Second Wave ReCode Changes
to the land use code + zoning map
The second wave of ReCode drafts are here!
The culmination of the second and final phase of ReCode constitutes a historic milestone, modernizing a century-old zoning code to meet the needs of Portland today. Altogether, this second wave represents the sum total of ReCode changes, including edits based on hundreds of public comments, and reflects the city’s efforts to support significant increases in housing creation and affordability, climate resilience, complete neighborhoods, transit-oriented development, and more. The draft changes, from decreasing residential lot sizes to introducing parking maximums, to expanding neighborhood-scale business uses, to establishing a innovative new Coastal Flood Resilience Overlay zone, to consolidating of zoning districts for greater simplicity, to creating new shoreland zoning protections, to increasing height in areas targeted for growth, and many others, are cumulatively poised to impact the fabric of the city for years to come.
We will be looking for feedback on this work over the next several months, first online, then through a series of events, including Planning Board meetings in the spring and summer. So read on and let us know what you think!
WHAT has changed?
The second wave edits touch all parts of the land use code, so there’s a lot to take in. (If you’ve forgotten about the first wave, you can explore more here, and you can read about what’s changed from the first wave of edits here.) To make the public review easier, we’ve created a series of guides that summarize key proposed changes to the code.
You can find summaries of the most significant changes to base zoning and the zoning map here:
You’ll find summaries of other important changes to the land use code here:
how can I review SECOND WAVE CHANGES in more depth?
If you’re interested in diving in more deeply and even commenting on the drafts, you can take a look at the proposed edits to both the land use code and the zoning map in their entirety here:
Review + comment on draft changes to the text
Review + comment on draft changes to the map
How CAN I comment Again?
There are many ways to give us your feedback!
Comment directly on the text of the draft code here.
Comment directly on the draft zoning map here.
Use our general comment form here.
Send us an email at recodeportland@portlandmaine.gov.
Stay tuned here for in person events later this spring and into the summer!