Maine · 33 M.R.S. §173(7)Maine flood disclosure: the flood zone, the FIRM panel and the seller's flood history

Unless the sale is exempt, a Maine seller of residential real property gives the buyer a property disclosure statement, and since PL 2023, c. 585 it must include flood hazard information (33 M.R.S. §173). The seller states whether, at the time the information is provided, the property is wholly or partly in a special flood hazard area on the effective FEMA flood insurance rate map issued on or after March 4, 2002, the federally designated flood zone on that map, and provides a copy of the relevant map panel (§173(7)(A)). The seller also states whether, while it owned the property, any flood events affected the property or a structure, any flood-related damage occurred, any flood insurance claims were filed – with the date of each – and any federal, state or local disaster aid was paid for flood recovery – with the date of each payment (§173(7)(B)). Flood is defined to include inundation from inland or tidal waters or rapid runoff, and certain shoreline collapse or subsidence (§173(7)(C)).