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Maine

Maine Landlord-Tenant Laws

Security deposit limits, eviction notices, rent control, and more for Maine.

How we research these summaries

Every rule on this page is drawn from state statutes and municipal codes and summarized with AI assistance. Each one cites the statute it's based on and links to a published text of that law so you can read it firsthand. Where a page says a city or county has no local rule on a topic, that means none was found for the topics covered here — not that none exists. Local governments also regulate rental housing in ways these pages don't track, including registration, licensing, inspections and habitability standards. These summaries may be incomplete or out of date, laws change often, and every property and tenancy has specifics a summary can't capture — so treat this as a starting point for your own research, not as legal advice, and check with the local jurisdiction and a qualified attorney before acting on your particular situation.

What to Know in Maine

Sources last checked July 2026

  • 7-day notice required before eviction for nonpayment of rent
  • 30-day move-out notice required for month-to-month tenancies
  • Maine sets no statewide cap on how much rent may be increased.
  • 45-day advance written notice required for rent increases
  • Security deposits capped at 2 months' rent
5 rules summarized · Each linked to the law it cites

Security Deposit Limits

Security Deposit Limits

What is the security deposit limit in Maine?

Maine caps security deposits at two months' rent: a lease or tenancy-at-will agreement for a dwelling intended for human habitation may not require a security deposit equivalent to more than the rent for 2 months (14 M.R.S. § 6032). Under a written rental agreement the deposit must be returned within the time stated in the agreement, not to exceed 30 days; for a tenancy at will it must be returned within 21 days after the tenancy ends (§ 6033). A landlord who retains any part of the deposit must provide a written statement itemizing the reasons for the retention, together with full payment of the difference between the deposit and the amount retained. A landlord who fails either to provide that statement or to return the deposit within the required time forfeits the right to withhold any portion of it. A deposit may not be retained to pay for normal wear and tear.

14 M.R.S. §§ 6032, 6033

Eviction Notice Requirements

Eviction Notice Requirements

What are the eviction notice requirements in Maine?

A tenancy at will must be terminated by either party with a minimum of 30 days' written notice (14 M.R.S. § 6002). A landlord may instead use a 7-day written notice when the tenant is 7 days or more in arrears in the payment of rent, has caused substantial damage to the premises that the tenant has not repaired, has caused or permitted a nuisance or a violation of habitability, is the perpetrator of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking against a co-tenant, has committed or threatened violence or sexual assault against another tenant, a guest, the landlord or the landlord's agent, or has allowed an unauthorized occupant. If a tenant who is 7 days or more in arrears pays the full amount of rent due before the 7-day notice expires, that notice is void. Separately, a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking may end a tenancy early: 7 days' written notice for a tenancy at will or a lease with a term of less than one year, and 30 days' written notice for a lease with a term of one year or more.

14 M.R.S. § 6002

Rent Increase Notice Periods

Rent Increase Notice Periods

How much notice is required for rent increases in Maine?

Rent or mandatory recurring fees charged for residential estates may be increased by the landlord only after providing at least 45 days' written notice to the tenant (14 M.R.S. § 6015). If the rent is increased by 10% or more, the landlord must provide at least 75 days' written notice. The 10% threshold is cumulative rather than per-increase: if a landlord raises rent more than once in a 12-month period and the increases add up to a total increase of 10% or more, 75 days' notice is required before any increase that brings the running total to 10% or more. Housing with deed-recorded affordability restrictions, and housing tied to a municipal, state or federal subsidy or tenant-assistance program, is exempt from the 75-day requirement. Some Maine municipalities require more: Portland's voter-approved rent-control ordinance sets a longer notice period for the units it covers, so check local rules before relying on the state minimum.

14 M.R.S. § 6015

Rent Control / Rent Increase Caps

Rent Control / Rent Increase Caps

Is there rent control in Maine?

Maine sets no statewide cap on how much rent may be increased. It does, however, bar an increase while the unit is unfit to live in: rent charged for a residential estate may not be increased if the dwelling unit is in violation of the warranty of habitability (14 M.R.S. § 6016). A violation caused by the tenant, the tenant's family, guests or invitees does not bar an increase. A written or oral waiver of this protection is against public policy and is void, and a landlord who violates the section is liable for the return of any sums unlawfully obtained from the tenant, with interest and reasonable attorney's fees and costs. Individual municipalities may impose their own caps even though state law does not: Portland has a voter-approved rent-control ordinance limiting annual increases for covered units, so check the ordinances of the jurisdiction the unit sits in.

14 M.R.S. § 6016

Move-Out & Lease Termination Notice

Move-Out & Lease Termination Notice

What is the move-out notice requirement in Maine?

Either the landlord or the tenant may end a tenancy at will by giving a minimum of 30 days' written notice (14 M.R.S. § 6002). Where the tenant has already paid rent through the date on which a 30-day notice would expire, the notice must expire on or after the date through which rent has been paid — so a notice cannot cut short a period the tenant has already paid for.

14 M.R.S. § 6002

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