Maine Eviction Notice
Create a proper Maine eviction notice — pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, or termination — and download a print-ready PDF. Free, no signup. The preview updates as you type.
Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
What happens after the notice in Maine
If the tenant does not comply, the eviction moves to court. These are Maine’s own rules for that step, from the judiciary and the statute.
- What the case is called. In Maine an eviction lawsuit is a(n) Forcible entry and detainer (FED) action. — 14 M.R.S. §6001(1) (PL 2017, c. 210) ↗
- Where to file. If the tenant doesn’t comply with the notice, the landlord files in the District Court. — 14 M.R.S. §6003 (PL 1997, c. 151) ↗
- How to serve the notice. Written notice given to the tenant (in-hand); after at least 3 good-faith attempts at service, may serve by both first-class mail to last known address and leaving the notice at the tenant's last and usual place of abode. — 14 M.R.S. §6002 (PL 2015, c. 293, §6) ↗
- Filing fee. $100.00 statewide for entry of a Forcible Entry and Detainer action (mediation included); FED summons form CV-034 costs $5 from the clerk — Maine Judicial Branch Administrative Order JB-05-26 (A. 3-26), Court Fees Schedule, effective March 9, 2026 ↗
- Official guidance. Maine publishes its own instructions for the court step; read them before filing. — Maine Judicial Branch – Eviction (Forcible Entry and Detainer) help page ↗
- No self-help. 14 M.R.S. §6014 – landlord may not willfully interrupt utility service or deny tenant access to/possession of premises other than through proper judicial process; damages min. $250 plus costs and attorney's fees — 14 M.R.S. §6014 ↗
Each point links to the Maine source it was taken from. Rules change; confirm before relying on them.
Maine notice periods · as of 2026
- Non-payment of rent
- 7 days
- Lease violation (cure)
- Often unconditional
- End month-to-month
- 30 days
Source: 14 M.R.S. § 6002 · verify ↗. Using the wrong number can void the notice — confirm the current rule before you serve it.
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Types of eviction notice
- Pay or quit — for unpaid rent: pay by the deadline or move out.
- Cure or quit — for a lease violation: fix it by the deadline or move out.
- Unconditional / termination — to end a month-to-month tenancy or for serious violations.
Maine notice period & service
The number of days and how you must deliver the notice are set by Maine law — get both right, keep proof of service, and never lock out or remove a tenant yourself. Check the current Maine eviction rules before serving.
If the tenant moves out still owing rent, the notice won’t collect it. Put the amount and a deadline in writing with a Maine demand letter for payment; if it’s ignored, you can file in Maine small claims court, where the limit is $10,000.
Frequently asked questions
How many days notice do I have to give in Maine?
In Maine, a non-payment (pay-or-quit) notice must give the tenant 7 days to pay or leave (as of 2026). Source: 14 M.R.S. § 6002. Notice periods for lease violations or ending a tenancy differ — see the box on this page and confirm current law before serving.
How do I serve the notice in Maine?
States set rules for delivery — often personal delivery, leaving it with an adult at the home, and/or mailing a copy. Keep proof of how and when you served it. Improper service is a common reason eviction cases get dismissed, so follow Maine’s method carefully.
Do I need a lawyer?
Not always for the notice itself, but eviction is technical and a small mistake can restart the clock. For contested cases, commercial properties, or if the tenant has an attorney, it’s worth consulting a landlord-tenant lawyer in Maine.
Where does a landlord file an eviction case in Maine?
If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord files in the District Court (the case is called a(n) Forcible entry and detainer (FED) action). Source: 14 M.R.S. §6003 (PL 1997, c. 151).
How must an eviction notice be served in Maine?
Written notice given to the tenant (in-hand); after at least 3 good-faith attempts at service, may serve by both first-class mail to last known address and leaving the notice at the tenant's last and usual place of abode. Source: 14 M.R.S. §6002 (PL 2015, c. 293, §6).
What does it cost to file an eviction in Maine?
$100.00 statewide for entry of a Forcible Entry and Detainer action (mediation included); FED summons form CV-034 costs $5 from the clerk Source: Maine Judicial Branch Administrative Order JB-05-26 (A. 3-26), Court Fees Schedule, effective March 9, 2026.
How does Maine compare? See the notice periods in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute. Not sure which notice applies? Try the 2-question wizard.
How Maine compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Maine: 14 M.R.S. § 6002 ↗.
- Notice to pay rent or quit
Notice to pay rent or quit: 7 days — above the national median of 5 days across the 47 states with a statutory rule.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 7 other states.
Notice to pay rent or quit in neighboring states — New Hampshire (7 days). Every neighboring state with a rule matches Maine.
- Notice to cure a lease violation
Maine sets no statutory cure period for lease violations; check the lease and local court rules before serving.
Notice to cure a lease violation in neighboring states — New Hampshire (30 days).
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy: 30 days, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 36 other states.
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy in neighboring states — New Hampshire (30 days). Every neighboring state with a rule matches Maine.
The rest of what Maine requires
The figures below are Maine's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full Maine page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- 2 months' rent 14 M.R.S. §6033 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 30 days after move-out 14 M.R.S. §6033 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days 14 M.R.S. §6033 ↗
- Small claims limit · as of 2026
- $10,000 14 M.R.S. § 7482 (as amended by PL 2025, c. 261); Maine Rules of Small Claims Procedure ↗
- Where you file · as of 2026
- Small claims proceedings in the Maine District Court · filing fee $70 to enter a small claims action (includes a $15 mediation fee) under the Judicial Branch fee schedule, Administrative Order JB-05-26 (A. 3-26), effective March 9, 2026; optional clerk service is $15 per party. 14 M.R.S. § 7482 (as amended by PL 2025, c. 261); Maine Rules of Small Claims Procedure ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- Limited to the actual cost of screening Maine Legislature ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Maine BMV / DMV.ORG ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization required 18-C M.R.S. §5-905 ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Required by statute 31 M.R.S. § 1502(15) (definition); 31 M.R.S. § 1531(1)(B) (agreement must exist); 31 M.R.S. § 1521 (scope) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- County Registry of Deeds (Register of Deeds) · no witnesses 33 M.R.S. § 203 ↗
Eviction notice in other states
More Maine legal forms
Different state? See eviction notices by state →