The Town Assessors are currently working with Tree Growth property owners who appear to be out of compliance and those with a 2026 compliance due date using an informal letter process to bring them into compliance. The informal process (120 days) allows the board to avoid issuing, and the owners receiving, penalties for non-compliance.
If you received a letter requesting information please do not ignore it. It means the Town needs to have a copy of your current Tree Growth application(s) and map(s) to confirm you are in compliance. Please provide your most recent application and map by the date listed in the letter to secretary@andovermaine.gov or mail it to Andover Town Office, Attn: Tree Growth Compliance, PO Box 219, Andover, Maine 04216. Do not send your plan – if the Assessors need to review it, they will reach out and request to see a copy.
After the informal process expires, the Assessors will initiate the 3-step formal process for any properties that remain non compliant. Help the Assessors avoid this lengthy and costly process by responding within 120 days of receiving a letter.
Reminders – If you sell a portion of your Tree Growth property you are required to file paperwork notifying the town assessors of this change. If you purchase property in Tree Growth and it is 10 Acres or more, you will need to file a new application showing you have adopted, transferred or a new plan has been done with a certified forester. There are many more scenarios that can play out and it is the owners responsibility to stay on top of their Tree Growth compliance and ensure their plan(s) meet State laws and to renew them every 10 years before the due date listed on their last plan.
If you are selling, considering putting your property into Tree Growth, or recently purchased a property in Tree Growth we encourage you to read the Tree Growth compliance laws starting with a link here as well as search on line for other resources with the State of Maine who can answer your questions.