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Rep. Traci Gere
July 15, 2025
New law requires towns to share housing data in a state registry
In an effort to accurately track housing builds in Maine, larger municipalities are now required to keep a registry and annually file with the state details on all housing construction projects.
The new law, signed by Gov. Janet Mills July 7, is in response to the push to meet Maine’s need for 84,000 more homes by 2030, as identified in the 2023 State of Maine Housing study.
LD 1184 mandates that all municipalities with over 4,000 residents must file with the Department of Economic and Community Development by Jan. 31 data for the previous year on the issuance of residential building permits, dwelling and occupancy permits and even records of buildings demolished within their town.
The law applies to all forms of housing from single-family, including those with accessory dwelling units, to multi-family developments.
Also required is tracking of all approvals for affordable housing units for individuals or families whose incomes are 80% or less than the area median income, as determined by the Maine State Housing Authority by county.
Few municipalities share housing data with the state, though the city of Portland does track housing and MaineHousing keeps details on affordable housing projects.
Bill co-sponsor Rep. Traci Gere, D-District 134, Kennebunkport, who chairs the legislature’s Housing and Economic Development Committee, told Mainebiz that the cost to municipalities is projected to be insignificant, and the Maine Office of Community Affairs staff will be providing an easy-to-use form and supporting municipalities in the process.
"Working people in Maine must be able to rent and buy homes at affordable prices,” Gere said. “We have a big housing goal to reach in order to make this happen, and tracking our progress is essential to knowing what's working, sharing those strategies among all Maine communities, and celebrating our success.”
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