Maine Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
Maine rules on rent increases & late fees for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-23.
Short answer: No statewide cap on rent amounts. State law regulates increases by notice: at least 45 days' written notice of any rent or mandatory recurring fee increase, and 75 days' notice if the increase (or several increases within 12 months) totals 10% or more. 14 M.R.S. §§ 6015, 6016
The rules in Maine
| Rent control / increase limits | No statewide cap on rent amounts. State law regulates increases by notice: at least 45 days' written notice of any rent or mandatory recurring fee increase, and 75 days' notice if the increase (or several increases within 12 months) totals 10% or more. Rent may not be increased while the unit violates the warranty of habitability. State law does not preempt local rent control, and Portland has a local rent control ordinance. § 6015 was repealed and replaced by PL 2023, c. 388 and amended by PL 2023, c. 594; the 75-day rule has exceptions for income-restricted/subsidized housing. Waivers are void. § 6016 habitability bar: https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/14/title14sec6016.html. Preemption: Maine municipalities have home-rule power to adopt any ordinance not denied to them expressly or by clear implication, and implied preemption applies only if the ordinance would frustrate the purpose of a state law (30-A M.R.S. § 3001: https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/30-A/title30-Asec3001.html); no state statute bars municipal rent control. Portland (City Code ch. 6, Rent Control Ordinance, Secs. 6-231 to 6-239): covered units may get one increase per 12 months, limited to the Allowable Increase Percentage published each September 1 for the next calendar year (2.2% for 2026 and 2.6% for 2027, per the City's Rent Control FAQ: https://www.portlandmaine.gov/rent-control-frequently-asked-questions), plus 5% of base rent on a new tenancy after a voluntary move-out, banked rent, or a Rent Board-approved fair-return increase, and never more than 10% at once; 90 days' written notice of an increase. Exempt: units in owner-occupied 2–4 unit buildings, publicly subsidized units, ADUs, housing authority units, and certain institutional housing. City FAQ (version 2025.10.24): https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/014c1dbc-bccc-47b6-b323-490ffd8e2b5e Source: 14 M.R.S. §§ 6015, 6016 |
|---|---|
| Late fees | Cap of 4% of one month's rent. Rent is not 'late' until 15 days after it is due. Landlord must give written notice of the possible late fee at the start of the rental agreement or no fee may be charged. Official section history shows no amendments after 1987. Source: 14 M.R.S. § 6028 |
Free calculators
- Late Fee Checker — Check a late fee against your state's cap and grace period.
- Rent Increase Calculator — In states with a statewide rent cap, see the most your rent can go up this year.
Related questions
- Can a landlord raise the rent in the middle of a lease?
- How much can a landlord charge for a late fee?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent?
- Can a landlord evict you for no reason?
Maine vs. neighboring states
| State | Rent control / increase limits | Late fees |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | No statewide cap on rent amounts. State law regulates increases by notice: at least 45 days' written notice of any rent or mandatory recurring fee increase, and 75 days' notice if the increase (or several increases within 12 months) totals 10% or more. Rent may not be increased while the unit violates the warranty of habitability. State law does not preempt local rent control, and Portland has a local rent control ordinance. 14 M.R.S. §§ 6015, 6016 | Cap of 4% of one month's rent. Rent is not 'late' until 15 days after it is due. Landlord must give written notice of the possible late fee at the start of the rental agreement or no fee may be charged. 14 M.R.S. § 6028 |
| New Hampshire | No statewide rent control or rent-increase cap in RSA ch. 540. On restricted property, a tenant's refusal of a rent increase is good cause for eviction only if the landlord gave at least 30 days' written notice of the amount and effective date. Local rent control: no statute expressly preempts it, but none authorizes it either. The general bylaw and ordinance powers of towns (RSA 31:39) and cities (RSA 47:17) list specific subjects and do not include regulating rents, so no New Hampshire city or town has clear authority to adopt rent control. RSA 540:2, IV; RSA 31:39; RSA 47:17 | No statutory cap or grace period found. RSA ch. 540 (no late-fee section) |
More Maine rental law
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- Breaking a Lease in Maine
- Squatters' Rights in Maine
- Maine Rental Fee Rules
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- Maine Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
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- Maine Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All Maine landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in Maine
Compare rent increases & late fees in all 50 states and DC →
Maine Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws FAQ
Is there rent control or a limit on rent increases in Maine?
No statewide cap on rent amounts. State law regulates increases by notice: at least 45 days' written notice of any rent or mandatory recurring fee increase, and 75 days' notice if the increase (or several increases within 12 months) totals 10% or more. Rent may not be increased while the unit violates the warranty of habitability. State law does not preempt local rent control, and Portland has a local rent control ordinance. (14 M.R.S. §§ 6015, 6016)
Is there a limit on late fees in Maine?
Cap of 4% of one month's rent. Rent is not 'late' until 15 days after it is due. Landlord must give written notice of the possible late fee at the start of the rental agreement or no fee may be charged. (14 M.R.S. § 6028)
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.