Off-Grid Living in Swans Island, Maine

I'll be upfront: Swan's Island is a small, sparsely regulated island town in Maine, and when I went digging for off-grid rules there, I found less of a rulebook than I expected. That's not necessarily bad news for someone wanting to live simply and remotely, but it does mean more homework on your end.

Zoning. The town does have a Shoreland Zoning Ordinance, first passed in 1975 and last amended in 2003, and it covers land within the mapped shoreland zone (near the coast and water bodies). Outside that zone, the town's own 2022 Comprehensive Plan says there is currently no general or comprehensive zoning ordinance. So if your land is inland and outside the shoreland strip, you're mostly dealing with building/plumbing permitting and the Subdivision Ordinance rather than a zoning district map. If you're anywhere near the shore, assume the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance applies and check with the town.

Dwellings, tiny homes, RVs. I could not confirm a specific town rule allowing or barring a tiny home or RV as a permanent single-lot residence. The only ordinance language I found that mentions RVs, yurts, and similar structures is the Campground and Glampground Ordinance, which governs commercial glamping operations, not someone parking a trailer on their own land. If that's your plan, call the Code Enforcement Office before you commit.

Building permits. These are handled locally by the Code Enforcement Officer (CEO), who reviews permit applications and enforces the town's land use and zoning ordinances. A quick call to that office is the fastest way to find out whether your specific project needs a permit.

Septic and composting toilets. Maine's Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules (state law, administered locally by Swan's Island's Local Plumbing Inspector, who is the same person as the CEO) govern this. State law is clear that you can't build a structure needing a wastewater system until you've documented compliance. Alternative toilets other than pit privies get an exception from the usual licensed-site-evaluator requirement.

Greywater. Falls under that same state wastewater code; I found no separate town greywater rule.

Rainwater harvesting. I found nothing at the town or state level specifically addressing this. Not confirmed either way, worth a direct question to the CEO.

Wells. No town-specific well ordinance turned up; state Water Well Commission standards apply. The town's Comprehensive Plan does flag water as a limited resource on the island, which is worth keeping in mind practically even where it isn't a legal barrier.

Off-grid/utility-disconnected living. No explicit town rule permits or bans this, but any structure will still need to clear CEO review under building and septic rules, so full utility disconnection isn't automatically exempt from permitting.

Bottom line: Swan's Island leaves a lot of gaps in writing, which cuts both ways. Confirm everything site-specific with the Code Enforcement / Plumbing Inspector before you buy or build.