[Amended 6-10-2025; 11-4-2025]
A.
No structures shall be erected or used, and no lot shall be used or divided, unless in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. All structures and lots, and uses of structures and lots, which fail to conform with the provisions of this chapter are prohibited, except as provided herein.
B.
All structures, as defined in this chapter, shall be required to meet dimensional setback requirements unless exempted as set forth below: (Setbacks and/or restrictions may differ in the Shoreland and Resource Protection Zones.)
(1)
The following structures shall be exempt from meeting the front, side and rear property line setbacks except where prohibited in the Shoreland and Resource Protection Zones:
(a)
Any combination of materials covering less than 10 square feet constructed or erected above, below or upon the surface of the ground or water such as mailboxes, light poles and the like;
(b)
Walls or fences;
(d)
A retractable awning or shade used solely to screen a door or window;
(e)
Backyard tent used for sleeping;
(f)
An enclosed, self-contained portable toilet, such as a "Portapotty" by Portables, Inc. and the like placed on a site for less than six months per calendar year or as long as necessary for approved construction.
(g)
Exterior stairs to access/egress the first floor of a residential structure.
(2)
The following structures shall be exempt from meeting setback requirements from any wetlands or from the normal high-water mark of water bodies in all zones including the Shoreland and Resource Protection Zones. Any structures other than those listed below shall be required to meet any required setbacks from bodies of water or wetlands.
(a)
A temporary ramp, placed on a site for less than six months per calendar year, and used for the purpose of providing public access to publicly owned property in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
C.
When a lot is situated in part in the Town of Kennebunkport and in part in an adjacent municipality, the provisions of this chapter shall be applied to that portion of such lot as lies in the Town of Kennebunkport in the same manner as if the entire lot were situated in Kennebunkport.
D.
When a lot is divided by a zone boundary, the requirements and standards of this chapter shall apply as follows:
(1)
When the lot area is equal to or less than 20,000 square feet, the provisions of the more restrictive zone shall apply to the lot as a whole.
(2)
When the lot area is more than 20,000 square feet, the provisions of this chapter which apply to the larger portion of the lot may be applied to that part of the smaller portion of the lot which is within 30 feet of the zone boundary.
E.
No part of any lot which is below the normal high-water mark of any body of water, no part of any lot which is part of a right-of-way, other than utility easements servicing the lot or tree maintenance easements granted to the Town, and also excluding lands which are below the normal high-water mark of any body of water or wetlands, as defined by this chapter, regardless of size, shall be used for the purpose of computing lot area or any size or density requirement of this chapter.
F.
Land within the lines of a right-of-way or street on which a lot abuts shall not be counted as part of such lot for the purpose of meeting the area requirements of this chapter even though the fee to such land may be in the owner of such lot.
G.
No new lot may be created with less than the minimum lot area, as defined in this chapter, that is required for the zone in which it is located. No part of any lot that is excluded from the gross lot area shall be used for the purpose of computing lot area or any size, setback, frontage or density requirement of this chapter. This section is not intended to circumvent the operation of laws relating to preexisting nonconformities or other laws affecting the use and/or development of lots that do not meet the current minimum lot size requirements in this chapter.
H.
If a lot in separate ownership is reduced in area or dimension below the minimum lot size or lot width requirements of this chapter as a result of the taking of a portion of the lot by eminent domain, or a result of a conveyance of a portion of the lot for a purpose for which the land could have been taken by eminent domain, such transfer shall not be deemed to violate the minimum lot size or minimum lot width requirements of this chapter; and the portion of the lot remaining after the transfer may be used for any use permitted in the applicable zone, provided that applicable setback, lot coverage and building dimensional requirements are met. An existing structure located on the remaining portion of such a lot may be expanded or enlarged, provided that the expansion or enlargement complies with applicable setback and dimensional requirements and does not result in a violation of lot coverage requirements.


