Maine (ME) law guide
Quick answer
Maine caps security deposits at 2 months' rent and requires landlords to return them within 21 days (or up to 30 days if stated in a written lease). There is no statewide rent control, but rent increases require 45 days' notice (or 75 days for increases over 10%). To begin eviction for nonpayment, landlords must first serve a 7-day notice to quit.
Security Deposit Limit
2 months' rent
Deposit Return Deadline
21 days (no lease) or up to 30 days (written lease)
Statewide Rent Control
None (Portland and South Portland have local ordinances)
Nonpayment Eviction Notice
7-day notice to quit
Maine rental market snapshot
Population
~1.4 million
Renter households
~29% statewide; ~54% in Portland
Median rent
About $1,500/mo for a 2BR (2025 FMR)
Largest rental markets
Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, Auburn, South Portland
Portland is the tightest rental market in the state, with vacancy rates below 3% driving rents well above the statewide median. South Portland also has a local rent stabilization ordinance similar to Portland's.
Maine landlords may collect a maximum of 2 months' rent as a security deposit. Charging more than that is not allowed under Maine Revised Statutes Title 14, Section 6032.
The deposit must be returned within 21 days after the tenancy ends if there is no written lease, or within the time stated in a written lease (maximum 30 days). The landlord must also provide an itemized written statement for any deductions. Failure to return the deposit on time means the landlord forfeits the right to keep any of it.
Maine has no statewide rent control. Landlords may set rent at any amount and raise it between lease terms. However, for month-to-month tenants, landlords must give 45 days' written notice for increases up to 10%, and 75 days' notice for increases over 10%.
Maine law does not cap late fees by statute, but any fee must be stated in the lease. There is no mandatory grace period under state law, though lease terms may provide one.
To evict for nonpayment of rent, a landlord must serve a 7-day notice to quit. If the tenant pays all overdue rent within those 7 days, the notice is void and the tenancy continues. Only after the 7 days expire unpaid can the landlord file a Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) complaint in court.
For other lease violations, Maine typically requires a 30-day notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy. The court process includes a hearing scheduled at least 14 days after the summons is served on the tenant.
Landlords must give 24 hours' advance notice before entering a rental unit for non-emergency reasons such as repairs or showings. This 24-hour notice is presumed reasonable under Maine law. Entry during emergencies (fire, flooding, urgent safety issues) requires no prior notice.
For non-emergency habitability problems, the landlord has 14 days to make repairs after receiving written notice from the tenant. If the landlord fails to act, tenants may have the right to withhold rent or terminate the lease.
Maine landlords must maintain rental units in a fit and habitable condition. This includes working heat, plumbing, electrical systems, and structural integrity. Tenants may withhold rent or make repairs and deduct the cost if the landlord fails to act within 14 days of written notice.
Landlords cannot retaliate against a tenant for reporting housing code violations, contacting a building inspector, or exercising any legal right. Retaliation within 90 days of a protected tenant action creates a rebuttable presumption in the tenant's favor.
Maine follows the federal Fair Housing Act and adds state-level protections. Landlords cannot discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, disability, familial status, sexual orientation, or source of income. Maine's Human Rights Act adds several categories not covered federally, including source of income discrimination.
A tenant may break a lease early without penalty in certain situations, including active military deployment (under the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act), uninhabitable conditions, landlord harassment, or domestic violence. Outside protected situations, a tenant who breaks the lease early may owe rent for the remaining term, though Maine requires landlords to make reasonable efforts to re-rent the unit.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Governing statute: Maine Revised Statutes Title 14, Chapters 709 and 710-A. Laws change; confirm the current statute or consult an attorney before acting. Last reviewed 2026-06-05.
Maine FAQ
A landlord has **21 days** to return the deposit if there is no written lease. With a written lease, the landlord has however long the lease states, up to a maximum of **30 days**. The deadline starts when the tenancy ends or the tenant surrenders the unit, whichever is later.
No. For month-to-month tenants, landlords must give **45 days' written notice** for a rent increase of 10% or less. For increases above 10%, the notice period is **75 days**. Portland and South Portland have additional local rules that cap how much rent can increase.
**24 hours' advance notice** is required for non-emergency entry in Maine. This applies to inspections, repairs, and showings. In a true emergency, a landlord may enter without notice.
The landlord must first serve a **7-day notice to quit**. If the tenant pays all rent owed within those 7 days, the notice is void. If the tenant does not pay, the landlord can then file a Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) complaint in court, and a hearing is set at least 14 days after the summons is served.
There is **no statewide rent control** in Maine. Portland and South Portland are the only cities with local rent stabilization ordinances. Portland caps annual rent increases at roughly 70% of CPI (about 2.5% in recent years) and requires **90 days' notice** of any rent increase.
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