Landlord laws
Maine landlord-tenant law
Maine Revised Statutes Title 14, ch. 709 (Entry and Detainer), ch. 710 (Rental Property), ch. 710-A (Security Deposits), plus 5 M.R.S. § 4581-A (official text, legislature.maine.gov)
Last verified Oct 2026
General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.
| Topic | Rule (plain English) | Statute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security deposit cap | A deposit may not exceed 2 months' rent. At move-in, you may not require more than the first full month's rent, the deposit, and any properly disclosed mandatory recurring fee. The deposit chapter doesn't apply to owner-occupied buildings of 5 or fewer units. | 14 M.R.S. §§ 6032, 6022-A, 6037(2) | Verified |
| Deposit return deadline | Return the full deposit, or a written statement itemizing the reasons for keeping any part with the balance. Under a written lease, the deadline is the one in the lease, up to 30 days. For a tenancy at will, it's 21 days after the tenancy ends or the unit is surrendered, whichever is later. Mailing to the tenant's last known address counts. Normal wear and tear can't be charged. Missing the deadline forfeits the right to withhold anything. Wrongful retention costs double the amount withheld plus attorney's fees; the tenant must first give 7 days' notice before suing. | 14 M.R.S. §§ 6033, 6034 | Verified |
| Deposit holding and interest | Not specified in state statute. No statute requires paying interest. Keep deposits in a bank or financial institution account, not mixed with your own assets and beyond the reach of your creditors. A violation lets the tenant recover the greatest of actual damages, $500, or 1 month's rent. | 14 M.R.S. § 6038 | Not in statute |
| Late fee cap and grace period | Rent is late only if unpaid 15 days after it's due. The late fee may not exceed 4% of one month's rent. You may charge it only if you gave the tenant written notice of it when you entered the rental agreement. | 14 M.R.S. § 6028 | Verified |
| Landlord entry notice | Except in an emergency or when impracticable, give reasonable notice of your intent to enter and enter only at reasonable times. 24 hours is presumed reasonable. An unlawful or harassing entry lets the tenant recover the greater of actual damages or $250. The tenant may not unreasonably refuse entry for inspection, repairs, services or showings. | 14 M.R.S. § 6025 | Verified |
| Rent increase notice | Give at least 45 days' written notice before increasing rent or a mandatory recurring fee. If the rent increase is 10% or more, alone or combined with others within 12 months, give at least 75 days' written notice. Some subsidized or deed-restricted housing is exempt from the 75-day rule. You may not raise rent while the unit violates the warranty of habitability, unless the tenant caused the violation. These rights can't be waived. | 14 M.R.S. §§ 6015, 6016 | Verified |
| Rent control status | Not specified in state statute. No statewide rent control, and no state statute bans local rent limits. We checked Title 14, ch. 709, 710 and 710-A. Note: Any local rent limits come from municipal ordinances, not state statute. | 14 M.R.S. ch. 710 | Not in statute |
| Eviction notice: nonpayment | If rent is 7 or more days late, give 7 days' written notice stating the ground, the amount 7 or more days overdue, and the statutory notice about paying to void it. Paying in full before the notice expires voids it. For tenancies at will, paying all arrears, rent due, and your filing and service costs before the writ issues reinstates the tenancy. The notice must also say the tenant may contest the termination in court. | 14 M.R.S. § 6002(1)(C), (2) | Verified |
| Eviction notice: lease violation | Give 7 days' written notice, stating the ground, for substantial unrepaired damage, a nuisance, making the unit unfit, violating the law regarding the tenancy, violence or threats against others, or an unauthorized occupant. Otherwise, a tenancy at will ends on 30 days' written notice, which needs no cause. The statute gives no right to cure. Note: Termination of a fixed-term lease for other breaches depends on the lease terms, not this statute. | 14 M.R.S. § 6002 | Verified |
| Required disclosures | Before the lease, give a signed total-price disclosure of rent and all fees and costs if the tenant pays recurring fees (6030-J). Give a smoking-policy disclosure (6030-E), radon test results and notice (6030-D), and an energy-efficiency disclosure if the tenant pays for energy (6030-C). Disclose any bedbug infestation in adjacent units (6021-A). Before an application fee, say you must give the applicant a copy of the screening report (6030-H). For pre-1978 buildings, give 30 days' notice of renovation work (6030-B) and the federal lead-paint disclosure (40 CFR 745.113). | 14 M.R.S. §§ 6030-B to 6030-E, 6030-H, 6030-J, 6021-A; 40 CFR 745.113 | Verified |
| Fair housing beyond federal law | Maine adds sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, receipt of public assistance (including housing subsidies), and having obtained a protection order. Its other classes match federal law. | 5 M.R.S. § 4581-A | Verified |
Last verified Oct 2026 · Sources are official state legislature sites. Federal rules also apply.
Tools for Maine landlords
Late fee calculator
Model grace periods and fees.
Open →Prorated rent calculator
Mid-month move-ins.
Open →Rent increase calculator
New rent and annual impact.
Open →General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.