REALLOCATED FROM T. 30-A, §4312, sub-§3, ¶L) To plan for the effects of natural hazards, including but not limited to rising sea level, coastal and riverine flooding and extreme weather, on buildings, transportation infrastructure, sewage treatment facilities and other relevant state, regional, municipal or privately held infrastructure, property or resources.   [PL 2025, c. 393, §23 (AMD).]
[PL 2025, c. 393, §§16-23 (AMD).]
4.  Limitation on state rule-making authority.  The department is authorized to adopt rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this subchapter. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A. This section may not be construed to grant any separate regulatory authority to any state agency beyond that necessary to implement this subchapter.  
[PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. JJ, §15 (AMD); PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. JJ, §41 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1989, c. 104, §§A45,C10 (NEW). PL 1991, c. 622, §§F16-20 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 406, §2 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 578, §§7-9 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. JJ, §15 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. JJ, §41 (AFF). PL 2015, c. 349, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 38, §§2-4 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 145, §§2-4 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 153, §§1-3 (AMD). RR 2019, c. 1, Pt. A, §§37-39 (COR). PL 2021, c. 293, Pt. A, §§44, 45 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 657, §§1-4 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 393, §§14-23 (AMD). RR 2025, c. 1, Pt. A, §41 (COR).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases, 2000–2016 · leading case: Home Builders Ass'n of Maine, Inc. v. Town of Eliot, 2000 ME 82 (Me. 2000).
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Home Builders Ass'n of Maine, Inc. v. Town of Eliot, 2000 ME 82 (Me. 2000). · cites it 5× “30-A M.R.S.A. § 4312(2) (1996). The Legislature also announced that it is in the State’s best interest to achieve the following goals: A.”
Francis Small Heritage Trust, Inc. v. Town of Limington, 2014 ME 102 (Me. 2014). · cites it 2× “of public access to [outdoor] recreation opportunities and the protection of the scenic and natural environment are essential for preserving the State’s high quality of life” and that the “public interest in the future quality and availability for all Maine people of lands for…”
Nestle Waters North Am., Inc. v. Town of Fryeburg, 2009 ME 30 (Me. 2009). · cites it 2× “” 30-A M.R.S. § 4312(2)(A) (2008). A town may accomplish that purpose, as Fryeburg has, by adopting a comprehensive plan consistent with legislative guidelines.”
Friends of the Motherhouse v. City of Portland (Me. Super. Ct 2016). “See 30-A M.R.S. §§ 4312(3)(A), (D), (I); Exhibit L-2 at 21, 43, 71.”
ALC Dev. Corp. v. Town of Maine (Me. Super. Ct 2005). “30-A M.RS.A. § 4312(3)(A) (Supp. 2004). Among the “local goals” listed were to encourage the growth of town and neighborhood centers as viable areas that support a mix of Formerly §4326(3)(A).”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 30-A, § 4312(2) — 1 case
Home Builders Ass'n of Maine, Inc. v. Town of Eliot, 2000 ME 82 (Me. 2000). “30-A M.R.S.A. § 4312(2) (1996). The Legislature also announced that it is in the State’s best interest to achieve the following goals: A.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 30-A, § 4312(2)(A) — 1 case
Nestle Waters North Am., Inc. v. Town of Fryeburg, 2009 ME 30 (Me. 2009). “” 30-A M.R.S. § 4312(2)(A) (2008). A town may accomplish that purpose, as Fryeburg has, by adopting a comprehensive plan consistent with legislative guidelines.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 30-A, § 4312(2)(B) — 1 case
Home Builders Ass'n of Maine, Inc. v. Town of Eliot, 2000 ME 82 (Me. 2000). “30-A M.R.S.A. § 4312(2) (1996). The Legislature also announced that it is in the State’s best interest to achieve the following goals: A.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 30-A, § 4312(2)(C) — 1 case
Nestle Waters North Am., Inc. v. Town of Fryeburg, 2009 ME 30 (Me. 2009). “” 30-A M.R.S. § 4312(2)(A) (2008). A town may accomplish that purpose, as Fryeburg has, by adopting a comprehensive plan consistent with legislative guidelines.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 30-A, § 4312(3) — 1 case
Home Builders Ass'n of Maine, Inc. v. Town of Eliot, 2000 ME 82 (Me. 2000). “30-A M.R.S.A. § 4312(2) (1996). The Legislature also announced that it is in the State’s best interest to achieve the following goals: A.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 30-A, § 4312(3)(A) — 3 cases
Home Builders Ass'n of Maine, Inc. v. Town of Eliot, 2000 ME 82 (Me. 2000). “30-A M.R.S.A. § 4312(2) (1996). The Legislature also announced that it is in the State’s best interest to achieve the following goals: A.”
Friends of the Motherhouse v. City of Portland (Me. Super. Ct 2016). “See 30-A M.R.S. §§ 4312(3)(A), (D), (I); Exhibit L-2 at 21, 43, 71.”
ALC Dev. Corp. v. Town of Maine (Me. Super. Ct 2005). “30-A M.RS.A. § 4312(3)(A) (Supp. 2004). Among the “local goals” listed were to encourage the growth of town and neighborhood centers as viable areas that support a mix of Formerly §4326(3)(A).”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 30-A, § 4312(3)(F) — 1 case
Francis Small Heritage Trust, Inc. v. Town of Limington, 2014 ME 102 (Me. 2014). “of public access to [outdoor] recreation opportunities and the protection of the scenic and natural environment are essential for preserving the State’s high quality of life” and that the “public interest in the future quality and availability for all Maine people of lands for…”
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