LHO Resources

Contact your District Liaison or the Local Health Officer Coordinator if you are an LHO and are not receiving registration invites

Resources by Topic

INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Mold

LHO Guide

• LHO GUIDE: Mold (PDF)

Mold General

• Maine Indoor Air Quality Council (MIAQC): Indoor Air Quality in Rental Properties (webpage)
• MIAQC Mold Toolkit 11-2022 (PDF)
• EPA Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home (PDF)

Mold Inspections

• NIOSH Dampness and Mold Assessment Tool (full document) (PDF)
• NIOSH Dampness and Mold Assessment Tool (printable checklist only) (PDF)
• Mold Testing (NC State Extension Publications)(PDF)
• Testing for Mold (MN Dept of Health)(PDF)

Mold Public Health Education Materials

• Mold & Moisture Checklist: Apartment Tenants and Landlords (MIAQC)(PDF) (poster)
• The Key to Mold Control is Moisture Control (EPA)(PDF) (infographic)
• Checklist for cleaning up smaller mold problems (MIAQC printable resource for renters, landlords and homeowners) (PDF)

Mold Other

•  Maine statute: Implied Warranty and Covenant of Habitability (Title 14 Sec 6021)
• Asbestos, Lead and Indoor Air Quality for schools, state-owned bldgs and licensed facilities: refer to Division of Safety and Environmental Services
• What is the LHO's role in Mold complaints? See LHO Manual chapter 5.1

Radon

Radon General

• Maine CDC Radon webpage
• Maine Indoor Air Quality Council (MIAQC) Radon webpage
• EPA Radon webpage

Radon Public Health Education Materials

• Test Your Home for Radon (PDF)  (downloadable tipsheet)
• Making Sense of Your Radon Test Results (PDF)  (downloadable tipsheet)

Find other Tipsheets and information about radon in rental properties on Maine CDC's Radon webpage above

•  Maine statute: Rental Property Radon Testing (Title 14 Sec 6030-D)

Asbestos

• Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Asbestos webpage
• Asbestos, Lead and Indoor Air Quality for schools, state-owned bldgs and licensed facilities, refer to: Division of Safety and Environmental Services
• What is the LHO's role in Asbestos exposure? See LHO Manual chapter 5.6

Other

• Wood Burning and Lung Health (Maine CDC)

OUTDOOR AIR QUALITY

Outdoor Wood Boilers, Outdoor Burning

• Why Regulate Outdoor Wood Boilers? (Maine Dept of Environmental Protection)(DEP)
• Maine Statute: Outdoor Wood Boiler (Title 38 Section 610-B)
• Maine Statute: Open Burning (Title 12 Section 9325)
• Maine Rule: Maine DEP Rule for Open Burning (06-096 Ch 102) (PDF)
• Maine Burn Permit System
• Maine Burn Permit FAQs

What is the LHO's role in outdoor burning? See LHO Manual Section 6.5

Air Quality, general

• Maine Air Contacts (Maine Dept of Environmental Protection)(DEP)
• Maine Air Quality Forecast by Region (Maine DEP)
• Maine Air Quality Forecast, Ozone and Particle Pollution (Maine DEP)
• Current Air Quality Index (Airnow.gov)
• Air Quality and Health (Airnow.gov)
• Understanding Air Quality Index (CDC)

WATER QUALITY

Drinking Water

• Private Well Water Testing and Safety
• Private Ground Water Wells (CDC)
• Potential Well-Water Contaminants and Their Impacts (EPA)
• How do I get my water tested to determine if my water is safe? (Maine CDC Drinking Water Program)

Subsurface Wastewater Disposal (Septic Failure)

• Subsurface Wastewater Unit (SSW) webpage (Maine CDC)
• Municipal Resources - Subsurface Wastewater (Maine CDC)
• How do I report problems with a septic system? (Maine CDC)
• Reference for Property Owners: Ten Tips for Maintaining Your Septic System (Maine CDC)
• Frequently asked questions about septic systems and the Maine Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules (Maine CDC)
• Small Community Grant Program (Maine Dept of Environmental Protection)(DEP)
• Maine statute: Malfunctioning domestic waste water disposal units; abatement of nuisance (Title 30-A sec 3428)
• Maine rules: Maine Subsurface Wastewater Rules

What is the LHO's role in subsurface wastewater? See LHO Manual Section 7.4

Other/Cemeteries

Refer complaints regarding cemeteries and mausoleums to the Maine CDC Subsurface Wastewater Unit. Contact information for the reponsible Environmental Health Specialist can be found on the following page (at bottom): Maine CDC's Subsurface Wastewater Unit - Staff Contacts

Critters and Pests

Bedbugs

LHO Guide

• LHO GUIDE: Bedbugs (PDF)

Bedbugs General

• Maine.gov's "Got Pests?" Bed Bugs webpage
• About Bed Bugs (CDC)
• A guide for landlords: Why Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Makes Good Business Sense (National Center for Healthy Housing) (PDF)
• Consumer Law Guide, Ch 14: Consumer Rights When You Rent An Apartment (Maine Attorney General's Office)
• Maine Statute: Treatment of Bedbug Infestation (Title 14 Sec 6021)

See also Landlord/Tenant section below

• What is the LHO's role in Bedbug exposure? See LHO Manual chapter __

Browntail Moth

• Knock Out Browntail Resources webpage (Maine Forestry Service)
• Knock Out Browntail (Maine Forestry Service) (PDF) (downloadable brochure)
• Browntail Moth Caterpillars (Maine CDC)
• Maine statute: Browntail Moths (Title 22 Sec 1444)
• What is the LHO's role in Browntail Moth exposure? See LHO Manual chapter __ 

Rodents

• LHO GUIDE: Rodents (PDF)
• Got Pests? Rats (Maine Dept of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry)(DACF)
• Got Pests? House Mice (Maine DACF)

Rodent-Borne Diseases

• About Rats and Mice (Why Be Concerned) (EPA)
• Hantavirus Fact Sheet (Maine CDC) (PDF)
• Hantavirus Prevention (CDC) (printable webpage)

Rodent Management

• Integrated Pest Management webpage (Maine DACF)
• A guide for landlords: Why Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Makes Good Business Sense (National Center for Healthy Housing) (PDF)
• Controlling Wild Rodent Infestations (CDC) (printable webpage)
• How to Clean Up After Rodents (CDC) (printable webpage with diagrams)

Public Health Education Materials

• Keep Pests Out(CDC)(PDF) (poster)
• Stop Mice! (Northeast Integrated Pest Management (PDF) (brochure)
• [Listen] Understanding rat biology & behavior - and how to reduce this rodent population in Maine (Interview on Maine Calling, Aug 2022)

Mosquitos

• Mosquito-borne Diseases (Maine CDC)
• Eastern Equine Encephalitis (Maine CDC) - includes EEE Resources for the public
• Mosquito Management (University of Maine Cooperative Extension)
• Keep Mosquitos out of your Septic Tank (CDC)

Other Critters and Pests / For more information

• Maine CDC Disease Surveillance Epidemiology Program
• Maine CDC Notifiable Diseases and Conditions List (PDF)
• Orderable Materials (Maine CDC)

DANGEROUS/SAFER BUILDINGS

Resources

See also:  specific health topics elsewhere on this page.
The following statutes might be applicable in certain instances. Consult with your municipal officers and municipal attorney regarding the particular situation:

•  Maine's Implied Warranty and Covenant of Habitability (Title 14 Sec 6021)
• Maine statute: Dangerous Conditions requiring minor repairs (Title 14 Sec 6026)
• Maine statute: Notice to owner to clean premises; expenses on refusal (Title 22 Section 461)
• Maine statute: Removal of private nuisance (Title 22 Section 1561)
• Maine statute: Dangerous Buildings (Title 17 Sections 2851 - 2859)
• Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (MUBEC)

HOARDING

General Resources

• Is it Hoarding, Clutter, Collecting or Squalor? (International OCD Foundation/Boston) (brochure)
• For Community Responders (International OCD Foundation/Boston)

[Additional resources accessed from International OCD Foundation/Boston website include "The Role of Hoarding Task Forces," "Hoarding in Elderly Populations," and "Understanding the Legal Issues."]

• What are the Public Health Risks of Hoarding/Addressing the Housing Issue (International OCD Foundation/Boston)
• Hoarding: Expert Q & A (American Psychiatric Association)
• Maine Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) Resources webpage
• Maine Hoarding Task Force (currently inactive)

Animal Hoarding

• Municipal Guide to Animal Control and Working with the Animal Welfare Program (Maine DACF) (PDF)

LANDLORD/TENANT ISSUES

Resources for Tenants

• Pine Tree Legal - Tenants Rights in Maine
• Consumer Law Guide: Consumer Rights When You Rent An Apartment (Maine Attorney General's Office) See Chp 14, Sec 14.5
• Sample Notice of Violation/Implied Warranty of Habitability Form (Pine Tree Legal) (PDF)

Resources for Landlords

• Providing Healthy Housing: A Guide to Healthy Homes Laws for Rental Property Owners and Managers (Maine CDC)
• Lead Hazard Prevention: Tips for Landlords and Property Managers (Maine Dept of Environmental Protection)(DEP)
• A guide for landlords: Why Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Makes Good Business Sense (National Center for Healthy Housing) (PDF)

MUNICIPAL RESOURCES

Maine Crisis Line 1-888-568-1112

• Maine Crisis Line 1-888-568-1112.

  Call, text or chat support for individuals or families experiencing a behavioral health crisis or having thoughts of suicide and/or self-harm.

  Free, confidential, 24/7 support for anyone needing support.

• Maine Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) resources and crisis contacts page

SUD Resources

• Maine Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) resources webpage
• "Know Your Options" - Options for Recovery (Maine.gov)
• Find your OPTIONS Liaison (by County)
• Opioids - Naloxone Resources in Maine
• National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) Maine
• NAMI's Statewide Resource Guide (PDF)

LHO Registration Information System ("LHORIS")

• Municipal Portal to LHORIS (Register/Update LHO)
• Guide: Setting-up-municipal-account-in-LHORIS (PDF)
• LHORIS User Manual Jan 2025 (PDF)

What is an LHO?

Coming soon....for municipal webpages: descriptions of the Local Health Officer role that you can opt to post on your town website's local health officer page to help the public understand your role.

Community and Public Health Education Resource Links

Coming soon... for your municipal webpages: community and public health education resource links for your community.

• Feel free to post these on your municipal website's local health officer page. These will be updated seasonally and with newsworthy events; check back here for updates.