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LD 1132

An Act To Further Protect Low-Impact Landscaping

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Dan Ankeles and 7 co-sponsors

This bill would have prohibited homeowners associations from banning or restricting low-impact landscaping, ensuring homeowners more freedom to use sustainable practices on their properties.

Pursuant to Joint Rule 310.3 Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD)
#homeownersassociations #landscaping #realestate
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Bill Summary · LD 1132

Summary of LD 1132: An Act To Further Protect Low-Impact Landscaping

Overview

This bill, introduced in the Maine Legislature on March 18, 2025, aimed to provide greater legal protections for homeowners who use low-impact landscaping practices on their properties. The bill ultimately did not proceed further in the legislative process.

Purpose and Intent

The primary purpose of LD 1132 was to limit the ability of homeowners associations (HOAs) to restrict or prohibit the use of low-impact landscaping methods by residents. The bill sought to ensure homeowners had more freedom to implement sustainable, environmentally-friendly landscaping on their own properties without facing potential sanctions or requirements from their HOAs.

Key Provisions

The main provisions of the bill included:

  • Prohibiting HOAs from banning or imposing unreasonable restrictions on the use of native plants, rain gardens, permeable pavement, and other low-impact landscaping approaches
  • Requiring HOAs to accommodate reasonable requests from homeowners to use low-impact landscaping techniques
  • Allowing homeowners to recover legal fees if they successfully challenge HOA restrictions on low-impact landscaping in court
  • Establishing a process for homeowners to appeal HOA decisions related to landscaping requirements

Affected Parties

The bill would have primarily impacted:

  • Homeowners living in communities governed by HOAs, by giving them more freedom to choose sustainable landscaping
  • Homeowners associations, by limiting their ability to enforce strict landscaping rules and requirements

Legislative Status

LD 1132 was introduced in the Maine Legislature but did not advance past the initial placement in legislative files, pursuant to Joint Rule 310.3. This means the bill ultimately did not receive further consideration or a vote by the full legislature before the session ended.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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