BANGOR, Maine – The City of Bangor Planning Division will host a public information session on proposed changes to the Land Development Code resulting from legislation passed by the State last year.

This session will be open to the public on March 17, 2026, at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Bangor City Hall during the regularly scheduled Planning Board meeting. 

These proposed changes relate to requirements of LD 1829, An Act to Build Housing for Maine Families and Attract Workers to Maine Business by Amending the Laws Governing Housing Density; LD 427, An Act to Regulate Municipal Parking Space Minimums; and LD 997, An Act to Allow Residential Use Development in Commercial Districts. 

The biggest changes resulting from this legislation are the requirement to allow a minimum of 4 dwelling units on a 5,000-square-foot lot if the lot is inside the City’s growth boundary and on public water and sewer; an allowance for additional height and reduced parking space minimums for affordable housing; a requirement to allow ADUs (accessory dwelling units) on any lot that has 1 to 3 dwelling units; an allowance for projects to use off-site parking within 0.25 miles of the site to satisfy parking requirements; a requirement to allow residential units in commercial districts; and reduced review requirements for projects creating 3 to 4 dwelling units. 

The City of Bangor is required to be in compliance with LD 1829 and LD 427 by July 1, 2026, and must comply with LD 997 by July 1, 2027. The changes discussed at the meeting will consist of an initial round of edits focusing on the urban zones of Bangor. Later edits will focus on the transitional and rural zones in the City.

The public is welcome and encouraged to attend the meeting in person or via Zoom. Public comments are allowed over Zoom; however, you must register before 9 a.m. on March 17 at https://bangormaine.gov/504/Meeting-Participation. Zoom details can be found at the City’s website under www.bangormaine.gov/calendar. The Planning Board meeting may be streamed live via the City of Bangor's YouTube page; however, comments are not enabled during streaming. 

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The City of Bangor, Maine, is a community of 31,753 residents and is the county seat of Penobscot County.  Bangor is the major commercial and cultural center for much of northern and eastern Maine.  The City is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.  For information on City projects and news, see www.bangormaine.gov.