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.
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.
This spring, the Maine Trust for Local News (METLN) is partnering with GPCOG to bring this resource to life. The Maine ADU Housing Summit & Expo on Friday, May 15 at the University of Southern Maine in Portland will offer opportunities for homeowners and practitioners to connect in person, share best practices and accelerate timelines to build more ADUs in Maine.
The all-day event will convene the community of people in Maine working on ADUs and connect them with those who want to build an ADU. Organizers of the Maine ADU Summit & Expo say the new guide will serve as a cornerstone for the event.
“This is about translating policy into action,” said Sean Sullivan, Innovation and Experiential Strategy Lead at METLN. “MaineADUguide.org gives individuals clarity. The Summit builds on that by putting the whole community – experts, lenders, designers and municipal leaders – in the same room to share knowledge.”
The event itself is structured in three parts. First will be the daytime ADU Summit, a ticketed, professionals-only event focused on business-to-business and government-to-government conversations. It will feature panel discussions, presentations, and networking. Attendees will include municipal officials, planners, lenders, builders, architects, developers and other housing professionals.
In the late afternoon, the event transitions into a Consumer ADU Expo, which is free and open to the public. The trade show floor 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 rapid-fire consultations where homeowners can meet with lenders, builders, designers and others in quick meetings to get questions answered and define next steps.
The day concludes with 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 journalists and answer audience questions about their own builds, as well as housing, construction, and Maine’s evolving built environment.