ME LD228

Allows property owners to obtain a permit for a one-time height increase of up to 2 feet for existing coastal seawalls that legally existed on January 1, 2025, to address sea level rise and storm damage

Eligible properties include residential lots up to 15,000 square feet, commercial lots up to 25,000 square feet, or parcels containing roads, where structures are within 25 feet of the seawall

Requires applicants to mitigate erosion impacts through beach nourishment, construct sand dunes or plant native vegetation on the landward side if space permits, and elevate buildings on post or piling foundations when practicable

Projects involving 5 or more abutting properties must demonstrate through engineering analysis that the height increase will not worsen 100-year flood impacts on adjacent properties

Enacted as emergency legislation effective immediately upon the Governor's approval on May 29, 2025, due to significant storm events and flooding in 2023-2024