Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, §§ 1315–1331 (housing) § 1315
Definitions
Operative Text
As used in this Act, unless the context requires otherwise, the following words shall have the following meanings. 1. Department. 1-A. Child; children. "Child" or "children" means a person or persons up to 6 years of age. 1-B. Children's home. 1-C. Child-occupied facility. "Child-occupied facility" means a building or portion of a building visited regularly for the purpose of child care by the same child, 6 years of age or under, on at least 2 days within any week if each day's visit lasts at least 3 hours, the combined weekly visit lasts at least 6 hours and the combined annual visit lasts at least 60 hours. 2. Dwelling. "Dwelling" means a structure, all or part of which is designed or used for human habitation, including a dwelling unit. 3. Dwelling unit. "Dwelling unit" means any room, group of rooms or other areas of a structure designed or used for human habitation. 3-A. Environmental lead hazard. "Environmental lead hazard" means any condition that may cause exposure to lead from lead-contaminated dust, lead-contaminated soil, lead-contaminated water or lead-based paint that is in poor condition. 3-B. Environmental lead inspection. "Environmental lead inspection" means a lead inspection as defined in rules of the Department of Environmental Protection in chapter 424, "Lead Management Regulations." 3-C. Environmental lead investigation. "Environmental lead investigation" means a detailed and extensive investigation to determine the potential cause of a confirmed case of lead poisoning in a child. 3-D. Interim controls. "Interim controls" means a set of measures designed to temporarily reduce human exposure or likely exposure to lead-based paint hazards, including specialized cleaning, repairs, maintenance, painting, temporary containment, ongoing monitoring of lead-based paint hazards or potential hazards and the establishment and operation of management and resident education programs. 4. Exposed surface. 4-A. Health care provider. 4-B. Lead abatement. "Lead abatement" means any measure or set of measures designed to permanently eliminate lead-based paint hazards. "Lead abatement" includes, but is not limited to: A. The removal of lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust, the permanent enclosure or encapsulation of lead-based paint, the replacement of lead-painted surfaces or fixtures and the removal or covering of lead-contaminated soil; and B. All preparation, cleanup and post-abatement clearance testing activities associated with such measures. "Lead abatement" does not include renovation and remodeling as defined in Title 38, section 1291, subsection 26 . For the purpose of this subsection, "permanently" means for at least 20 years. 4-C. Lead abatement contractor. 4-D. Lead abatement design consultant. 4-E. Lead abatement project supervisor. 4-F. Lead abatement worker. 4-G. Lead-based paint activities. "Lead-based paint activities" means inspection, risk assessment, lead abatement design, lead abatement and services related to lead-based paint such as interim controls, lead screening, lead determination and deleading. 5. Lead-based substance. "Lead-based substance" means any substance that contains lead at a level that constitutes or potentially constitutes an environmental lead hazard. 5-A. Lead-free. "Lead-free" means that a residential child-care facility or preschool facility, dwelling or premises contains no lead that is injurious or that could be injurious in the future. 5-B. Lead inspector. "Lead inspector" means a person licensed by the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to Title 38, chapter 12‑B to perform environmental lead inspections. 5-C. Lead poisoning. "Lead poisoning" means a confirmed elevated level of blood lead that is equal to or exceeds 5 micrograms per deciliter. 5-D. Lead-safe. "Lead-safe" means that a residential child-care facility or preschool facility, dwelling or premises does not contain lead at a level or in a condition that constitutes an environmental lead hazard. 5-E. Occupant. "Occupant" means a person who resides in or uses regularly a dwelling, residential child-care facility or preschool facility. 5-F. Owner. "Owner" means any person who individually, jointly or in common with others: A. B. C. Is the chief executive officer of the municipality, school administrative unit or state agency that controls the use of publicly owned property; D. Is a mortgagee who has taken actual possession in accordance with applicable law. A mortgagee who has not taken actual possession is not the owner; or E. Is characterized by the following: (1) Has legal title to any dwelling or premises; (2) Has charge, care or control of any premises as owner or agent of the owner and has authority to expend money for compliance with the state sanitary code or as an executor, an administrator, a trustee or a guardian of the estate or the holder of legal title; (3) Is a real estate property manager or other entity that has the authority to fund capital or major property rehabilitation on the owner's behalf; (4) Is an estate or trust of which the premises is a part or the grantor or beneficiary of an estate or trust; or (5) Is the association of unit owners of a condominium or cooperative, which is considered as owner solely with respect to common areas and exterior surfaces and fixtures of that condominium or cooperative. 6. Person. "Person" means any individual, firm, corporation, association or partnership and the State and any political subdivision of the State. 6-A. Premises. "Premises" means a plotted lot or part of a plotted lot, an unplotted lot or a parcel of land, including developed and undeveloped land and any structure that exists on the land, if the lot, parcel or structure is used by children. 6-B. Preschool facility. 6-C. Small preschool facility. 6-D. Single-family residence. "Single-family residence" means a dwelling consisting of only one dwelling unit. 7. Sale or sell. 7-A. State investigator. "State investigator" means a lead inspector who is employed or authorized by the department to conduct environmental lead investigations. 8. Toys. 9. Lead poisoning. 10. Commissioner. 11. Child care facility.
Maine law at 22 M.R.S. §§ 1315 et seq. establishes a shared vocabulary for the state's lead-poisoning prevention framework as it applies to housing. Terms such as "dwelling," "environmental lead hazard," "lead abatement," "lead-safe," and "owner" are given precise legal meanings that govern how all other requirements in the Act are interpreted and applied. For example, "lead poisoning" is defined by a specific blood-lead threshold of 5 micrograms per deciliter, and "owner" encompasses a broad range of parties—from titleholders to property managers—who may bear responsibilities under the Act.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under 22 M.R.S. §§ 1315 et seq. should be aware that the Act's definition of "owner" is intentionally broad, potentially covering not just titleholders but also agents, property managers, estate trustees, and condominium associations with respect to common areas. Compliant operators generally familiarize themselves with defined terms such as "environmental lead hazard," "interim controls," and "lead abatement" because these definitions determine which obligations apply to a given property or situation. Understanding whether a property qualifies as a "dwelling," a "child-occupied facility," or a "premises" under these definitions is a foundational step in determining the scope of any lead-related duties.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in Maine dwellings, particularly those with children six years of age or under, benefit from knowing that 22 M.R.S. §§ 1315 et seq. defines key terms—such as "environmental lead hazard," "lead-safe," and "occupant"—that underpin the state's lead-poisoning prevention protections. The definition of "occupant" includes anyone who resides in or regularly uses a dwelling, meaning renters are generally covered by the Act's protections. Tenants who believe a lead hazard exists in their home may consider contacting a tenant-rights organization, reaching out to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, or reviewing the Act's substantive provisions to understand what remedies or complaint processes may be available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation
Related Rules
Source Information
Use this in your app
Access this data programmatically via our API