Me. Rev. Stat. » Title 38
Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 38, § 480-C (2026)

Prohibitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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1.  Prohibition.  A person may not perform or cause to be performed any activity listed in subsection 2 without first obtaining a permit from the department if the activity is located in, on or over any protected natural resource or is located adjacent to any of the following:  
A. A coastal wetland, great pond, river, stream or brook or significant wildlife habitat contained within a freshwater wetland; or   [PL 1995, c. 460, §4 (RPR); PL 1995, c. 460, §12 (AFF).]
B. Freshwater wetlands consisting of or containing:  
(1) Under normal circumstances, at least 20,000 square feet of aquatic vegetation, emergent marsh vegetation or open water, except for artificial ponds or impoundments; or  
(2) Peatlands dominated by shrubs, sedges and sphagnum moss.   [PL 1995, c. 460, §4 (RPR); PL 1995, c. 460, §12 (AFF).]
A person may not perform or cause to be performed any activity in violation of the terms or conditions of a permit.  
[PL 2001, c. 618, §2 (AMD).]
2.  Activities requiring a permit.  The following activities require a permit:  
A. Dredging, bulldozing, removing or displacing soil, sand, vegetation or other materials;   [PL 1987, c. 809, §2 (NEW).]
B. Draining or otherwise dewatering;   [PL 1987, c. 809, §2 (NEW).]
C. Filling, including adding sand or other material to a sand dune; or   [PL 1987, c. 809, §2 (NEW).]
D. Any construction, repair or alteration of any permanent structure.   [PL 1987, c. 809, §2 (NEW).]
[PL 1987, c. 809, §2 (NEW).]
3.  Application. 
[PL 1993, c. 721, Pt. F, §1 (RP); PL 1993, c. 721, Pt. H, §1 (AFF).]
4.  Significant groundwater well.  A person may not perform or cause to be performed the establishment or operation of a significant groundwater well without first obtaining a permit from the department.  
[PL 2007, c. 399, §11 (NEW).]
5.  Small-scale wind energy development.  A person may not construct or cause to be constructed a wind energy development requiring certification under Title 35‑A, section 3456 without first obtaining a permit from the department under section 480‑II.  
[PL 2015, c. 264, §2 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1987, c. 809, §2 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 430, §4 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 838, §4 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 890, §§A40,B70 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 721, §F1 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 721, §H1 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 460, §4 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 460, §12 (AFF). PL 2001, c. 618, §2 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 399, §11 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 264, §2 (AMD).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 15 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1990–2025 · leading case: Uliano v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 2009 ME 89 (Me. 2009).
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Uliano v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 2009 ME 89 (Me. 2009). · cites it 4× “38 M.R.S. § 480-C(1). Protected natural resources encompass a discrete collection of natural environments, including "coastal sand dune systems, coastal wetlands, significant wildlife habitat, fragile mountain areas, freshwater wetlands, community public water system primary…”
Kroeger v. Dep't of Env't Prot., 2005 ME 50 (Me. 2005). · cites it 2× “A. § 480-D(1). An applicant also has to meet the standards set forth in the regulations promulgated by the Department.”
Charlton v. Town of Oxford, 2001 ME 104 (Me. 2001). · cites it 2× “Delekto did not obtain a permit from the DEP as required by 38 M.R.S.A. § 480-C. 4. The Ordinance allows for some clearing of trees and brush to allow for construction, but no greater than 10,000 square feet.”
Hannum v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 2006 ME 51 (Me. 2006). · cites it 6× “See 38 M.R.S.A. § 480-C (1989 & Supp.1999). The challengers contend that the Board's findings with respect to Hannum's application to build a dock are supported by substantial evidence in the record.”
Murphy v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 615 A.2d 255 (Me. 1992). · cites it 4× “As a result, the DEP, in December of 1988, advised Murphy’s contractor that the project required a permit under the Natural Resources Protection Act (“NRPA”), specifically, 38 M.R.S.A. § 480-C (1989 & Supp.1991). Murphy then applied for the permit in January of 1989.”
Dep't of Env't Prot. v. Woodman, 1997 ME 164 (Me. 1997). · cites it 3× “) finding them in violation of 38 M.R.S.A § 480-C (1989 & Supp.1996) and requiring them to perform certain remedial work on the site of the violation.”
Passadumkeag Mountain Friends v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 2014 ME 116 (Me. 2014). “§ 3451(4) (2013); 38 M.R.S. § 480-C. It also applied for the Department’s approval of the project pursuant to the site location of development statute.”
Southridge Corp. v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 655 A.2d 345 (Me. 1995). · cites it 3× “1 In February 1990, the DEP determined that the corporate entities controlling the land and the facilities comprising Funtown were in violation of the Natural Resources Protection Act, 38 M.R.S.A. § 480-C 2 , and *347 the Site Location of Development Law, 38 M.”
Conservation Law Found., Inc. v. Dep't of Env't Prot., 2003 ME 62 (Me. 2003). “38 M.R.S.A. § 480-C (2001 & *556 Supp.2002).”
Uliano v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 876 A.2d 16 (Me. 2005). “, 38 M.R.S.A. §§ 480-C, 480-D (2001 & Supp.”
D'Alessandro v. Town of Harpswell, 48 A.3d 786 (Me. 2012). “ovided: that the structure is limited to a maximum of four (4) feet in width; that the structure does not extend below or over the maximum high water line of a water body, or upland edge of a wetland described in Section 3 of this Ordinance, or a tributary stream, (unless…”
Rubin v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 577 A.2d 1189 (Me. 1990). “§§ 471, 472, 474 and 475, were repealed and recodified, with changes, at 38 M.R.S.A. §§ 480-C, B, D-E and R, respectively.”
Show all 15 citing cases →
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 38, § 480-C(1) — 2 cases
Uliano v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 2009 ME 89 (Me. 2009). “38 M.R.S. § 480-C(1). Protected natural resources encompass a discrete collection of natural environments, including "coastal sand dune systems, coastal wetlands, significant wildlife habitat, fragile mountain areas, freshwater wetlands, community public water system primary…”
Hannum v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 2006 ME 51 (Me. 2006). “See 38 M.R.S.A. § 480-C (1989 & Supp.1999). The challengers contend that the Board's findings with respect to Hannum's application to build a dock are supported by substantial evidence in the record.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 38, § 480-C(1)(A) — 1 case
E. Maine Conservation Initiative v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 2025 ME 35 (Me. 2025).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 38, § 480-C(1)(B) — 1 case
Murphy v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 615 A.2d 255 (Me. 1992). “As a result, the DEP, in December of 1988, advised Murphy’s contractor that the project required a permit under the Natural Resources Protection Act (“NRPA”), specifically, 38 M.R.S.A. § 480-C (1989 & Supp.1991). Murphy then applied for the permit in January of 1989.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 38, § 480-C(2)(A) — 2 cases
Uliano v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 2009 ME 89 (Me. 2009). “38 M.R.S. § 480-C(1). Protected natural resources encompass a discrete collection of natural environments, including "coastal sand dune systems, coastal wetlands, significant wildlife habitat, fragile mountain areas, freshwater wetlands, community public water system primary…”
E. Maine Conservation Initiative v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 2025 ME 35 (Me. 2025).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 38, § 480-C(l) — 2 cases
Uliano v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 2009 ME 89 (Me. 2009). “38 M.R.S. § 480-C(1). Protected natural resources encompass a discrete collection of natural environments, including "coastal sand dune systems, coastal wetlands, significant wildlife habitat, fragile mountain areas, freshwater wetlands, community public water system primary…”
Hannum v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 2006 ME 51 (Me. 2006). “See 38 M.R.S.A. § 480-C (1989 & Supp.1999). The challengers contend that the Board's findings with respect to Hannum's application to build a dock are supported by substantial evidence in the record.”
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