Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, §§ 1315–1331 (housing) § 1324
No impairment to civil damages; local ordinances
Operative Text
Nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted or applied in any manner to defeat or impair the right of any person, entity, municipality or other political subdivision to maintain an action or suit for damages sustained or equitable relief or for violation of an ordinance by reason of or in connection with any violation of this chapter. This chapter shall not prevent any municipality or other political subdivision from enacting any enforcing ordinances which establish a system of lead poisoning control that provide the same or higher standards than those provided in this chapter.
Section 1324 of Maine's lead-poisoning control law (22 M.R.S. §§ 1315 et seq.) preserves the ability of individuals, organizations, municipalities, and other governmental bodies to pursue civil lawsuits for damages or equitable relief arising from violations of the chapter's lead-poisoning control requirements. It also makes clear that the state chapter sets a floor, not a ceiling: local governments remain free to adopt and enforce their own lead-poisoning control ordinances, provided those local rules meet or exceed the standards established by the state law. In short, the chapter neither displaces existing civil remedies nor preempts stricter local action.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Maine's lead-poisoning control framework (22 M.R.S. § 1324) should be aware that compliance with state standards does not automatically shield them from civil liability or from obligations imposed by stricter local ordinances. A municipality may have enacted lead-poisoning control rules that go beyond state minimums, and those local requirements carry independent legal force. Compliant operators generally track both state chapter requirements and any applicable local ordinances to ensure their practices satisfy whichever standard is higher.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 22 M.R.S. § 1324, tenants who experience harm connected to lead-poisoning control violations are not limited to whatever remedies the state chapter itself provides — the provision expressly preserves the right to pursue civil actions for damages or equitable relief. Additionally, if a local municipality has enacted a lead-poisoning ordinance with stronger protections than the state law, those local rules may provide additional grounds for a complaint or legal action. Tenants who believe their rights under either state or local lead-poisoning standards have been violated may wish to contact a tenant-rights organization or consult with an attorney familiar with Maine housing law to understand the options available to them.
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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