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Gas Detector Law in Maine

New Maine Gas Detector Law in Effect January 1st, 2022

A new Maine law went into effect on January 1st, 2022 requiring gas detectors to be installed in certain commercial and residential properties.

Starting January 1, building owners of buildings that fall within the below outlined parameters, are required to install at least one approved fuel gas detector in every room that contains a propane, natural gas, or liquified petroleum gas fueled appliance. The required detectors may be battery operated, plugged into an electrical outlet, or hardwired.

Compliance Dates

The law went into effect January 1, 2022. Some entities are required to comply immediately, as follows:

Each unit in any building of multifamily occupancy — effective date 1/1/2022
A fraternity house, sorority house, or dormitory that is affiliated with an educational facility — effective date 1/1/2022
A children’s home, emergency children’s shelter, children’s residential care facility, shelter for homeless children, or specialized children’s home — effective date 1/1/2022
A hotel, motel, or inn — effective date 1/1/2022
A mixed use occupancy that contains a dwelling unit — effective date 1/1/2022

Several others have an extended window for compliance, as follows:

A business occupancy — effective date 1/1/2026
A mercantile occupancy — effective date 1/1/2026
An assembly occupancy — effective date 1/1/2026

Gas Detector Requirements

The gas detector must include a sensor and alarm that detects propane, natural gas, or liquified petroleum gas.
The gas detector must sound an audible warning alarm if elevated gas levels are detected.
The gas detector must be approved by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), such as UL, FM, CSA, etc.
The gas detector may be battery operated, plugged into an outlet, or hardwired.

NOTE: Standalone gas detectors are not a substitution for carbon monoxide detection, though you can buy gas detectors with built in CO sensors.

Residential Rental Units

In a unit listed above, under the terms of a rental agreement or under a month to month tenancy, at the time of each occupancy the landlord shall provide fuel gas detectors if they aren’t already present, and they must be in working condition. After notification of deficiencies, in writing, by the tenant, the landlord shall repair or replace the fuel gas detector.

Tenants shall keep the fuel gas detectors in working condition, test them periodically to make sure they work, and refrain from disabling them.

Transfer/Sale

A person who, after January 1, 2022, acquires by sale or exchange a building listed above shall install fuel gas detectors within 30 days of acquisition or occupancy of the building, whichever is later, if fuel gas detectors are not already present, and shall certify at the closing of the transaction that fuel gas detectors will be installed. This certification must be signed and dated by the person acquiring the building.

A fuel gas detector must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements at the time of installation in each area containing an appliance fueled by propane, natural gas or liquified petroleum gas. A person may not have a claim for relief against a property owner, a property purchaser, an authorized agent of a property owner or purchaser, a person in possession of real property, a closing agent or a lender for any damages resulting from the operation, maintenance or effectiveness of a fuel gas detector. Violation of this subsection does not create a defect in title.

Liability Protection for Owners

Nothing in this section gives rise to any action against an owner if the owner has conducted an inspection of the required fuel gas detectors immediately after installation and has re-inspected the fuel gas detectors prior to occupancy by each new tenant, unless the owner has been given at least 24 hours' actual notice of a defect or failure of the fuel gas detector to operate properly and has failed to take action to correct the defect or failure.

Read it Yourself

You are encouraged to review the summary of the new law provided by the Maine State Fire Marshal's Office to confirm whether this new law applies to you and/or your business.

Some municipalities are discussing ordinances to push the 2026 compliance date forward. We encourage you to reach out to your local fire department for any additional requirements that may be specific to your town/city.