Lewiston Freezes Mobile Home Lot Rent Increases for 6 Months

City council approves temporary moratorium to review need for long-term rent stabilization

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The Lewiston City Council has approved a 180-day moratorium on rent increases for mobile home lot rentals in the city. The temporary ordinance, set to take effect in 30 days, will freeze total monthly lot rent including mandatory fees while the city reviews the issue and considers whether a long-term rent stabilization policy is necessary to protect residents.

Why it matters

The move mirrors a similar action taken by neighboring Auburn in January, as mobile home residents in both cities have reported steep rent hikes and concerns about potential displacement. The moratorium aims to give Lewiston time to study the issue and determine if further action is needed to address affordability and maintain the availability of mobile home living options.

The details

The moratorium applies to mobile home parks with three or more homes, freezing total monthly lot rent including mandatory fixed charges like road maintenance and recreation fees. City Council President David Chittim said councilors want to protect residents subject to rent increases while also ensuring park owners have sufficient resources to properly operate the properties. Several Lewiston mobile home residents voiced support for the moratorium, citing ineffective state laws that allow owners to raise rents, while a representative of the Manufactured Housing Association of Maine warned a blanket moratorium could negatively impact small, locally-owned parks.

  • The moratorium will go into effect 30 days from Tuesday, March 4, 2026.
  • The moratorium will last for 180 days.

The players

Lewiston City Council

The city government body that voted 6-1 to approve the temporary moratorium on mobile home lot rent increases.

David Chittim

The Lewiston City Council President who said the council wants to protect residents from rent increases while also ensuring park owners have sufficient resources.

John Geary

A resident of Fox Run Mobile Home Park who supported the moratorium, citing ineffective state laws that allow owners to raise rents.

Julie Ann Smith

The executive director of the Manufactured Housing Association of Maine, who warned that a blanket moratorium could negatively impact small, locally-owned mobile home parks.

Adam Krans

The assistant regional manager of BoaVida Communities, which owns several mobile home parks in Lewiston, who said a moratorium could delay planned expansion and improvement projects.

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What they’re saying

“If you look at (the state law) . . . you may come to the same conclusion that I did, that it was drafted by lobbyists . . . because it has absolutely no teeth.”

— John Geary, Resident, Fox Run Mobile Home Park (sunjournal.com)

“A blanket moratorium would not distinguish between a large national operator and a Lewiston-based small business owner. It would apply equally to both, but the financial impact would not be equal. Small, locally owned parks operate on narrow margins . . . (and) increases are real and immediate.”

— Julie Ann Smith, Executive Director, Manufactured Housing Association of Maine (sunjournal.com)

“Projects like that require upfront capital and financial certainty. A moratorium would immediately delay that development for the duration of that ordinance and likely longer. . . .”

— Adam Krans, Assistant Regional Manager, BoaVida Communities (sunjournal.com)

What’s next

The Lewiston City Council's housing committee will work with the city's planning and code enforcement staff to develop recommendations for possible action when the 180-day moratorium lapses.

The takeaway

This temporary freeze on mobile home lot rent increases in Lewiston highlights the growing affordability challenges facing residents of manufactured housing communities, as well as the need to balance the interests of residents and park owners. The city's review process will be closely watched to see if a long-term rent stabilization policy emerges as a potential solution.