Maine Real Estate License Practice Exam

The Shoreland Zoning Law is primarily administered through which entity?

1. Each municipality

2. The Department of Fisheries and Agriculture

3. Environmental Protection Agency

4. The state legislature

The correct answer is: Each municipality

The correct answer is that the Shoreland Zoning Law is primarily administered through each municipality. This framework allows local governments to tailor their zoning regulations to suit their specific coastal and waterfront needs, ensuring that land use is managed in a manner that protects the natural environment while promoting responsible development. Each municipality is responsible for establishing its own shoreland zoning ordinances, guided by state standards. This municipal administration fosters community involvement and ensures that local concerns about land use, environmental impact, and property rights are addressed effectively. The other entities listed, such as the Department of Fisheries and Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the state legislature, may have roles in supporting or regulating overarching environmental policies and practices, but they do not administer the Shoreland Zoning Law directly. The emphasis on local governance in administering these laws aligns with the broader principle of local control in land use regulation, allowing for more flexible and context-aware decision-making.