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Information for Homeowners and Renters
How Do I...
- How do I find out if my business or development activity requires a permit?
- How do I find a Permit By Rule application form online and what activities are subject to this process?
- How do I self-disclose an activity I may not be in full compliance with?
- How do I know if I'm in full compliance with environmental regulations?
- How do I obtain copies of public records?
Home systems
- Maine Healthy Homes Information and Resources (DHHS, Maine CDC)
- Home Heating Oil Tanks and Piping. Guard against leaks that could be harmful and very costly.
- Septic System Inspection. Protect your investment by minimizing the risk of costly system replacement or repair (pamphlet) (pdf file)
- Septic Systems -- How They Work and How to Keep Them Working (pamphlet) (pdf file)
- Well water safety (DHHS, Maine CDC)
Maintenance/improvements
- Shorefront property owners. Landscaping, unpaved roads, opening and closing a camp, and the proper care of a camp road.
- Certified Erosion Control Contractors
- Conservation Practices for Homeowners. Series of 20 fact sheets from DEP and the Portland Water District profiling common conservation practices that homeowners can use to protect water quality.
- Gardening to Conserve Maine's Landscape: plants to use and plants to avoid (off-site) from Maine Cooperative Extension
- Lead-safe Renovation
- Recycling
Materials or items used around the home
- Antifreeze
- Asbestos
- Electronic Waste
- Ethanol - E10 - Gasoline Containing Ethanol
- Fertilizer, Phosphorus-free Why use it and where to find it
- Fluorescent Bulb Information Includes the Maine Compact Fluorescent Lamp Study and New Cleanup Guidelines
- Gasoline, Tips for Handling
- Household Hazardous Waste
- Lead
- Mercury Thermostats
Publications
- Manuals and Guides to Reduce Water Pollution
- Are you thinking about Burning Construction and Demolition Debris? (pdf format)
- Explanation of petroleum contaminated drinking water laboratory results for homeowners - (pdf format)
- Fact Sheet- Double Walled Home Heating Oil Tanks (pdf format) - New Siting Law regarding aboveground home heating oil tanks.
- Check Your Tank (heating oil), Prevent a Leak
Requirements
- Reporting a violation
- Erosion & Sedimentation Control Law
- Natural Resources Protection Act (NRPA) permits
- Shoreland Zoning
- Waste Discharge Law
Other Related Links
- Drinking Water Program (Off Site)
- Environmental and Occupational Health Programs (Off Site)
- Efficiency Maine (Off Site)
- Efficiency Maine Home Tips (Off Site)
- FAME (Off Site)
- Global Warming Maine (Off Site)
- Green Seal - More information for health-minded consumers is now available with new standards for certification of household cleaners from Green Seal (www.greenseal.org), an independent non-profit organization that tests and labels environmentally responsible products! (Off Site)
- Household Products Database (Off Site)
- LakeSmart. (Off Site) LakeSmart is an educational program that offers free opportunities for homeowners to learn how to manage their home and yard to protect the water quality of their lake.
- Maine State Housing Authority (Off Site)
- Oil and Solid Fuel Board Rules (Off Site)
- Public Water Sources (Off Site)
- Private Well Information for Homeowners (Off Site
- Smoke Detector Takeback – Federal law requires manufacturers to take back smoke detectors that contain a radioactive source. This N.H. Department of Environmental Services website includes a listing of brands and information for returning smoke detectorsto the manufacturers. (Off Site)
- Smoke Detector Recycling: How to Dispose of Smoke Detectors Properly – Federal law requires manufacturers to take back smoke detectors that contain a radioactive source. This N.H. Department of Environmental Services website includes a listing of brands and information for returning smoke detectors to the manufacturers. (Off Site)
- Tox Town (Off Site)
- Water Testing (includes Water Testing Guide) (Off Site)