Me. Stat. tit. 30-A § 3007

1.Limitation on affecting municipal officials. No change in the composition, mode of election or terms of office of the municipal legislative body, the mayor or the manager of any municipality may be accomplished by bylaw or ordinance.

[1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]

2.Buildings, structures, mobile homes, travel trailers and related equipment. The following provisions apply to any ordinance enacted by a municipality concerning buildings, structures, mobile homes, travel trailers intended to be used for human habitation and all related equipment.

A. Any building, structure, mobile home or travel trailer intended to be used for human habitation and travel trailer parking facility or any related equipment existing in violation of such an ordinance is a nuisance. [1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §26(RPR); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]

[1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §26(RPR); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]

3.Falling ice and snow. The following provisions apply to any ordinance enacted by a municipality to protect persons and property from injury by requiring building owners or lessees to install roof guards to prevent the fall of snow and ice from the roofs of their buildings.

A. The municipal officers shall send a written notice to the owner or lessee who fails to comply with such an ordinance. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]

B. If the owner or lessee does not install effective roof guards within 14 days after notice is sent, the owner or lessee is absolutely liable for all injury caused by failure to do so. [1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §27(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]

C. After the 14-day period expires, the municipal officers may have proper roof guards installed at the municipality's expense, the reasonable charges for which may be recovered from the owner or lessee by special assessment as provided by Title 25, section 2393. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]

D. Any building existing in violation of such an ordinance is a nuisance. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]

[1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. A, §27(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]

4.Pension system. The following provisions apply to any ordinance enacted by a municipality to establish and maintain a general system of contributory pensions for the benefit of its officials and employees.

A. Money appropriated by any municipality for the operation of a pension system together with money contributed by any person eligible to participate in the system shall be administered by a board created for that purpose and shall be kept in a separate fund to be invested and disbursed by the board. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]

B. A municipality which establishes such a system may contract with any insurance company licensed to do business in the State for the payment of pension benefits. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]

C. Any pension funds held by a municipality or by a board established by it are exempt from attachment or trustee process. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]

[1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]

5.Firearms and hunting equipment. A municipality shall consult with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife during the process of the consideration of the adoption or amendment of a firearm discharge ordinance. The area in which the discharge of firearms is prohibited by a firearm discharge ordinance must be described in the ordinance using clearly defined physical boundaries as points of reference. For purposes of this subsection, the term "clearly defined physical boundaries" includes but is not limited to roads, waterways and utility corridors. After January 1, 2000, a municipality that adopts or amends a firearm discharge ordinance shall provide the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife with a copy of the new or amended firearm discharge ordinance and a copy of any maps that show the areas in the municipality affected by the new or amended ordinance within 30 days from the date that the ordinance is enacted or amended. A municipality may not adopt or enforce any ordinance prohibited under Title 12, section 13201.

[2013, c. 199, §2(AMD).]

6.Restriction on nullification of final permit. A municipality may not nullify or amend a municipal land use permit by a subsequent enactment, amendment or repeal of a local ordinance after a period of 45 days has passed after:

A. The permit has received its lawful final approval; and [2011, c. 63, §1(NEW).]

B. If required, a public hearing was held on the permit. [2011, c. 63, §1(NEW).]

For purposes of this subsection, "municipal land use permit" includes a building permit, zoning permit, subdivision approval, site plan approval, conditional use approval, special exception approval or other land use permit or approval. For the purposes of this subsection, "nullify or amend" means to nullify or amend a municipal land use permit directly or to nullify or amend any other municipal permit in a manner that effectively nullifies or amends a municipal land use permit. This subsection does not alter or invalidate any provision of a municipal ordinance that provides for the expiration or lapse of a permit or approval granted pursuant to that permit following the expiration of a certain period of time.

[2011, c. 63, §1(NEW).]

7.Restriction on retroactive application. A municipality or a municipal reviewing authority as defined by section 4301, subsection 12 may not enforce or apply a land use ordinance with retroactive effect unless the ordinance includes a provision that expressly states it has retroactive application. A municipality or municipal reviewing authority may not apply a land use ordinance with retroactive effect to a pending permit application for a land use permit that includes a proposal for a development that includes one or more units of residential housing if the proposal date of the ordinance occurred after the application was submitted to the municipality and, notwithstanding Title 1, section302, the application is deemed complete for processing. For the purposes of this subsection:

A. "Proposal date" means the date on which the proposed land use ordinance or proposed amendment to an ordinance is posted pursuant to section 3002, subsection 1 or the date on which a permit application is filed to circulate a petition for a voter-initiated measure to adopt or amend a land use ordinance; and

B. A permit application is deemed complete for processing when it is submitted to the municipality or municipal reviewing authority and, at the time of submission, the applicant can demonstrate legally enforceable title or right to or interest in all the property proposed for development.

30-A M.R.S. § 3007

Amended by 2024, c. 598,§ 1, eff. 8/9/2024.

Amended by 2013, c. 199,§ 2, eff. 10/9/2013.

Amended by 2011, c. 63,§ 1, eff. 9/28/2011.

1987, c. 737, §§A2,C106 (NEW) . 1989, c. 6, (AMD) . 1989, c. 9, § 2 (AMD) . 1989, c. 104, §§A26,A27,C8 C10 (AMD) . 1995, c. 266, § 1 (AMD) . 1999, c. 154, § 1 (AMD) . 2003, c. 332, § 1 (AMD) .