Off-Grid Living in Drew, Maine

Drew is a peculiar case for anyone researching off-grid rules in Maine, because Drew as a self-governing town essentially doesn't exist anymore. It was a plantation that went through de-organization in 2023, and it's now folded into a newly contiguous unorganized territory alongside Kingman and Prentiss. That matters enormously for off-grid living, because it means there's no town zoning ordinance, no local planning board, and no code enforcement officer to call. Instead, land use authority sits with the State of Maine's Land Use Planning Commission, known as LUPC, which handles planning and permitting for unorganized and deorganized territories statewide.

Zoning and raw land. LUPC's district maps, not a town ordinance, control what you can do with land in Drew. LUPC issues permits for construction projects, including home builds and camp renovations, based on the land use district your parcel falls in. I'd treat this as a "varies by district" situation, and you'd need to check with LUPC directly on your specific parcel.

Dwellings, tiny homes, RVs. I didn't find a distinct LUPC category for tiny homes or RVs used as dwellings. Structures are permitted case-by-case, with LUPC setting setbacks, dimensions, and height limits in each issued permit. Whether a seasonal-vs-permanent dwelling distinction under state building code (MUBEC) applies here isn't confirmed, so ask LUPC directly.

Building permits. You will need an LUPC building permit for new construction. Permits I reviewed show conditions requiring compliance with the state's wastewater program, a driveway entrance permit from Maine DOT, and a physical E-911 address from Penobscot County. Construction has to get started and finished within timeframes set in the permit itself, and those vary by permit, so don't assume any specific deadline without checking your paperwork.

Septic and composting toilets. These are permitted under the statewide Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules, administered by Maine's CDC Subsurface Wastewater Program. Because Drew has no town health officer, this state process is the only layer you're dealing with, alongside whatever a Licensed Site Evaluator recommends for your site.

Greywater. Same state process as septic, run through the Subsurface Wastewater Program, with no town-level add-on since Drew doesn't administer its own rules anymore.

Rainwater harvesting. I couldn't find any LUPC or state provision addressing this directly for Drew. Treat it as unconfirmed and ask LUPC or the state wastewater program if you have specific plans.

Wells. Private wells fall under the state's Water Well Commission rules, same as anywhere else in Maine, with no extra Drew-specific layer.

Utilities. I found nothing that mandates hookups to grid utilities. LUPC's building permit conditions focus on wastewater and access, not electrical or utility connections, but this isn't explicitly addressed either way in what I reviewed.

Bottom line: anyone looking at land in Drew should expect to deal directly with the state, not a town hall, for essentially every off-grid question.