Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 5, §§ 4551–4640 (housing subchs.) § 4581-A
Unlawful housing discrimination
Operative Text
It is unlawful housing discrimination, in violation of this Act: 1. Sale or rental of housing and other prohibited practices. For any owner, lessee, sublessee, managing agent or other person having the right to sell or rent or manage a housing accommodation, or any agent of these, to: A. Make or cause to be made any written or oral inquiry concerning the race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, familial status or any previous actions seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title 19‑A, former section 4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19‑A, section 4110 or pursuant to a substantially similar provision of the law of another state or nation of any prospective purchaser, occupant or tenant of the housing accommodation; B. Refuse to show or refuse to sell, rent, lease, let or otherwise deny to or withhold from any person the housing accommodation because of race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin or familial status or because the person sought and received an order of protection under Title 19-A, former section 4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19‑A, section 4110 or pursuant to a substantially similar provision of the law of another state or nation; C. Make, print or publish or cause to be made, printed or published any notice, statement or advertisement relating to the sale, rental or lease of the housing accommodation that indicates any preference, limitation or discrimination based upon race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, familial status or any previous actions seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title 19-A, former section 4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19‑A, section 4110 or pursuant to a substantially similar provision of the law of another state or nation or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination; D. Discriminate against any person because of race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin or familial status or because the person sought and received an order of protection under Title 19-A, former section 4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19‑A, section 4110 or pursuant to a substantially similar provision of the law of another state or nation in the price, terms, conditions or privileges of the sale, rental or lease of any housing accommodations or in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection with any housing accommodations; or E. Evict or attempt to evict any tenant of any housing accommodation because of the race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin or familial status of the tenant or because the tenant sought and received an order of protection under Title 19-A, former section 4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19‑A, section 4110 or pursuant to a substantially similar provision of the law of another state or nation; 2. Selling, brokering or appraising of housing. For any real estate broker or real estate salesperson, or any agent of these, to: A. Fail or refuse to show any person a housing accommodation listed for sale, lease or rent because of race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin or familial status or because the person sought and received an order of protection under Title 19-A, former section 4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19‑A, section 4110 or pursuant to a substantially similar provision of the law of another state or nation; B. Misrepresent, for the purpose of discriminating because of race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, familial status or any previous actions seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title 19-A, former section 4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19‑A, section 4110 or pursuant to a substantially similar provision of the law of another state or nation, the availability or asking price of a housing accommodation listed for sale, lease or rent or for such reason to fail to communicate to the person having the right to sell, rent or lease the housing accommodation any offer for the same made by any applicant; C. In any other manner to discriminate against any applicant for a housing accommodation because of race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin or familial status or because the applicant sought and received an order of protection under Title 19-A, former section 4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19‑A, section 4110 or pursuant to a substantially similar provision of the law of another state or nation; D. Make or cause to be made any written or oral inquiry or record concerning the race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, familial status or any previous actions seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title 19-A, former section 4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19‑A, section 4110 or pursuant to a substantially similar provision of the law of another state or nation of any applicant for or intended occupant of a housing accommodation; or E. Accept for listing any housing accommodation when the person having the right to sell, rent or lease the housing accommodation has directly or indirectly indicated an intention of discriminating among prospective tenants or purchasers on the ground of race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, familial status or any previous actions seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title 19-A, former section 4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19‑A, section 4110 or pursuant to a substantially similar provision of the law of another state or nation, or when the broker or salesperson knows or has reason to know that the person having the right to sell, rent or lease the housing accommodation has made a practice of discrimination since July 1, 1972; 3. Making of loans; other financial assistance. For any person to whom application is made for a loan or other form of financial assistance for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair or maintenance of any housing accommodation, whether secured or unsecured, or agent of the person, to: A. Make or cause to be made any oral or written inquiry concerning the race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, familial status or any previous actions seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title 19‑A, former section 4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19‑A, section 4110 or pursuant to a substantially similar provision of the law of another state or nation of any applicant for financial assistance or of existing or prospective occupants or tenants of housing accommodations; or B. Discriminate in the granting of financial assistance, or in the terms, conditions or privileges relating to obtaining or the use of any financial assistance, against any applicant because of race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, familial status or any previous actions seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title 19-A, former section 4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19‑A, section 4110 or pursuant to a substantially similar provision of the law of another state or nation; or 4. Receipt of public assistance. For any person furnishing rental premises or public accommodations to refuse to rent or impose different terms of tenancy to any individual who is a recipient of federal, state or local public assistance, including medical assistance and housing subsidies, primarily because of the individual's status as recipient.
Maine law under 5 M.R.S. § 4581-A broadly prohibits discriminatory practices across nearly every stage of housing — from advertising and showing units to selling, renting, leasing, financing, and evicting. Protected characteristics include race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, familial status, and status as a recipient of public assistance. The law also extends protection to individuals who have sought or received a protective order under Maine's domestic violence statutes, shielding them from being treated differently in housing transactions on that basis.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners, managers, and their agents operating under 5 M.R.S. § 4581-A generally ensure that all advertising, tenant screening, lease terms, pricing, and eviction decisions are applied uniformly without regard to any of the protected characteristics listed in the statute. Compliant operators avoid making oral or written inquiries about a prospective tenant's protected status — including whether the person has ever sought a protective order — and apply consistent rental criteria to all applicants. Operators who accept housing subsidies or public assistance as a form of payment are expected to treat subsidy recipients on the same terms as other tenants, rather than imposing different conditions based on that status.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 5 M.R.S. § 4581-A, tenants and prospective tenants in Maine have the right to be free from discriminatory treatment in advertising, showings, lease terms, pricing, and eviction proceedings based on a broad set of protected characteristics, including receipt of public assistance or holding a protective order. Individuals who believe they have experienced unlawful housing discrimination may file a complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission, which is the state agency charged with investigating such claims. Tenant-rights organizations can also help explain the complaint process, available remedies, and other general enforcement paths available 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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