Maine Rental Fee Rules
Maine rules on rental fees for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-23.
Short answer: Application fees and fees to review or approve an application are banned. The one exception: the landlord may charge the actual cost of only one of these: a background check, a credit check or another screening process. 14 M.R.S. § 6030-H (PL 2023, c. 346)
The rules in Maine
| Application / screening fees | Application fees and fees to review or approve an application are banned. The one exception: the landlord may charge the actual cost of only one of these: a background check, a credit check or another screening process. The landlord must first tell the applicant that the law requires giving them a complete copy of the information obtained, and must then provide that copy. No more than one screening fee per applicant in any 12-month period. No portable-screening-report statute was found. |
|---|---|
| Other rental fees | Move-in cap: at the start of a tenancy the landlord, agent or broker may not require more than (1) the first full month's rent, (2) a security deposit within the § 6032 limit, and (3) any properly disclosed mandatory recurring fee. Before signing, the landlord must give a signed, plain-language written disclosure of total rent, mandatory recurring fees, optional recurring fees, utility costs and any other cost the tenant will pay. This is not required if the tenant pays no recurring fees. Optional recurring fees (for non-essential services or features) are allowed only with prior written notice that the tenant may opt in and stop paying at any time without penalty; a landlord may not deny or end a tenancy because the tenant opts out. Notice rules for raising rent or a mandatory recurring fee are in § 6015. § 6022-A: https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/14/title14sec6022-A.html; § 6030-I: https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/14/title14sec6030-I.html. A tenant who asserts rights under §§ 6030-I or 6030-J is covered by the retaliation presumption in § 6001(3). |
Related questions
- How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee?
- What rental fees are illegal (junk fees)?
Maine vs. neighboring states
| State | Application / screening fees | Other rental fees |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | Application fees and fees to review or approve an application are banned. The one exception: the landlord may charge the actual cost of only one of these: a background check, a credit check or another screening process. The landlord must first tell the applicant that the law requires giving them a complete copy of the information obtained, and must then provide that copy. No more than one screening fee per applicant in any 12-month period. 14 M.R.S. § 6030-H (PL 2023, c. 346) | Move-in cap: at the start of a tenancy the landlord, agent or broker may not require more than (1) the first full month's rent, (2) a security deposit within the § 6032 limit, and (3) any properly disclosed mandatory recurring fee. Before signing, the landlord must give a signed, plain-language written disclosure of total rent, mandatory recurring fees, optional recurring fees, utility costs and any other cost the tenant will pay. This is not required if the tenant pays no recurring fees. Optional recurring fees (for non-essential services or features) are allowed only with prior written notice that the tenant may opt in and stop paying at any time without penalty; a landlord may not deny or end a tenancy because the tenant opts out. Notice rules for raising rent or a mandatory recurring fee are in § 6015. 14 M.R.S. §§ 6000(1-A), 6022-A, 6030-I, 6030-J (PL 2023, c. 594) |
| New Hampshire | No dollar cap. Before collecting any application or renewal fee, the landlord must disclose in writing the amount of the fee and whether a satisfactory criminal background and credit check is required. If the applicant is not offered the unit, the landlord must refund everything beyond the actual cost of the documented background check, credit check and/or reasonable administrative costs within 30 days. RSA 540-A:3, VIII | Limited. A landlord may not require rent or other lease payments to be made only by electronic funds transfer (including automatic recurring transfers); at least one non-electronic payment method must be allowed. Application-fee disclosure and refund rules also apply. No general statute caps move-in or convenience fees or requires all-in rent disclosure. RSA 540-A:3, VIII, X |
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 Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- Maine Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- Maine Privacy, Guests & Animal 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 rental fees in all 50 states and DC →
Maine Rental Fee Rules FAQ
Is there a limit on rental application fees in Maine?
Application fees and fees to review or approve an application are banned. The one exception: the landlord may charge the actual cost of only one of these: a background check, a credit check or another screening process. The landlord must first tell the applicant that the law requires giving them a complete copy of the information obtained, and must then provide that copy. No more than one screening fee per applicant in any 12-month period. (14 M.R.S. § 6030-H (PL 2023, c. 346))
What rental fees are banned or limited in Maine?
Move-in cap: at the start of a tenancy the landlord, agent or broker may not require more than (1) the first full month's rent, (2) a security deposit within the § 6032 limit, and (3) any properly disclosed mandatory recurring fee. Before signing, the landlord must give a signed, plain-language written disclosure of total rent, mandatory recurring fees, optional recurring fees, utility costs and any other cost the tenant will pay. This is not required if the tenant pays no recurring fees. Optional recurring fees (for non-essential services or features) are allowed only with prior written notice that the tenant may opt in and stop paying at any time without penalty; a landlord may not deny or end a tenancy because the tenant opts out. Notice rules for raising rent or a mandatory recurring fee are in § 6015. (14 M.R.S. §§ 6000(1-A), 6022-A, 6030-I, 6030-J (PL 2023, c. 594))
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.