Maine Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
Maine rules on privacy, guests & animals for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-23.
Short answer: No landlord-specific statute. Under the general privacy crime, it is a Class D crime to install or use a device to observe, photograph or record in a 'private place' (such as a bathroom or bedroom) without the consent of those entitled to privacy there. 17-A M.R.S. § 511; 15 M.R.S. §§ 709, 710
The rules in Maine
| Cameras & privacy | No landlord-specific statute. Under the general privacy crime, it is a Class D crime to install or use a device to observe, photograph or record in a 'private place' (such as a bathroom or bedroom) without the consent of those entitled to privacy there. Using a device outside a private place to capture images or sounds from inside that would not normally be visible or audible is also a crime. Intercepting oral or wire communications is a Class C crime unless the person recording is the sender or receiver of the communication. Cameras in common areas aren't specifically regulated. § 710: https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/15/title15sec710.html. § 709 definition of 'intercept': https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/15/title15sec709.html. Landlord entry rules (24 hours' notice) are in 14 M.R.S. § 6025. |
|---|---|
| Guests & occupants | No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy limits and roommates. Maine's landlord-tenant chapters don't address guest stays or roommate additions. Fair housing law bars discrimination against families with children. Occupancy limits may come from local housing or building codes. |
| Service & support animals (state law) | Under the Maine Human Rights Act, refusing to allow an assistance animal for a person with a physical or mental disability is unlawful housing discrimination. The only exceptions are if the animal poses a direct threat, would cause substantial property damage, or would substantially interfere with others' enjoyment. The landlord cannot charge a fee or deposit for an assistance animal, but the tenant is liable for damage it causes. Knowingly misrepresenting an animal as a service or assistance animal, including creating or supplying false documents, is a civil violation with a fine of up to $1,000 per occurrence. Landlords are generally not civilly liable for injuries or damage involving a tenant's assistance animal, except for gross negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct. § 1314-A: https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/17/title17sec1314-A.html. § 6030-G: https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/14/title14sec6030-G.html. No state statute sets specific documentation rules; federal Fair Housing Act guidance on reliable disability documentation also applies. |
Related questions
- Can a landlord put cameras in or around a rental?
- Can a landlord limit overnight guests or roommates?
- Can a landlord deny a service or emotional support animal?
Maine vs. neighboring states
| State | Cameras & privacy | Guests & occupants | Service & support animals (state law) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | No landlord-specific statute. Under the general privacy crime, it is a Class D crime to install or use a device to observe, photograph or record in a 'private place' (such as a bathroom or bedroom) without the consent of those entitled to privacy there. Using a device outside a private place to capture images or sounds from inside that would not normally be visible or audible is also a crime. Intercepting oral or wire communications is a Class C crime unless the person recording is the sender or receiver of the communication. Cameras in common areas aren't specifically regulated. 17-A M.R.S. § 511; 15 M.R.S. §§ 709, 710 | No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy limits and roommates. Maine's landlord-tenant chapters don't address guest stays or roommate additions. Fair housing law bars discrimination against families with children. 14 M.R.S. ch. 710 (§§ 6021-6030-K checked); 14 M.R.S. § 6027 | Under the Maine Human Rights Act, refusing to allow an assistance animal for a person with a physical or mental disability is unlawful housing discrimination. The only exceptions are if the animal poses a direct threat, would cause substantial property damage, or would substantially interfere with others' enjoyment. The landlord cannot charge a fee or deposit for an assistance animal, but the tenant is liable for damage it causes. Knowingly misrepresenting an animal as a service or assistance animal, including creating or supplying false documents, is a civil violation with a fine of up to $1,000 per occurrence. Landlords are generally not civilly liable for injuries or damage involving a tenant's assistance animal, except for gross negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct. 5 M.R.S. § 4582-A(3); 17 M.R.S. § 1314-A; 17 M.R.S. § 1312(5); 14 M.R.S. § 6030-G |
| New Hampshire | No landlord-specific camera statute, but it is a class A misdemeanor to install or use, without consent, any device to observe, photograph, record, or transmit images or sounds in a private place (which includes the interior of one's dwelling), or from outside a private place to capture images, location, movement, or sounds not ordinarily perceptible outside it. A landlord may not enter without the tenant's prior consent except for emergency repairs or under a court order. RSA 644:9, I-II; RSA 540-A:3, IV and V-d | No statute — lease governs guests and occupancy. A person who is not a tenant, subtenant, or implied tenant may not occupy residential property without permission of the owner, landlord, or agent. RSA 540-A:3, IX | Service animals may accompany their handler or trainer into any housing accommodation. Under state law a service animal performs work or tasks for a person with a disability; providing emotional support, comfort, or companionship does not count. It is a misdemeanor to fit an animal with a vest, harness, sign, or tag representing it as a service animal when it is not, or to impersonate a person with a disability to obtain service-dog accommodations. Disability discrimination in rentals is prohibited by the state fair-housing law. No state statute sets emotional support animal documentation rules or pet-fee limits. RSA 167-D:1, 167-D:2, 167-D:4, 167-D:8, 167-D:10; RSA 354-A:10 |
More Maine rental law
- Maine Security Deposit Law
- Maine Eviction Laws
- Maine Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in Maine
- Maine Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- Maine Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
- Breaking a Lease in Maine
- Squatters' Rights in Maine
- Maine Rental Fee Rules
- Maine Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- Maine Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- Maine Landlord Selling the House
- Maine Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
- Maine Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All Maine landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in Maine
Compare privacy, guests & animals in all 50 states and DC →
Maine Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules FAQ
Can a landlord put cameras in or around a rental in Maine?
No landlord-specific statute. Under the general privacy crime, it is a Class D crime to install or use a device to observe, photograph or record in a 'private place' (such as a bathroom or bedroom) without the consent of those entitled to privacy there. Using a device outside a private place to capture images or sounds from inside that would not normally be visible or audible is also a crime. Intercepting oral or wire communications is a Class C crime unless the person recording is the sender or receiver of the communication. Cameras in common areas aren't specifically regulated. (17-A M.R.S. § 511; 15 M.R.S. §§ 709, 710)
Can a landlord limit guests or roommates in Maine?
No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy limits and roommates. Maine's landlord-tenant chapters don't address guest stays or roommate additions. Fair housing law bars discrimination against families with children. (14 M.R.S. ch. 710 (§§ 6021-6030-K checked); 14 M.R.S. § 6027)
Can a landlord deny a service or emotional support animal in Maine?
Under the Maine Human Rights Act, refusing to allow an assistance animal for a person with a physical or mental disability is unlawful housing discrimination. The only exceptions are if the animal poses a direct threat, would cause substantial property damage, or would substantially interfere with others' enjoyment. The landlord cannot charge a fee or deposit for an assistance animal, but the tenant is liable for damage it causes. Knowingly misrepresenting an animal as a service or assistance animal, including creating or supplying false documents, is a civil violation with a fine of up to $1,000 per occurrence. Landlords are generally not civilly liable for injuries or damage involving a tenant's assistance animal, except for gross negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct. (5 M.R.S. § 4582-A(3); 17 M.R.S. § 1314-A; 17 M.R.S. § 1312(5); 14 M.R.S. § 6030-G)
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.