Maine § 3204. - Business, traveling or recreation on Sunday

Full text of Maine Maine Revised Statutes § 3204. — Business, traveling or recreation on Sunday, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 3204.. Business, traveling or recreation on Sunday

1.  Restriction.  A person may not keep a place of business open to the public:

A. On Sunday, except:  

(1) For works of necessity, emergency or charity; or  

(2) Between the hours of noon and 5:00 p.m. on Sundays falling between Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day; or   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

B. On the following holidays:  

(1) On Memorial Day, the last Monday in May, but if the Federal Government designates May 30th as the date for observance of Memorial Day, the 30th of May;  

(2) On July 4th;  

(3) On Labor Day, the first Monday of September;  

(4) On Veterans' Day, November 11th;  

(5) On Christmas Day; and  

(6) On Thanksgiving Day.   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

2.  Exceptions.  This section does not apply to:

A. Common, contract and private carriers;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

B. Taxicabs;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

C. Airplanes;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

D. Newspapers;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

E. Radio and television stations;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

F. Hotels, motels, rooming houses, tourist and trailer camps;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

G. Restaurants;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

H. Garages and motor vehicle service stations;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

I. Retail monument dealers;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

J. Automatic laundries;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

K. Machines that vend anything of value, including, but not limited to, a product, money or service;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

L. A satellite facility approved by the Superintendent of Financial Institutions under Title 9‑B; or comparable facility approved by the appropriate federal authority;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

M. Pharmacies;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

N. Greenhouses;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

O. Seasonal stands engaged in sale of farm produce, dairy products, seafood or Christmas trees;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

P. Public utilities;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

Q. Industries normally kept in continuous operation, including, but not limited to, electric generation plants, pulp and paper plants and textile plants;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

R. Processing plants handling agricultural produce or products of the sea;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

S. Ship chandleries;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

T. Marinas;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

U. Establishments primarily selling boats, boating equipment, sporting equipment, souvenirs and novelties;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

V. Motion picture theaters;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

W. Public dancing;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

X. Sports and athletic events;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

Y. Bowling alleys;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

Z. Displaying or exploding fireworks, under Title 8, chapter 9‑A;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

AA. Musical concerts;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

BB. Religious, educational, scientific or philosophical lectures;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

CC. Scenic, historic, recreational and amusement facilities;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

DD. Real estate brokers and real estate sales representatives;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

EE. Mobile home brokers and mobile home sales representatives;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

FF. Stores in which no more than 5 persons, including the proprietor, are employed in the usual and regular conduct of business;   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

GG. Stores that have no more than 5,000 square feet of interior customer selling space, excluding back room storage, office and processing space; and   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

HH. Stores with more than 5,000 square feet of interior customer selling space that engage in retail sales and that do not require, as a condition of employment, that their employees work on Sundays. If an employer decreases the average weekly work hours of an employee who has declined to work on Sundays, it is prima facie evidence that the employer has required Sunday work as a condition of employment in violation of this section, unless the employer and employee agreed that the employee would work on Sundays when the employee was initially hired. In no event, however, may any store having more than 5,000 square feet of interior customer selling space be open on Easter Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.   [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §55 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]

3.  Scope.  For the purpose of determining qualification, a "store" is an operation conducted within one building advertising as, and representing itself to the public to be, one business enterprise regardless of internal departmentalization. All subleased departments of any store for the purpose of this section are considered to be operated by the store in which they are located. Contiguous stores owned by the same proprietor or operated by the same management for the purpose of this section are considered to be a single store.

4.  Penalty.  A person who violates this section commits a Class E crime. A violation of this section is a strict liability crime as defined in Title 17‑A, section 34, subsection 4‑A. A complaint charging violation of this section may not issue later than 5 days after its alleged commission.

5.  Injunctive relief.  In addition to any criminal penalties provided in this section, the Attorney General, a district attorney or any resident of a municipality in which a violation is claimed to have occurred may file a complaint with the Superior Court to enjoin any violation of this section. The Superior Court has original jurisdiction of these complaints and authority to enjoin these violations.

6.  Application.  This section does not apply to isolated or occasional sales by persons not engaged in the sale, transfer or exchange of property as a business.

Source: official Maine text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Maine § 3204.

What does Maine Revised Statutes § 3204. cover?

Section 3204. ("Business, traveling or recreation on Sunday") is part of the Maine Revised Statutes, the codified statutory law of Maine. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Maine § 3204.?

A common citation format is "Maine Revised Statutes § 3204." (Maine). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Maine law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Maine official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Maine attorney.

How does Maine § 3204. apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Maine can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Maine.