Maine Lease Agreement: What to Include
March 19, 2025A Maine residential lease should reflect the state's specific rules on security deposits, entry notice, late fees, and disclosures — a generic template often misses the details below.
Security deposit
Security deposit limit: 2 months rent. Interest requirement: No statewide tenant interest requirement. Deposits are generally expected back within 30 for fixed-term; 21 for tenancy-at-will of move-out, with an itemized list of any deductions.
Entry notice and late fees
Entry notice: 24 hours. Late fees: Up to 4% of rent; notice restrictions apply, with a grace period of 15 days. Rent increase notice for month-to-month tenancies: 45 days.
Required disclosures
A Maine lease should include or accompany:
- • Federal lead-based paint
- • energy efficiency disclosure
- • radon test results/disclosure
- • bedbug disclosure where applicable
Eviction notice
For nonpayment of rent, Maine generally requires: 7 days. Confirm the current specific requirement before relying on it for an actual notice.
The bottom line
See LeasePilot HQ's full Maine landlord-tenant law summary for the complete breakdown with sources, or generate a lease with Maine-specific clauses built in automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I charge as a security deposit in Maine?
2 months rent. Confirm current specifics before setting a deposit amount.
How much notice do I need to evict a tenant for nonpayment in Maine?
7 days. Notice requirements can change, so confirm the current statute before filing.
What disclosures does Maine require in a lease?
At minimum: Federal lead-based paint, energy efficiency disclosure, radon test results/disclosure, bedbug disclosure where applicable. Requirements can be added by local ordinance on top of state law, so check your specific city or county as well.