Me. Rev. Stat. » Title 30-A
Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 30-A, § 3752 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.   [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
1.  Automobile graveyard.  "Automobile graveyard" means a yard, field or other outdoor area used to store 3 or more unregistered or uninspected motor vehicles, as defined in Title 29‑A, section 101, subsection 42, or parts of the vehicles. "Automobile graveyard" includes an area used for automobile dismantling, salvage and recycling operations.  
A. "Automobile graveyard" does not include:  
(1) An area used for temporary storage of vehicles or vehicle parts by an establishment or place of business that is primarily engaged in doing vehicle repair work to make repairs to render a motor vehicle serviceable. In order for a vehicle's storage to be considered temporary, it must be removed from the site within 180 calendar days of its receipt;  
(2) An area used by an automobile hobbyist to store, organize, restore or display antique autos, antique motorcycles, classic vehicles, horseless carriages, reconstructed vehicles, street rods or parts of these vehicles as these vehicles are defined in Title 29‑A, section 101 as long as the hobbyist's activities comply with all applicable federal and state statutes and rules and municipal ordinances, other than ordinances that are more restrictive than this subsection regarding the storage of vehicles or vehicle parts that are collected by a hobbyist, except that a municipal ordinance may require areas used by an automobile hobbyist to comply with the screening requirements in section 3754‑A, subsection 1, paragraph A and the standards in section 3754‑A, subsection 5, paragraph A, paragraph B, subparagraph (1) and paragraph C. For the purposes of this subparagraph, an automobile hobbyist is a person who is not primarily engaged in the business of selling any of those vehicles or parts from those vehicles;  
(3) An area used for the parking or storage of vehicles, vehicle parts or equipment intended for use by a municipality, quasi-municipal entity or state or federal agency;  
(4) An area used for the storage of operational farm tractors and related farm equipment, log skidders, logging tractors or other vehicles exempted from registration under Title 29‑A, chapter 5;  
(5) An area used for the parking or storage of vehicles or equipment being offered for sale by a dealer, equipment dealer, trailer dealer or vehicle auction business as defined in Title 29‑A, section 851;  
(6) An area used for the storage of vehicles by an establishment or place of business that is primarily engaged in business as a new vehicle dealer as defined in Title 29‑A, section 851;  
(7) An area used for temporary storage of vehicles by an establishment or place of business that is primarily engaged in business as an insurance salvage pool. In order for a vehicle's storage to be considered temporary under this subparagraph, the vehicle must be removed from the site within 180 days of receipt of title by the business; or  
(8) An area used for the parking or storage of operational commercial motor vehicles, special equipment or special mobile equipment as defined in Title 29‑A, section 101 that is temporarily out of service but is expected to be used by the vehicle or equipment owner or by an operator designated by the owner. This subsection does not exempt an area used for the parking or storage of equipment or vehicles that are not operational while stored or parked in the area.   [PL 2005, c. 424, §1 (AMD).]
[PL 2005, c. 424, §1 (AMD).]
1-A.  Automobile recycling business.  "Automobile recycling business" means the business premises of a dealer or a recycler licensed under Title 29‑A, sections 851 to 1112 who purchases or acquires salvage vehicles for the purpose of reselling the vehicles or component parts of the vehicles or rebuilding or repairing salvage vehicles for the purpose of resale or for selling the basic materials in the salvage vehicles, as long as 80% of the business premises specified in the site plan in section 3755‑A, subsection 1, paragraph C is used for automobile recycling operations.  
A. "Automobile recycling business" does not include:  
(1) Financial institutions as defined in Title 9‑B, section 131, subsections 17 and 17‑A;  
(2) Insurance companies licensed to do business in the State;  
(3) New vehicle dealers, as defined in Title 29‑A, section 851, licensed to do business in the State; or  
(4) That portion of the business premises that is used for temporary storage of vehicles by an establishment or place of business that is primarily engaged in business as an insurance salvage pool. In order for a vehicle's storage to be considered temporary under this subparagraph, the vehicle must be removed from the site within 180 days of receipt of title by the business.   [PL 2003, c. 312, §4 (NEW).]
[PL 2003, c. 312, §4 (AMD).]
2.  Highway.  "Highway" means any public way.  
[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
3.  Interstate System.  "Interstate System" means those portions of the Maine Turnpike and the state highway system incorporated in the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, as officially designated by the Department of Transportation.  
[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
4.  Junkyard.  "Junkyard" means a yard, field or other outside area used to store, dismantle or otherwise handle:  
A. Discarded, worn-out or junked plumbing, heating supplies, electronic or industrial equipment, household appliances or furniture;   [PL 2003, c. 312, §5 (AMD).]
B. Discarded, scrap and junked lumber; and   [PL 2003, c. 312, §5 (AMD).]
C. Old or scrap copper, brass, rope, rags, batteries, paper trash, rubber debris, waste and all scrap iron, steel and other scrap ferrous or nonferrous material.   [PL 2003, c. 312, §5 (AMD).]
D.   [PL 2003, c. 312, §5 (RP).]
[PL 2003, c. 312, §5 (AMD).]
5.  Primary System.  "Primary System" means that portion of the state highway system which the Department of Transportation has by official designation incorporated into the Federal-Aid Primary System.  
[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
6.  Recycling or recycling operations. 
[PL 2003, c. 312, §6 (RP).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1987, c. 737, §§A2,C106 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 104, §§C8,10 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 745, §1 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 173, §§2,3 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 65, §A130 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 65, §§A153,C15 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 312, §§3-6 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 424, §1 (AMD).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1994–2023 · leading case: Town of Lebanon v. East Lebanon Auto Sales LLC, 2011 ME 78 (Me. 2011).
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Town of Lebanon v. East Lebanon Auto Sales LLC, 2011 ME 78 (Me. 2011). · cites it 5× “2 See 30-A M.R.S. §§ 3752(1), (4), 3753; M.R. Civ.”
Town of Pownal v. Emerson, 639 A.2d 619 (Me. 1994). · cites it 6× “” 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3752(1) (Pamph.1993). Although the term “unserviceable” is not defined in the statute, a dictionary in common use defines “serviceable” as “that can be of service, ready for use, useful, useable_” Webster’s New World Dictionary 1301 (2d College ed.”
E. Perry Iron & Metal Co. v. City of Portland, 2008 ME 10 (Me. 2008). · cites it 2× “The definition shall include an automobile recycling facility as defined in 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3752(1-A). Portland, Me., Code § 31-4 (Jan.”
Town of China v. Albert Althenn, 2013 ME 107 (Me. 2013). “1994) (construing 30-A M.R.S. § 3752 (Pamph. 1993) and holding that the statute is not unconstitutionally vague).”
Town of Mount Desert v. Smith, 751 A.2d 445 (Me. 2000). “…. The statutory definition of junkyards refers to personal property that is discarded, scrap, worn out or junked. See 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3752(4) (1996).”
MSR Recycling LLC v. Weeks & Hutchins, LLC (Me. Super. Ct 2018). “According to 30-A M.R.S. § 3752(1), an automobile graveyard is a "yard, field or other outdoor area used to store 3 or more unregistered or uninspected motor vehicles .”
Town of Rumford v. Bordeau (Me. Super. Ct 2023). “” 30-A M.R.S. § 3752(1). Also as defined by the statute: “Junkyard” means a yard, field or other outside area used to store, dismantle or otherwise handle: A.”
Copp v. Town of Gray (Me. Super. Ct 2023). “Note 11 in the site plan states the definition of a recycling business, which under 30-A M.R.S. § 3752 requires a license. The note does not state that the property meets that definition and the ZBA made no finding about whether plaintiffs met the definition.”
Huddleson v. Inhabs. of the Town of Eliot (Me. Super. Ct 2004). “At § 45:5); see also; 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3752(1). Here, the CEO testified at the Board of Appeals hearing that when he went to the Plaintiff’s property he “stopped counting at 15 unregistered vehicles and estimated approximately 30 vehicles on the site at the time.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 30-A, § 3752(1) — 5 cases
Town of Lebanon v. East Lebanon Auto Sales LLC, 2011 ME 78 (Me. 2011). “2 See 30-A M.R.S. §§ 3752(1), (4), 3753; M.R. Civ.”
Town of Pownal v. Emerson, 639 A.2d 619 (Me. 1994). “” 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3752(1) (Pamph.1993). Although the term “unserviceable” is not defined in the statute, a dictionary in common use defines “serviceable” as “that can be of service, ready for use, useful, useable_” Webster’s New World Dictionary 1301 (2d College ed.”
MSR Recycling LLC v. Weeks & Hutchins, LLC (Me. Super. Ct 2018). “According to 30-A M.R.S. § 3752(1), an automobile graveyard is a "yard, field or other outdoor area used to store 3 or more unregistered or uninspected motor vehicles .”
Town of Rumford v. Bordeau (Me. Super. Ct 2023). “” 30-A M.R.S. § 3752(1). Also as defined by the statute: “Junkyard” means a yard, field or other outside area used to store, dismantle or otherwise handle: A.”
Huddleson v. Inhabs. of the Town of Eliot (Me. Super. Ct 2004). “At § 45:5); see also; 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3752(1). Here, the CEO testified at the Board of Appeals hearing that when he went to the Plaintiff’s property he “stopped counting at 15 unregistered vehicles and estimated approximately 30 vehicles on the site at the time.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 30-A, § 3752(1)(A) — 1 case
Town of Pownal v. Emerson, 639 A.2d 619 (Me. 1994). “” 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3752(1) (Pamph.1993). Although the term “unserviceable” is not defined in the statute, a dictionary in common use defines “serviceable” as “that can be of service, ready for use, useful, useable_” Webster’s New World Dictionary 1301 (2d College ed.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 30-A, § 3752(4) — 3 cases
Town of Lebanon v. East Lebanon Auto Sales LLC, 2011 ME 78 (Me. 2011). “2 See 30-A M.R.S. §§ 3752(1), (4), 3753; M.R. Civ.”
Town of Pownal v. Emerson, 639 A.2d 619 (Me. 1994). “” 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3752(1) (Pamph.1993). Although the term “unserviceable” is not defined in the statute, a dictionary in common use defines “serviceable” as “that can be of service, ready for use, useful, useable_” Webster’s New World Dictionary 1301 (2d College ed.”
Town of Mount Desert v. Smith, 751 A.2d 445 (Me. 2000). “…. The statutory definition of junkyards refers to personal property that is discarded, scrap, worn out or junked. See 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3752(4) (1996).”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 30-A, § 3752(4)(C) — 1 case
E. Perry Iron & Metal Co. v. City of Portland, 2008 ME 10 (Me. 2008). “The definition shall include an automobile recycling facility as defined in 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3752(1-A). Portland, Me., Code § 31-4 (Jan.”
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