Ellsworth Planning Department

Land Use, Zoning & Special Zones Maps

The Planning Department maintains land use, zoning and special zone maps showing zones within which various uses are permitted.

Special Projects

The Planning Department is involved with a wide variety of projects from the planning stages to construction. Many of these projects are conducted in conjunction with other City Departments and include a public and private partnership component.

Recently Approved Amendments to the Land Use Ordinance

This webpage summarizes and provides drafts of both pending and approved proposed amendments to the City of Ellsworth’s land use ordinance (Chapter 56 Unified Development Ordinance). Any questions about these proposals can be sent to ktaylor@ellsworthmaine.gov, or by calling 207-669-6615.

AMENDMENTS:

Solar Energy Systems & Energy Storage Systems – The recently approved amendments established standards to regulate the installation, operation, maintenance, decommissioning, and abandonment of solar energy systems and energy storage systems in the City. Recently approved amendments include:

1. Create additional categories and allowable uses in Article 3, Section 307 Table of Land Uses
2. Create additional entries in Article 14 Definitions
3. Add the following sections to Article 8 Performance Standards
   1. Section 823 Solar Energy Systems
   2. Section 824 Energy Storage Systems
   3. Section 825 Facility Operations, maintenance, Decommissioning, and Abandonment

The City Council adopted the amendments into the Unified Development Ordinance on April 20, 2020.

Solar energy systems have been encouraged by the State of Maine and these adopted amendments are in response to anticipation that the City will receive applications to site commercial solar energy systems in Ellsworth.

The Ellsworth Comprehensive Plan is tailored to the needs of the Ellsworth community while meeting the goals of the State’s Growth Management Act.

Maps

• Aquifers, Floodplains and Well Heads
• Critical Natural Areas
• Current Land Use
• Development Constraints
• Future Land Use
• Future Land Use Inset
• Historic Resources
• Soil Type Ratings for Development
• Water and Sewer Infrastructure
• Zoning Map*

* Zoning map used when developing the Comprehensive Plan. This is not the current Zoning Map.