What is Maine’s Law on Service Animals
Maine statutes define “service animal” and “assistance animal” in 5 MRS §4553.
The Maine Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on a person’s use of an assistance animal (see 5 MRS §4582-A). 5 MRS §4592 prohibits discrimination against a person’s use of a service animal in public places and specifically states, “This subsection does not apply to an assistance animal as defined in section 4553, subsection 1-H unless the assistance animal also qualifies as a service animal.” See also the accessibility and housing regulations of the Maine Human Rights Commission. For guidance on when service animals are permitted in certain types of establishments, see 17 MRS §3966, the State of Maine Food Code, and Rules Relating to Lodging Establishments.
The Maine Human Rights Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice have compiled guides to the use of service animals:
- State of Maine Human Rights Commission “Assistance Animals in Housing”
- State of Maine Human Rights Commission “Service Animals in Places of Public Accommodation”
- U.S. Department of Justice ADA 2010 Revised Requirements related to service animals
- U.S. Department of Justice “Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA”
14 MRS §6030-G relieves landlords of liability “for personal injury, death, property damage or other damages resulting from or arising out of an occurrence involving an assistance animal at the dwelling unit.”
7 MRS §3923-A exempts “service dog[s] owned or kept by a person with a physical or mental disability” from license fees.
Maine’s Model White Cane Law prohibits the misrepresentation of a service or assistance animal (see 17 MRS §1314-A).
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5/31/2019 A-Z List