Eviction in Cumberland County (Portland), Maine
Where eviction cases are filed in Cumberland County (Portland), what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.
Quick facts: eviction in Cumberland County (Portland)
- Eviction court
- Maine District Court - Portland and Bridgton — District Court (Maine) Court page
- Filing fee
- $100 to enter a forcible entry and detainer (eviction) action (includes $15 mediation fee); FED summons $5 Maine Supreme Judicial Court Administrative Order JB-05-26 (A. 3-26), Revised Court Fees Schedule, effective March 9, 2026
- Notice before filing (state law)
- 7-day written notice to quit (tenancy at will) when rent is 7 or more days in arrears. Paying the full rent due before the notice expires voids it. After expiration, paying all arrears, rent due to date, and the landlord's filing and service fees before the writ of possession issues reinstates the tenancy. Maine rules
- HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-bedroom (FY2026)
- $2,130/month HUD
- Renter households
- 39,903 (30% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024
Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-23
Where eviction cases are filed in Cumberland County (Portland)
Eviction cases in Cumberland County (Portland) are heard by the Maine District Court - Portland and Bridgton (District Court (Maine)).
- Portland District Court — 205 Newbury Street, Ground Floor, Portland, ME 04101; (207) 822-4200 · website
- Bridgton District Court — 3 Chase Street, Suite 2, Bridgton, ME 04009; (207) 647-3535 · website
Court eviction page · Self-help center
Evictions (forcible entry and detainer, FED) are heard by the District Court where the property is located. The FED summons (CV-034) must be obtained from a clerk's office ($5). Mediation is available by phone or Zoom and is included in the filing fee. Pine Tree Legal Assistance holds eviction information sessions and has a PTLA attorney at court on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. (see https://www.ptla.org/fed).
How much it costs to file an eviction in Cumberland County (Portland)
$100 to enter a forcible entry and detainer (eviction) action (includes $15 mediation fee); FED summons $5
Statewide schedule (linked from https://www.courts.maine.gov/forms/fees.html). Sheriff service fees are separate. Parties who cannot afford fees may ask the court to waive them.
How eviction cases work locally
| FED mediation | Mediation in eviction cases is offered by telephone or Zoom video; the cost is included in the filing fee. Parties can request mediation using form CV-256. Source: Official source |
|---|
The Maine eviction process
Maine state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including Cumberland County (Portland):
- Serve a notice to quit (7-day for cause/nonpayment or 30-day no-cause for tenancies at will; per lease terms if a lease), with the CV-256 Information Sheet and Mediation Request
- After the notice period ends, file Complaint (CV-007) and get an FED Summons (CV-034, $5 each) from the clerk; attach the CV-256 and Notice Regarding Electronic Service
- Sheriff serves each defendant at least 14 days before the hearing (mail-plus-posting allowed after 3 attempts on 3 separate days, with affidavit CV-204)
- File notice to quit, complaint, summons with return of service, lease, and $100 filing fee at least 3 business days before the hearing
- Hearing; free mediation available at court on the hearing day
- Judgment for possession
- Writ of possession issues 7 days after judgment (tenant can still reinstate in nonpayment cases by paying arrears, rent due, and filing/service costs before the writ issues)
Full Maine eviction rules with sources →
Rent in Cumberland County (Portland)
HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Portland, ME HUD Metro FMR Area (the rent levels used for Section 8 vouchers):
| Studio | $1,469 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,658 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,130 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,591 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,820 |
Source: HUD Fair Market Rent documentation
Median gross rent in Cumberland County (Portland): $1,589/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
Cumberland County is split between HUD FMR areas by town. Shown: Portland HMFA (Cape Elizabeth, Casco, Chebeague Island, Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, Frye Island, Gorham, Gray, Long Island, North Yarmouth, Portland, Raymond, Scarborough, South Portland, Standish, Westbrook, Windham, Yarmouth). Also: Cumberland County, ME (part) HUD Metro FMR Area (Baldwin, Bridgton, Brunswick, Harpswell, Harrison, Naples, New Gloucester, Pownal, Sebago): $1,264 / $1,397 / $1,833 / $2,380 / $3,038 (0-4 BR) - https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/fmrs/FY2026_code/2026summary.odn?fips=2300508430&year=2026&selection_type=county.
County tenant ordinance
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinance identified; Maine county governments do not regulate tenancies (city rules, such as Portland's, are on city pages).
Eviction help in Cumberland County (Portland)
Free legal help
- Pine Tree Legal Assistance — Free legal information and help for low-income Maine tenants facing eviction; eviction information sessions and courthouse attorney help.
Rental assistance
- Maine Equal Justice - housing and utilities help — Information on help with rent or utility payments (linked from the Judicial Branch eviction page)
Related
- Maine landlord-tenant law
- How long an eviction takes in Maine
- Maine eviction notice periods
- Notice deadline calculator
- How to evict a tenant in Maine (landlords)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file an eviction in Cumberland County (Portland)?
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Cumberland County (Portland)?
Where can I get help with an eviction in Cumberland County (Portland)?
What is the fair market rent in Cumberland County (Portland)?
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.