No, sleeping on a refrigerator in your Maine backyard is not illegal. This notion appears to be a baseless urban legend or misattributed “dumb law,” with no supporting statute or ordinance in Maine law.
Origin of the Myth
Lists of quirky state laws often circulate online, claiming odd prohibitions like sleeping atop refrigerators outdoors in Maine, but these stem from hoaxes or exaggerations without legal backing. Maine regulations mention refrigerators only in contexts like lodging rules prohibiting gas models in sleeping rooms for safety or food code definitions, unrelated to backyard use.​
Relevant Maine Laws
Property owners in Maine can use their backyard freely absent zoning violations, nuisances, or safety hazards under RSA Title 48-A (Zoning) and local ordinances. [ style context] No state code bans unconventional sleeping spots outdoors; general habitability rules apply to rentals, not private land.​
Practical Considerations
Local towns may regulate structures or visible nuisances via ordinances, but a temporary act like napping on an appliance poses no legal issue if it doesn’t harm neighbors or violate health codes. Check municipal codes for your area to confirm. [
SOURCES
[1](https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/sites/maine.gov.dhhs.mecdc/files/rules/Lodging%20Rules.pdf)
[2](https://regulations.justia.com/states/maine/10/144/chapter-201/section-144-201-1/)
[3](https://www.ptla.org/rights-maine-renters-unsafe-or-unfit-housing)
[4](https://www.reddit.com/r/legal/comments/2z6xa6/why_is_it_illegal_to_sleep_atop_a_refrigerator_in/)
[5](https://www.avvo.com/legal-answers/is-putting-locks-on-fridge-or-freezers-at-night-be-5422811.html)
