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📍 STATE GUIDE

Maine — Registry Rules

Official-source summary for Maine.

10/14/2025

Key Highlights

  • Residency Restrictions: Maine has no statewide residency bans; towns may adopt narrow ordinances under 30-A §3014 restricting residence near schools or parks for certain child-related offenses—check local codes and supervision terms.
  • Presence / Proximity Rules: There is no general state-level presence restriction; only sexual contact in a restricted zone (e.g., school, park, daycare) is criminal under 17-A §261, punishable as Class C (or B if prior or child < 12). Local loitering bans may apply by ordinance.
  • Duration of Registration: Registration lasts 10 years (Tier I), 25 years (Tier II), or life (Tier III) from the first Maine registration, with credit for verified prior registration elsewhere and pauses during incarceration or out-of-state domicile; see 34-A §11285.
  • Tiering / Level System: Tiers in 34-A §11273 set both duration and verification cadence—Tier I annual, Tier II semi-annual, Tier III quarterly—and control what data appear publicly per §11281(7).

At a Glance

  • People convicted (or juveniles sentenced as adults) for qualifying crimes must register under the SORNA of 2013 if the conduct occurred on/after January 1, 2013; pre-2013 conduct is governed by SORNA 1999. See Chapter 17’s application and the State Police FAQ for which chapter applies. Title 34-A, ch. 17 • MSP FAQ
  • Initial deadline: After notification, register within 3 days; also notify the local police within 24 hours when you become domiciled/resident or begin work/school. 34-A §11282(2)(D),(3)
  • Verification: In-person verification at the police agency tied to your residence: Tier I annually, Tier II every 6 months, Tier III every 3 months, calculated from your initial registration date. 34-A §11282(7)
  • Primary method: The Bureau mails a verification form; you must appear in person with the form and photo within 5 days of receipt for identity, fingerprint, and photo capture. 34-A §11282(6)
  • ⚠️ Two clocks run on moves: 3 days to notify the Bureau in writing and 24 hours to notify local police. 34-A §11282(8)
  • ⚠️ Out-of-state work/school triggers duties even without moving here (14 consecutive or 30 aggregate days/year). 34-A §11284(1)
  • ⚠️ Maine has no statewide residency restrictions, but towns may adopt narrow child-focused ordinances. MSP FAQ Q17–Q18
  • ⚠️ Failure-to-comply penalties escalate (Class D → C → B) and are strict liability. 34-A §11288
  • ⚠️ An annual $25 fee may be charged at initial registration and each anniversary. 34-A §11287

Official Links

What this means in practice

  • Maine runs two systems: 1999 Act for pre-2013 conduct and 2013 Act (tiers) for later conduct. Durations are 10 years / 25 years / life, with in-person checks. The State Police site is the official public lookup.

Watch-outs

  • Always track the 3-day Bureau rule and 24-hour local-police rule on moves or changes.
  • No statewide residency bans, but some towns may have limited child-focused rules.

See the statutory index for Chapter 17 and the MSP FAQ that explains which chapter applies and confirms update/verification and residency points. Ch. 17 • MSP FAQ

Reviewed 10/14/2025

Who Must Register & Duration

Chapter 17 applies to persons sentenced in Maine as adults or as juveniles sentenced as adults for Tier I/II/III offenses on or after January 1, 2013; comparable out-of-state, federal, tribal, or military convictions also qualify. Pre-2013 conduct falls under Chapter 15 (1999 Act). 34-A §11272 • MSP FAQ (Which chapter?) • 1999 Act index

Duration: Registration lasts 10 years (Tier I), 25 years (Tier II), or life (Tier III) from the first Maine registration, with credit for verified prior registration elsewhere and pauses during incarceration or out-of-state domicile; see 34-A §11285.

What this means in practice

  • You must register if your qualifying offense is sentenced in Maine (as an adult or as a juvenile sentenced as an adult) on/after Jan 1, 2013, or if you move to Maine with a comparable conviction elsewhere.

Watch-outs

  • Which law applies depends on the offense date, not when you moved.

Applicability is in §11272; the FAQ shows how to tell which law governs a profile. §11272 • MSP FAQ

Deadlines & Reporting Triggers

  • Register within 3 days after notice if release/sentencing events have passed. 34-A §11282(2)(D)
  • Notify the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction within 24 hours of becoming domiciled/resident or beginning work/school. 34-A §11282(3)
  • On change of residence, domicile, employment, or school: notify the Bureau in writing within 3 days and notify local police within 24 hours. 34-A §11282(8)
  • New Maine residents with qualifying out-of-state/federal/military convictions: register within 3 days and notify local police within 24 hours upon establishing domicile/residence. 34-A §11283
  • Non-residents working or attending school in Maine: register within 3 days and notify local police within 24 hours of starting. 34-A §11284

What this means in practice

  • After notice, register in 3 days. When you become domiciled/resident or start work/school, tell local police in 24 hours. On any change, tell the Bureau in 3 days and local police in 24 hours.

Watch-outs

  • Missing either the 3-day or 24-hour deadline can be charged separately.

All timing rules are in §11282, including initial, change, and local-notification requirements. §11282

Verification & In-Person Requirements

  • Bureau mails a non-forwardable verification form ≥10 days before due date; the registrant must appear in person within 5 days with the form and a current photograph. 34-A §11282(6)
  • Frequency: Tier I yearly, Tier II every 6 months, Tier III every 3 months after initial registration. 34-A §11282(7)
  • Verifications may be suspended while the registrant is out of state with new domicile, incarcerated, or incapacitated/hospitalized. PL 2015, c.280; 34-A §11285(8)

What this means in practice

  • You’ll be mailed a form and must appear in person within 5 days. Tiers set the cadence: yearly / 6-month / 3-month.

Watch-outs

  • The due date is measured from your initial registration date; plan ahead for travel or work.

See the mail-out, in-person, and cadence rules in §11282(6)–(7) (amended by PL 2015, c.280). §11282 • 2015 law

Residency, Presence, & Loitering Restrictions

Maine law defines “residence” and allows an inference after 14 continuous days or 30 aggregate days in a year. The state imposes no statewide residency exclusion zones, though local ordinances may exist. 34-A §11273(12) • MSP FAQ Q17

What this means in practice

  • Maine uses a 14-day/30-day rule to infer residence; there’s no statewide ban on where you can live.

Watch-outs

  • Some towns may have limited ordinances affecting people with serious offenses against children under 14.

Definition of residence is at §11273(12); the MSP FAQ confirms the lack of statewide residency restrictions. §11273 • MSP FAQ Q17

Employment, Education, & Internet Use

  • Non-residents employed in Maine >14 consecutive days or >30 aggregate days/year must register and notify local police within 24 hours. 34-A §11284(1)
  • Registrants must keep employment and school information current and report changes on the 3-day/24-hour timelines. 34-A §11282(8)
  • The registry record can include Internet identifiers (email/online handles) as Bureau-maintained data; public posting is limited by statute. PL 2015, c.280 amending §11281

What this means in practice

  • Working or going to school in Maine without living here still requires registration; report employer/school and keep it updated.

Watch-outs

  • Non-residents cross the threshold at >14 consecutive or >30 aggregate days/year.
  • Internet identifiers can be collected by the Bureau even if not all are public.

See §11284 for nonresident work/school triggers and §11282(8) for change-reporting; 2015 amendments describe maintained data fields. §11284 • §11282 • PL 2015, c.280

Public Website Exposure

  • Maine posts a public registry showing name, DOB, photo, city/town of residence, employment/school, offense citation, tier, and last verification; address mapping is included for Chapter 17 cases. 34-A §11281(7) • Public site
  • MSP confirms its site is the official registry; updates occur daily and verification dates are shown. MSP FAQ

What this means in practice

  • The public site shows your name, photo, town, employment/school, offense citation, tier, and last verification; address mapping appears for Chapter 17 cases.

Watch-outs

  • Information is updated daily, but accuracy also depends on timely registrant updates.

Public-posting details are in §11281(7), and the official portal is operated by the State Police. §11281(7) • Public site • MSP FAQ

Travel & Relocation (Interstate Moves)

  • Upon changing domicile to another state, give the new address to Maine’s Bureau (within 3 days) and register in the new state no later than 3 days after establishing domicile there if required. 34-A §11282(4)(D)
  • If working or attending school in another state >14 consecutive or >30 aggregate days/year, notify Maine within 3 days and register in that state if required. 34-A §11282(4)(E)

What this means in practice

  • If you move states, tell Maine in 3 days and register in the new state within 3 days of establishing domicile. Out-of-state work/school can also require you to register there.

Watch-outs

  • Each state sets its own rules—check the new state’s law before moving.

Interstate move and out-of-state work/school duties are in §11282(4)(D)–(E). §11282

Visiting or Traveling in the State

  • Persons establishing domicile or residence in Maine with qualifying out-of-state/federal/military convictions must register within 3 days and notify local police within 24 hours. 34-A §11283
  • Non-residents who work or study in Maine must register on the same 3-day/24-hour timeline. 34-A §11284
  • Short-term stays can still create a residence inference at 14 continuous or 30 aggregate days/year. 34-A §11273(12)

What this means in practice

  • Moving into Maine with a qualifying conviction: register in 3 days and notify local police in 24 hours. Working/studying here without moving also triggers duties.

Watch-outs

  • Even extended visits can create a residence inference at 14/30 days.

See §11283 (new residents), §11284 (nonresident workers/students), and §11273(12) (residence inference). §11283 • §11284 • §11273

Compliance & Enforcement

Failure to comply with any duty under Chapter 17 is a strict-liability crime: first offense Class D, second offense Class C, third or subsequent Class B; prior convictions under the 1999 Act’s §11227 count for escalation. 34-A §11288 • 1999 Act §11227

What this means in practice

  • Maine treats violations as strict-liability crimes with escalating classes (D/C/B) based on prior convictions.

Watch-outs

  • Prior violations under the 1999 Act count toward escalation in Chapter 17 cases.

Penalty and escalation rules are in §11288, with cross-reference to §11227 (1999 Act). §11288 • §11227

Relief Paths

  • Statutory exception/relief for some individuals under the 1999 Act (pre-2013 conduct) via §11202-A; if granted, duty is extinguished, with caveats for later offenses. 34-A §11202-A
  • Verification duties may be suspended during specified periods (new out-of-state domicile, incarceration, incapacity/hospitalization). PL 2015, c.280; 34-A §11285(8)

What this means in practice

  • Some pre-2013 cases may seek statutory exception/relief under §11202-A. Verification requirements can be temporarily suspended while out of state with a new domicile, incarcerated, or incapacitated.

Watch-outs

  • Relief is narrow and fact-specific; later qualifying offenses can restore obligations.

See §11202-A for exceptions/relief under the 1999 Act and §11285(8) (as amended in 2015) for verification suspensions. §11202-A • §11285(8) via 2015 law

Special Populations

  • Juveniles adjudicated in juvenile court are not required to register in Maine; juveniles sentenced as adults are covered. 34-A §11272 • Maine Law guidance (PDF)
  • Military, federal, and tribal convictions that would require registration transfer into Maine duties on residence/work/school here. 34-A §§11283–11284

What this means in practice

  • Juveniles adjudicated in juvenile court do not register; juveniles sentenced as adults do.
  • Military/federal/tribal convictions are recognized for Maine duties when you live, work, or study here.

Watch-outs

  • Other states may require juvenile-court registration—verify before traveling or relocating.

Chapter 17’s application language and Maine Law’s juvenile guidance explain who is covered. §11272 • Juvenile FAQ (Maine Law)

Costs & Payments

  • The Bureau may charge $25 annually, due at initial registration and each anniversary (credited to the General and Highway Funds per statute). 34-A §11287

Recent Changes & Litigation

  • Statute: PL 2015, c. 280 (HP 773) — 127th Legislature; effective 2015-06-30. Amended verification frequencies (Tier II every 6 months; Tier III every 3 months), authorized suspension of verifications in specified circumstances, and aligned escalation rules referencing §11227. link
  • Statute: PL 2011, c. 663 (HP 1117) — 125th Legislature; effective 2013-10-09. Enacted SORNA of 2013 structure (Chapter 17), established Tier I/II/III durations and core duties including the 3-day/24-hour timelines. link
  • Case: Doe v. Williams — Maine Supreme Judicial Court (2013-02-26) — Addressed ex post facto challenges to SORNA 1999; some plaintiffs obtained relief while others’ claims proceeded under differing facts. link

Compliance Checklists & Scripts

New Arrival: First 30 Days

  • Confirm which law applies to your case (1999 vs. 2013). MSP FAQ
  • Contact the Bureau for your registration packet and bring a current photo to local police. 34-A §11283–§11284
  • Calendar your verification cadence (annual/6-month/3-month) from your initial registration date. 34-A §11282(7)
  • Record the dual move deadlines (3 days to Bureau, 24 hours to police). 34-A §11282(8)

Moving Out / Traveling

  • Before moving, give the Bureau your new address within 3 days. 34-A §11282(4)(D)
  • Register in the new state within 3 days after establishing domicile, if that state requires it. 34-A §11282(4)(D)
  • If only working/schooling out of state >14 consecutive or >30 aggregate days/year, register there as required and notify Maine. 34-A §11282(4)(E)

Records Request Template

To: State Bureau of Identification — Sex Offender Registry

Subject: Request for Registry Record & Certification

I request a certified registry record for [Full Name, DOB], including verification history and offense citation, under 34-A §11281(7) and §11289. Please provide any admissible custodian certificate per statute. §11281/§11289 • MSP FAQ

Relief Petition Outline

1) Identify governing chapter (1999 vs. 2013) and eligibility for relief/exception.
2) Cite §11202-A (exceptions under the 1999 Act) and attach proof meeting statutory criteria; note consequences for subsequent offenses.
3) Attach certified judgment(s), discharge paperwork, and verification history.
4) Serve the District Attorney/Attorney General as required; request order extinguishing the duty.
5) If relief is granted, send the order to the Bureau for records update. §11202-A • MSP FAQ

Tips for using these checklists

  • Use the arrival and move checklists to hit Maine’s 3-day and 24-hour deadlines, and include registry certifications when you need official proof.

Checklist items cite §§11282–11285 and the MSP FAQ for public-facing processes and contacts. Statutes • MSP FAQ

Citations

🤝 This guide was created from official legal sources and checked with the help of AI-assisted research. We strive for accuracy and clarity — if you spot something that seems off or out of date, please let us know so we can correct it for everyone.

Informational only; not legal advice.