Maine Condo EV Charging Rights Under § 576-A

Maine Title 33, § 576-A sets out a process for a unit owner to request an electric-vehicle charging station in a unit parking space or a limited common-element parking space. Its protections and response dates have applied since January 1, 2026. This guide was checked against the current Maine Legislature text on September 25, 2026. The statute does not determine whether a particular stall, wiring route, or building can support a proposed installation.

Check that the application route fits

The section is part of Maine’s unit-ownership law and directs a unit owner to apply to the association’s executive board. Start with the declaration, bylaws, and parking records to confirm how the building and the space are classified. A limited common-element space reserved for another unit also requires written approval from the owner of each unit to which its use is reserved. If you rent, ask your unit owner to identify who controls the space and submit or coordinate the request; this statute’s application route does not answer every separate tenant-rights question.

Beginning January 1, 2026, a declaration or bylaw provision that prohibits a charging station or unreasonably restricts its installation or use in a covered unit or limited common-element parking space is void and unenforceable under § 576-A. The statute defines an unreasonable restriction as one that significantly increases station cost or significantly decreases its efficiency or specified performance. This rule does not remove the need to follow applicable property procedures, electrical and safety requirements, or local ordinances.

Submit a written application and keep the dates

Send the application to the executive board using the building’s stated addition, alteration, or improvement process. Give the board enough information to identify the parking space, proposed charger, cable route, electrical supply, and work. Drawings, an installer scope, a preliminary cost estimate, and an electrical professional’s assessment can make the request easier to evaluate; check the declaration and bylaws for the association’s application requirements. Keep the dated application and proof that it was received.

The board must acknowledge receipt in writing within 30 days. It must issue a written approval or denial within 60 days after receiving the application. If the board does not send a written denial within that period and has not reasonably requested additional information within the 60 days, the statute says the application is deemed approved. The statutory timing depends on a qualifying application and receipt date. If a response or information request is disputed, get Maine legal advice before treating the deadline as permission to begin work.

Plan for the owner responsibilities

The statute directs the board to approve an application when the owner agrees in writing to comply with the relevant declaration or bylaw requirements and accepts the listed responsibilities. These include providing a certificate of insurance within 14 days after approval, with coverage the board considers sufficient; paying installation costs, including applicable professional, permit, zoning, and increased master-insurance costs; and paying for electricity. It has a narrow insurance exception for an existing NEMA (or successor organization’s) standard AC power plug, so confirm how that provision applies to the proposed equipment.

The owner and each later owner remain responsible for damage, maintenance, repair, and replacement until removal, electricity costs, and restoring the affected space after removal. The statute also addresses uninsured losses and requires disclosures to a prospective purchaser about the charger and its responsibilities. Ask the board to put the approved scope, cost allocation, insurance, access, and removal terms in writing, and keep the agreement with the permit and installation records.

Separate a shared project from an owner request

Section 576-A also allows an association to install charging stations in common elements for all unit owners and set rules for their use. That is a different project from an individual owner’s station in a covered parking space. A building may have its own decision, budget, access, and billing steps for shared charging.

Before construction, have a qualified local electrical professional assess the proposed work and confirm the applicable safety and permit path with the responsible authority. Board approval does not establish electrical capacity or replace permits and inspections. For a proposal the board can review, see the condo, HOA, or strata project guide. Use the local rules and permits workflow to confirm address-specific requirements.