Picture credit: Jim Dollar at Creative Commons
For an expanded description of the MSZ go to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection
The Mandatory Shoreland Zoning Act (MSZA) requires municipalities to adopt, administer, and enforce local ordinances that regulate land use activities in the shoreland zone. The shoreland zone is comprised of all land areas within 250 feet, horizontal distance, of the
- normal high-water line of any great pond or river;
- upland edge of a coastal wetland, including all areas affected by tidal action, and
- upland edge of defined freshwater wetlands; and
- all land areas within 75 feet, horizontal distance, of the normal high-water line of certain streams.
The purposes of the MSZA are as follows:
- to prevent and control water pollution;
- to protect fish spawning grounds, bird and wildlife habitat;
- to protect buildings and lands from flooding and accelerated erosion;
- to protect archeological and historic resources;
- to protect commercial fishing and maritime industries;
- to protect freshwater and coastal wetlands;
- to control building sites, placement of structures and land uses;
- to conserve shore cover, and visual as well as actual points of access to inland and coastal waters;
- to conserve the natural beauty and open space; and
- to anticipate and respond to the impacts of development in shoreland areas.
Read more at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection
