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Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, §§ 1315–1331 (housing) § 1327

Essential maintenance practices

In Force
Verified 10/21/2026 · Next check 10/28/2026
effective 10/21/2026MaineState Additions

Operative Text

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, §§ 1315–1331 (housing) § 1327
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an owner of a building constructed prior to 1978 that is rented for residential purposes or used as a preschool facility may perform essential maintenance practices as defined under rules of the Department of Environmental Protection, chapter 424, "Lead Management Regulations."




1.
Precautions.






2.
Checks.






3.
Removes or stabilizes paint.






4.
Repairs.






5.
Provides information.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Under Maine law at 22 M.R.S. § 1327, owners of residential rental buildings or preschool facilities built before 1978 are permitted to carry out what the state calls 'essential maintenance practices' on lead paint, as that term is defined by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection's Lead Management Regulations (Chapter 424). These practices encompass a defined set of activities including taking precautions, conducting checks, removing or stabilizing paint, making repairs, and providing information. The provision carves out a specific pathway for this type of maintenance that operates alongside—rather than in conflict with—other applicable laws.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 22, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Property owners managing pre-1978 residential rentals or preschool facilities in Maine should be familiar with the essential maintenance practices framework established under 22 M.R.S. § 1327 and the DEP's Lead Management Regulations, Chapter 424. Compliant operators generally follow the defined steps—precautions, checks, paint removal or stabilization, repairs, and information-sharing—as spelled out in those rules when addressing lead paint conditions. Staying current with Chapter 424's specific procedural requirements is a central part of operating within this framework.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Tenants living in Maine residential buildings constructed before 1978 have an interest in understanding that 22 M.R.S. § 1327 sets out a structured process governing how landlords may handle lead paint through essential maintenance practices. If a landlord undertakes lead-related work, the Maine DEP's Lead Management Regulations (Chapter 424) define what steps—including providing information to occupants—are required. Tenants who have questions about whether proper procedures were followed may consider reaching out to the Maine DEP or a local tenant-rights organization for guidance.

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

Expression #1
Oct 21, 2026
Current
Oct 21, 2026
Click on timeline segments to view historical versions.

References Out

Rules and statutes cited by this regulation

Me. Rev. Stat. ch. 424
Not yet ingested

References In

Rules and statutes that cite this regulation

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, ch. 252
Me. Rev. Stat. § 1321
Me. Rev. Stat. § 1321
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, § 1320
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, § 1320
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, § 1321
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, ch. 252
Me. Rev. Stat. § 1321
Me. Rev. Stat. § 1321
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, § 1320
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, § 1320
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, § 1321

Related Rules

§ 191
Reports of lead poisoning; notifications to agencies; records
§ 197
Duty of residential premises owners; interim control measures; abatement or containment of paint, plaster or other accessible structural material containing lead
§ 197C
Child exhibiting dangerous blood lead level after issuance of letters of compliance or interim control; liability

Source Information

Source:https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/22/title22sec1327.html
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