Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, §§ 1315–1331 (housing) § 1320
Inspection of dwelling units and child-occupied facilities by department
Operative Text
Any authorized representative of the department, upon presenting the appropriate credentials to the owner or occupant, or a representative of either, may inspect any dwelling unit or child-occupied facility at reasonable times for the purpose of ascertaining the presence of lead-based substances, and may remove samples or objects necessary for laboratory analysis. Inspections may be made only when there are reasonable grounds to suspect that there are lead-based substances in or upon the exposed surfaces of any dwelling unit or child-occupied facility, or upon the request of either the owner or the occupant with whom children reside, or when a case of lead poisoning has been reported.
Under Maine law at 22 M.R.S. § 1320, authorized representatives of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (or the relevant state department) have the authority to enter and inspect dwelling units and child-occupied facilities to check for lead-based substances, including collecting samples for laboratory testing. This authority is not unlimited: inspections may only occur when there are reasonable grounds to suspect lead-based substances are present, when a case of lead poisoning has been reported, or when either the owner or an occupant with children living in the home requests one. Inspectors must present proper credentials to the owner, occupant, or their representative before conducting any inspection.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 22 M.R.S. § 1320, compliant property owners and managers generally cooperate with credentialed department representatives who arrive to conduct a lead inspection under one of the authorized circumstances — reasonable suspicion of lead, a reported poisoning case, or a request by the owner or occupant. Operators who proactively request an inspection when they have concerns about lead-based substances in a dwelling unit or child-occupied facility are acting within the framework this provision establishes. Maintaining records of any inspection requests, credentials presented, and samples taken is a practice consistent with responsible property management under this statute.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 22 M.R.S. § 1320 gives occupants with children residing in the home the right to request a state inspection of their dwelling unit or child-occupied facility for lead-based substances — without needing the landlord's permission to trigger that process. If a lead inspection is conducted, the department's representative is required to present proper credentials before entering, and tenants can note whether that requirement was met. Tenants who have concerns about lead hazards may also contact a local tenant-rights organization or the relevant state agency to understand what options exist under this provision.
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.
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