Maine Residential Lease Agreement
What Maine law requires in a residential lease — the deposit cap, the return deadline, the notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and the disclosures you have to give the tenant. Every figure is cited to the statute it comes from and dated. The free Maine lease template is one click away.
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.
Other Maine rules your lease has to live with
Beyond the deposit, Maine law sets rules on entry, late fees, and repairs that apply whether or not the lease mentions them.
- Landlord entry. Maine requires at least 24 hours’ notice before a non-emergency entry. — 14 M.R.S. §6025(2) (as amended by PL 2023, c. 336, §2) ↗
- Late fees. Max 4% of one month's rent; rent is late only after 15 days from due date; landlord must give written notice of the penalty at lease signing — 14 M.R.S. §6028 (PL 1987, c. 215; c. 605) ↗
- Rent increases. At least 45 days' written notice; at least 75 days' written notice if the increase is 10% or more (including cumulative increases within 12 months) — 14 M.R.S. §6015 (PL 2023, c. 388 and c. 594) ↗
- Repair and deduct. Allowed for dangerous conditions where repair cost is under $500 or half the monthly rent (whichever greater), after 14 days' written notice by certified mail — 14 M.R.S. §6026 (PL 1981, c. 428; PL 2005, c. 78; PL 2009, c. 566) ↗
- Habitability. Maine law implies a warranty of habitability into every residential lease; a clause waiving it is unenforceable. — 14 M.R.S. §6021(2) (PL 1977, c. 401, §4) ↗
Each point links to the Maine source it was taken from. Rules change; confirm before relying on them.
What Maine law requires · as of 2026
- Max security deposit
- 2 months' rent
- Deposit return deadline
- 30 days after move-out
- Notice to end month-to-month
- 30 days
Source: 14 M.R.S. §6033 · verify ↗. Laws change — confirm the current rule before you rely on it.
Deposit still not back 30 days after move-out? Ask for it in writing with a Maine security deposit demand letter; if that doesn’t work, the usual next step is Maine small claims court.
Need the document itself?
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Required disclosures in Maine
What Maine law says a residential landlord has to tell the tenant, each with the statute it comes from. Federal rules and some city ordinances can add more.
Residential energy efficiency disclosure
Landlord must provide an energy efficiency disclosure statement to prospective tenants who pay for the unit's energy supply, or on tenant request.
Source: 14 M.R.S. §6030-C (PL 2005, c. 534; amended PL 2025, c. 411)
Radon disclosure
Written DHHS-prescribed notice before lease/deposit of radon test date and results, mitigation performed, tenant's right to test, and radon risk.
Source: 14 M.R.S. §6030-D (PL 2009, c. 278; amended through PL 2013, c. 324)
Smoking policy disclosure
Landlord must provide prospective tenants a written disclosure of the landlord's policy regarding smoking on the premises.
Bedbug infestation disclosure
Before renting, landlord must disclose to a prospective tenant if an adjacent unit is currently infested with or being treated for bedbugs.
Frequently asked questions
How much security deposit can a landlord charge in Maine?
In Maine, the security deposit is limited to 2 months' rent, and it must be returned within 30 days after move-out (as of 2026). Source: 14 M.R.S. §6033. Confirm the current rule before you sign.
Is this lease valid in Maine?
A written lease that identifies the parties, the property, the term, and the rent is generally enforceable in Maine once both sides sign. What it cannot do is contract around Maine law: the deposit rules, entry notice, and habitability duties below apply whether or not the lease mentions them.
How much notice must a landlord give before entering a rental in Maine?
Maine requires at least 24 hours' notice for a non-emergency entry. Source: 14 M.R.S. §6025(2) (as amended by PL 2023, c. 336, §2).
Can a landlord charge late fees in Maine?
Max 4% of one month's rent; rent is late only after 15 days from due date; landlord must give written notice of the penalty at lease signing Source: 14 M.R.S. §6028 (PL 1987, c. 215; c. 605).
Can a tenant repair and deduct rent in Maine?
Allowed for dangerous conditions where repair cost is under $500 or half the monthly rent (whichever greater), after 14 days' written notice by certified mail Source: 14 M.R.S. §6026 (PL 1981, c. 428; PL 2005, c. 78; PL 2009, c. 566).
What does a landlord have to disclose in Maine?
Under Maine law: Residential energy efficiency disclosure (14 M.R.S. §6030-C (PL 2005, c. 534; amended PL 2025, c. 411)); Radon disclosure (14 M.R.S. §6030-D (PL 2009, c. 278; amended through PL 2013, c. 324)); Smoking policy disclosure (14 M.R.S. §6030-E (PL 2011, c. 199, §1)); Bedbug infestation disclosure (14 M.R.S. §6021-A(2)(D) (PL 2009, c. 566, §8)). Federal and local rules can add more; each item on this page links to the law it comes from.
How does Maine compare? See the security deposit limits in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute.
How Maine compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Maine: 14 M.R.S. §6033 ↗.
- Maine is one of 29 of 51 jurisdictions that cap the deposit by statute (22 set no statutory cap on the security deposit).
- Deposit return deadline
Deposit return deadline: 30 days, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 26 other states.
Deposit return deadline in neighboring states — New Hampshire (30 days). Every neighboring state with a rule matches Maine.
- 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 39 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.
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 7 days to pay or quit 14 M.R.S. § 6002 ↗
- 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 ↗
Lease agreement in other states
More Maine legal forms
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