ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING LAW COMES TO MAINE
On June 12, LD 1133 was signed into law in Maine by Governor Mills, establishing a “right-to-charge” in Maine common interest communities effective January 1, 2026. The bill as originally introduced fell short of balancing the interests and concerns of associations but, in part through the advocacy of the Community Associations Institute’s Maine Legislative Action Committee, the final law was revised to be very similar to “right-to-charge” laws adopted in other states.
Under the new law, associations may not prohibit or unreasonably restrict owners from installing electric vehicle chargers in their owned or limited common element parking spaces. Unit owners wishing to install such charging stations must obtain approval from their association boards for installation of an electric vehicle charger and agree in writing to: 1) comply with the provisions of the governing documents regarding additions, alterations, or improvements; 2) provide proof of insurance satisfactory to the board; 3) be responsible for the costs of installing the charging station (including legal costs, any related increase in the master insurance premiums, engineering fees, and the costs of permits and zoning compliance costs); and 4) be responsible for the electricity usage associated with the charger.
The law also makes clear that the unit owner and successor owners of the unit are responsible for the ongoing costs and maintenance of the charger and disclosing to their potential purchasers the existence of the charger and the responsibilities that the purchaser would have to go along with it. Unit purchasers must agree to take ownership of the charging station, or the seller must remove the charging station prior to the sale of the unit. Boards should note that they must issue a written acknowledgement of submitted installation applications within 30 days of receipt and a final written decision on the application or a reasonable request for additional information must be issued within 60 days of receiving the application. If a final decision or request for additional information is not made within the 60 days, the owner’s request will be deemed approved.
If you have any questions regarding Maine law, please contact Justin Magsarili directly.