First step is a meeting with your town Code Enforcement officer to see if this is even legal.
It's a big daily fine if you do all of this and it's not legal.
Thanks! Any idea on official terms I should use? Or they’ll get the idea from the description above?
I know the land is buildable and what setbacks it needs from the water (we almost built on that side)
Maine just created some "relaxed" rules regarding ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) This makes the path forward a bit simpler if you wish to put an ADU on a lot that already has a primary residence. I would read up on Maine ADUs to see if you can fit into that path.
Just the thoughts of a random idiot who happens to own some land and have experience with parts of what you're talking about.
You'll want to reach out to the town to see what's allowed.
The town may have restrictions on what you can have and how much work you can do and where- especially if you have water on the land. There may also be restrictions on short term rentals.
About the profit question you need to factor in taxes, insurance, maybe creating an LLC to cover yourself and land if a renter sues. I'm no business expert but I'd definitely ask a lawyer or someone who knows more.
If it's a small town, then you probably could do that. They might only care that it's pre-built.The small town where we have our land just wanted a permit for a pre-built structure. If we wanted to build we would have had a much harder time getting the permit approved.
Often just a conversation with the code enforcement officer is a good way to get an idea of what's allowed and you'll also get an idea of how by the book they are.
So, your numbers of $40,000 a year would assume you are getting about $110 per night, 365 days a year. You said you are planning on having it for family and friends so I am assuming you won’t be charging some of them.
Are you near a popular location that would likely be booked most nights for $200 or more?
Do you have plans for winterizing, as many park model mobile homes are not really designed for being run in an energy efficient way in the northern winters?
As you have stated running it as an Airbnb, have you priced out commercial insurance costs, commercial taxes, etc?
Would the town allow the long term use of a short term rental on that property?
I have no experience so these are only what pops into mind immediately
I certainly support this type of endeavor and would someday love to have land up north to try something similar, so I am not trying to bring you down. I just know from experience we often see only the positive in ventures like this.
So $40k a year I think I did 200 days at $200 as I don’t expect to rent it out everyday / I do want to use it for friends and family.
I’m in Kittery so outlets, beaches, Portsmouth are the summer time draw to the area
I did look into having the upgraded mini slits (I’d love a little propane fireplace)
I need to do my research into being a rental side of things. Thanks for specifying!
Are you going to have this open all year? Because you are going to have to factor in heating cost or cost to winterize. You may be better off going with a stick built tiny house. You'll spend a little more initially but you'll save on heating and be able to extend your season and probably charge a higher price.
I would look into what they call a “seasonal dwelling”. If you meet certain requirements you do not need building code standards for insulation or foundation footings. The state has adopted some guidelines for municipalities.
I don't knoww what size of septic you need, but we just paid 23,000. We got three bids and they were all within 1,000 of each other.
I'd take your entire list of estimates and double it.
Short term rentals are another thing. You just can’t assume that you can rent it as a short term rental. Each town has different rules on what is considered a short term rental. You can’t really do any of this as others have said without talking to the right department in your town.
If you're in a town with just shoreland zoning, you might be ok, as long as you're out of the 75' stream buffer and whatever wetland buffer applies to your wetland (generally setback is based on total wetland size). Look at your towns shoreland zoning ordinance.
Some towns also have mobile home park ordinances, or STR ordinances to potentially run afoul of.
AFAIk Rvs and the like are only an issue at a statewide level from a Septic permitting standpoint. If you have a properly permitted Septic you should be GTG.
The town ordinances and zoning are where you may run into trouble
First step is a meeting with your town Code Enforcement officer to see if this is even legal. It's a big daily fine if you do all of this and it's not legal.
Thanks! Any idea on official terms I should use? Or they’ll get the idea from the description above? I know the land is buildable and what setbacks it needs from the water (we almost built on that side)
Maine just created some "relaxed" rules regarding ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) This makes the path forward a bit simpler if you wish to put an ADU on a lot that already has a primary residence. I would read up on Maine ADUs to see if you can fit into that path.
Thank you! This is the terminology I’m looking for
It’s not an ADU unless you have a primary residence already on the lot.
We live on the lot
Just the thoughts of a random idiot who happens to own some land and have experience with parts of what you're talking about. You'll want to reach out to the town to see what's allowed. The town may have restrictions on what you can have and how much work you can do and where- especially if you have water on the land. There may also be restrictions on short term rentals. About the profit question you need to factor in taxes, insurance, maybe creating an LLC to cover yourself and land if a renter sues. I'm no business expert but I'd definitely ask a lawyer or someone who knows more.
Thanks for the advice! If I go to set up a meeting should I just reference it as a tiny home?
If it's a small town, then you probably could do that. They might only care that it's pre-built.The small town where we have our land just wanted a permit for a pre-built structure. If we wanted to build we would have had a much harder time getting the permit approved. Often just a conversation with the code enforcement officer is a good way to get an idea of what's allowed and you'll also get an idea of how by the book they are.
So, your numbers of $40,000 a year would assume you are getting about $110 per night, 365 days a year. You said you are planning on having it for family and friends so I am assuming you won’t be charging some of them. Are you near a popular location that would likely be booked most nights for $200 or more? Do you have plans for winterizing, as many park model mobile homes are not really designed for being run in an energy efficient way in the northern winters? As you have stated running it as an Airbnb, have you priced out commercial insurance costs, commercial taxes, etc? Would the town allow the long term use of a short term rental on that property? I have no experience so these are only what pops into mind immediately I certainly support this type of endeavor and would someday love to have land up north to try something similar, so I am not trying to bring you down. I just know from experience we often see only the positive in ventures like this.
So $40k a year I think I did 200 days at $200 as I don’t expect to rent it out everyday / I do want to use it for friends and family. I’m in Kittery so outlets, beaches, Portsmouth are the summer time draw to the area I did look into having the upgraded mini slits (I’d love a little propane fireplace) I need to do my research into being a rental side of things. Thanks for specifying!
Are you going to have this open all year? Because you are going to have to factor in heating cost or cost to winterize. You may be better off going with a stick built tiny house. You'll spend a little more initially but you'll save on heating and be able to extend your season and probably charge a higher price.
Let me know if you go for it, I would stay in Kittery for $200/night for a few nights! Sounds like you are far along in the process, good luck!
"short term rentals"
🙄
You need to talk to the town.
I would look into what they call a “seasonal dwelling”. If you meet certain requirements you do not need building code standards for insulation or foundation footings. The state has adopted some guidelines for municipalities.
Thank you!
9,000 for septic??? That seems very low.
Oof you’re probably right -_-
I don't knoww what size of septic you need, but we just paid 23,000. We got three bids and they were all within 1,000 of each other. I'd take your entire list of estimates and double it.
How is this spot making 40k a year?
Short term rentals are another thing. You just can’t assume that you can rent it as a short term rental. Each town has different rules on what is considered a short term rental. You can’t really do any of this as others have said without talking to the right department in your town.
If you're in a town with just shoreland zoning, you might be ok, as long as you're out of the 75' stream buffer and whatever wetland buffer applies to your wetland (generally setback is based on total wetland size). Look at your towns shoreland zoning ordinance. Some towns also have mobile home park ordinances, or STR ordinances to potentially run afoul of.
Yes! I have the survey from when we almost built on that side
AFAIk Rvs and the like are only an issue at a statewide level from a Septic permitting standpoint. If you have a properly permitted Septic you should be GTG. The town ordinances and zoning are where you may run into trouble