§1201. Legislative intent, purpose The Legislature finds that the ownership of many of Maine’s coastal islands is uncertain. The Legislature prohibited the further sale of state-owned islands in 1913 but some of the land agent’s records of prior conveyances are missing or incomplete. In addition, title to many privately-owned islands was derived from ancient charters […]
§1202. Definitions As used in this chapter the following words shall have the following meanings. [PL 1975, c. 509, §1 (RPR).] 1. Coastal island. “Coastal island” means a natural land formation protruding above the surface of and surrounded by Maine’s coastal waters at mean high tide or any portion of such land formation. […]
§1203. Registry There is herewith established and created a Coastal Island Registry which shall be an office within the Bureau of Parks and Lands which shall be organized in the manner the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands shall deem best suited to the accomplishment of the functions and purposes of this chapter. […]
§1204. — duties The Coastal Island Registry shall devise a system to number coastal islands and assign such numbers to all coastal islands. [PL 1975, c. 509, §3 (RPR).] SECTION HISTORY PL 1973, c. 616, §1 (NEW). PL 1975, c. 509, §3 (RPR).
§1205. Registration Each true owner, or authorized representative of such true owner, shall register the true owner’s coastal island with the Coastal Island Registry whether or not such coastal island has been assigned a number under section 1204. Any group of islands assigned a single number under section 1204 as of February 28, 1974, and […]
§1206. Filing and notice of failure to file 1. Filing of registration. The registration must be filed with the Coastal Island Registry on or before December 31, 1975. Any filing of a registration before January 1, 1975 with the Coastal Island Registry in accordance with the law in effect at the date of such filing […]
§1207. Title in State Title to each and every coastal island that is not registered by the true owner or authorized representative of such true owner with the Coastal Island Registry on or before December 31, 1975, shall vest in the State of Maine on January 1, 1976, subject to the exceptions and conditions set […]
§1208. Late registrations Each and every coastal island which the true owner has failed to register shall be held in the possession, custody and control of the Bureau of Parks and Lands until such time as the true owner files a registration, in the same manner as required under section 1205, with the Coastal Island […]
§1209. Review of claims to coastal islands The Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands shall review each and every claim of true ownership made to a coastal island or islands under section 1205 or section 1208. An initial determination shall be made by the director after consultation with the Attorney General as to […]
§1210. Exemption Any coastal island that has 4 or more residential structures thereon is exempted from this chapter, provided that such property is on the tax rolls of a municipality or of the State. [PL 1975, c. 509, §9 (RPR).] SECTION HISTORY PL 1973, c. 616, §1 (NEW). PL 1973, c. 788, §167B (AMD). […]
§1211. Requirement for notice 1. Publication. The Secretary of State shall publish a notice setting forth the requirements of this chapter in a newspaper of general circulation in the State once a week for 3 consecutive weeks in December, 1973 and once a week for 3 consecutive weeks in July, 1974. [PL 1973, c. […]
§1212. List Municipal officers shall submit a list of islands within their jurisdiction that are being taxed by the municipality to the Coastal Island Registry on or before December 31, 1973, together with the names and addresses of all record owners of islands with 3 or less residential structures thereon. [PL 1973, c. 616, […]
§1213. Water boundaries For the purposes of this chapter, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Division of Geology, Natural Areas and Coastal Resources shall draw the water boundaries of the 8 coastal counties in order to determine in which registry of deeds the island must be registered. These lines must be drawn in accordance […]
§1214. Recordation (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1973, c. 616, §1 (NEW). PL 1975, c. 509, §10 (RP).
§1215. Rules and regulations The Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands is authorized to promulgate any rules and regulations concerning the organization of the Coastal Island Registry, the procedure by which registrations are to be presented to and reviewed by the Bureau of Parks and Lands and in any other area necessary to […]
§1216. Limitation Nothing in this chapter shall preclude the rights of the State to title to property under Title 18, section 1001, subsection 8 or in any action brought to quiet title with respect to island property. [PL 1973, c. 616, §1 (NEW).] SECTION HISTORY PL 1973, c. 616, §1 (NEW).
§1217. Fees All registration fees except those designated for registers of deeds shall be used to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands is authorized to accept funding from federal or other public or private sources to carry out the purposes of this chapter. [PL […]
§1218. Fraudulent registration Any person who knowingly registers a coastal island, not being the true owner of that island, with the intent of fraudulently obtaining an interest in that island, or with the purpose of deceiving the State as to ownership of that island or to otherwise deceive, deprive, obtain or misrepresent ownership of that […]
