Solar Rights (Maine)

Last modified on February 12, 2015.

Rules Regulations Policies Program

Place	Maine
Name	Solar Rights
Incentive Type	Solar/Wind Access Policy
Applicable Sector	Multi-Family Residential, Residential
Eligible Technologies	Passive Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics, Solar Pool Heating, Solar Space Heat, Solar Water Heat, Solar clothes-drying device (clothes line, drying rack)
Active Incentive	Yes
Implementing Sector	State/Territory
Energy Category	Renewable Energy Incentive Programs
Date added to DSIRE	2009-06-16
Last DSIRE Review	2012-12-14
References	DSIRE

Summary

Maine law requires that any municipal ordinance, bylaw, or regulation adopted after September 30, 2009 regulating solar energy devices on residential property follow certain requirements. The rules, bylaws, and regulations of home owner associations (HOA) of property owners must also follow these requirements. Specifically, these legal instruments may not prohibit a person from installing or using a solar energy device (including a clothesline or drying rack) on residential property owned by that person. In the case of a leased/rented property, the policy protects the renters' right to use a clothesline or drying rack.

Ordinances, bylaws, or regulations may reasonably restrict the installation and use of solar energy devices to protect public health and safety, buildings from damage, historic/aesthetic values (when a comparable alternate is available), and to protect shorelands (under shoreland zoning provisions). Legal instruments may restrict the use of solar energy devices on residential property that is commonly owned with third parties or in the common areas of condominiums.

Authorities (Please contact the if there are any file problems.)

Authority 1:	33 M.R.S. §1421 et seq.
Date Effective	2009-09-30
Date Enacted	2009-06-03

• Incentive and policy data are reviewed and approved by the N.C. Solar Center's DSIRE project staff.