Is it legal for women to be topless in Maine anywhere a man can be bare-chested? | Fact brief

Maine law doesn’t prohibit women from being topless anywhere state law permits men to be bare-chested — but some municipalities do.

Maine’s law against indecent conduct prohibits knowingly exposing one’s genitals in public under circumstances “likely to cause affront or alarm.” It does not restrict anyone from exposing their breasts.

But local ordinances can be stricter. Rumford and Sebec, for example, define an exposed breast as nudity and prohibit it in public places. Violations carry fines of up to $500 in Rumford and from $1,000 to $2,000 in Sebec.

Other communities, including Augusta and Old Orchard Beach, don’t prohibit exposed breasts in public but do restrict licensed businesses from allowing topless workers or entertainment.

South Portland barred women from swimming topless in public prior to 2022, when it amended the ordinance to remove gender-specific language; it now applies only to exposed genitals, pubic areas and buttocks.