Maine Revised Statutes
Article 2-B: MANDATORY SHORELAND ZONING
38 §444-A. Civil suit

§444-A. Civil suit
1.  Suit authorized.  Any water utility, as defined in Title 35-A, section 102, may commence a civil action for injunctive relief against an owner of property in the shoreland zone when the following conditions are met.  
A. A violation of a municipal shoreland zoning ordinance is alleged to have occurred.   [PL 1989, c. 733, §2 (NEW).]
B. The water utility bringing the civil action has a water supply that is directly affected by the alleged violation.   [PL 1989, c. 733, §2 (NEW).]
[PL 1989, c. 733, §2 (NEW).]
2.  Suit prohibited.  An action may not be brought under this section if the Federal Government, State Government or a municipality of the State has commenced and is pursuing an administrative, civil or criminal action to remedy the alleged violation.  
[PL 1989, c. 733, §2 (NEW).]
3.  Notice.  An action may not be commenced under this section unless the plaintiff has given at least 60 days' notice to the alleged violator, the department, the Attorney General, and the municipality or municipalities in which the violation is alleged to have occurred. If the violation occurs within the jurisdiction of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission, the commission must be given notice in place of the department and the municipality.  
[PL 1989, c. 733, §2 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 682, §38 (REV).]
4.  Jurisdiction.  An action may be commenced in the District Court or Superior Court in the county in which the violation is alleged to have occurred.  
[PL 1989, c. 733, §2 (NEW).]
5.  Intervention.  The Attorney General may intervene in any case brought under this section.  
[PL 1989, c. 733, §2 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1989, c. 733, §2 (NEW). PL 2011, c. 682, §38 (REV).

Structure Maine Revised Statutes

Maine Revised Statutes

TITLE 38: WATERS AND NAVIGATION

Chapter 3: PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF WATERS

Subchapter 1: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BOARD

Article 2-B: MANDATORY SHORELAND ZONING

38 §435. Shoreland areas

38 §436. Definitions (REALLOCATED FROM TITLE 12, SECTION 4811-A) (REPEALED)

38 §436-A. Definitions

38 §437. Significant river segments identified (REALLOCATED FROM TITLE 12, SECTION 4811-B)

38 §438. Municipal control (REPEALED)

38 §438-A. Municipal authority; state oversight

38 §438-B. Timber harvesting and timber harvesting activities in shoreland areas; authority of Director of the Bureau of Forestry in the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

38 §439. Requirements (REALLOCATED FROM TITLE 12, SECTION 4812-A) (REPEALED)

38 §439-A. Additional municipal powers, limitations

38 §439-B. Contractors certified in erosion control

38 §440. Federal flood insurance (REALLOCATED FROM TITLE 12, SECTION 4812-B)

38 §440-A. Public access

38 §441. Code enforcement officers (REALLOCATED FROM TITLE 12, SECTION 4812-C)

38 §442. Municipal failure to accomplish purposes (REPEALED)

38 §443. Cooperation (REPEALED)

38 §443-A. Cooperation; enforcement

38 §444. Enforcement (REALLOCATED FROM TITLE 12, SECTION 4815)

38 §444-A. Civil suit

38 §445. Guidelines for shoreland zoning along significant river segments

38 §446. Municipal ordinance review and certification

38 §447. Functionally water-dependent use zones

38 §448. Municipalities establish commercial fishing and maritime activity zones

38 §449. Shoreland zoning report to Legislature (REALLOCATED FROM TITLE 12, SECTION 4812-D) (REPEALED)