Maine’s Leaders Eye Modular Construction to Solve Housing Crisis – Will KBS Builders Lead the Way?

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Maine’s housing crisis has reached a tipping point, and state leaders are finally turning to modular construction as a potential solution. With the state’s severe workforce housing shortage, officials are looking at offsite-built homes to speed up construction and reduce costs. One company already proving the viability of modular in Maine is KBS Builders, a modular factory in South Paris that has been producing high-quality, factory-built housing for years. The question now is whether Maine’s leadership will leverage this existing expertise and commit to modular as a cornerstone of their housing strategy—or if this will be just another round of talk without action.

Photos – KBS Builders

While modular construction offers clear advantages—faster build times, reduced material waste, and greater efficiency—Maine policymakers must overcome common roadblocks like outdated zoning laws, financing challenges, and lingering skepticism around factory-built homes. KBS Builders has already demonstrated that modular can work in the state, but without policy changes to support large-scale adoption, Maine risks missing out on a critical opportunity to address its housing crisis. Other states have explored modular solutions only to get bogged down in red tape—will Maine follow suit, or will it clear the path for modular to thrive?

If Maine is serious about modular, the time for action is now. Supporting manufacturers like KBS Builders, streamlining the permitting process, and ensuring modular construction gets the same financial backing as traditional site-built housing will be crucial. Otherwise, this will just be another promising idea that never materializes. Let’s hope Maine’s leaders take the right steps—because with an existing modular factory in their backyard, there’s no excuse for inaction.