LURC stands for the Land Use Regulation Commission. It is a state of Maine office that handles building permits in small plantations or unorganized townships that don't have enough population for local folks to do the permits.
When someone says to me something negative about LURC, I think the complaint is because they went ahead and built a cottage on the bank of a river or lake and now LURC is trying to permit the property after the fact and has pointed out violations to the shoreland zoning rules and regulations. Start with getting your soil test if building in a LURC jurisdiction area of Maine, design on paper what you want to build or the addition you are thinking of tackling next weekend before you get out your hammer. I have worked with LURC folks down state and representatives of LURC in Aroostook County. They are a good bunch and trying to make sure there is enforcement of the rules in protected 
areas so everyone is treated the same to protect the resource.
Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers - Maine Real Estate For Sale & Area Information
Hey, great post. Thanks for the information about your area.
Andy - that is great advice. I'm chairman of my county's planning commission and we have thoose problems all the time with people wanting to sud-divide and getting ahead of the regulators or trying to avoid taxes and fees. If they would just come to us before they do anything and ask a few questions, they would save themselves a lot of money.
Interesting Andrew. Here in MO, if you're outside a major city, there is no zoning. No county level zoning if you will. I'll have to take a look at Maine's model. Sounds like this concept has been a win win for Maine.