Eviction Notice Requirements in Maine
In Maine, a tenancy at will can be ended on 30 days' written notice, or on 7 days' written notice if the tenant is at least 7 days behind on rent or causes substantial damage, a nuisance, or certain other serious violations.
Last checked . General information, not legal advice.
Maine at a glance
- Notice for unpaid rent
- 7 days
- 7-day written notice when rent is 7 or more days in arrears (paying in full within the 7 days voids the notice)
- Notice for a lease violation
- 7 days
- 7-day written notice for specified causes (substantial damage, nuisance, violation of law, violence); no statutory cure
- Ending a month-to-month tenancy
- 30 days
- 30 days' written notice (tenancy at will)
The rules in Maine
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Maine?
Maine rule: 7-day written notice when rent is 7 or more days in arrears (paying in full within the 7 days voids the notice).
How much notice is required to evict for a lease violation in Maine?
Maine rule: 7-day written notice for specified causes (substantial damage, nuisance, violation of law, violence); no statutory cure.
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month tenancy in Maine?
Maine rule: 30 days' written notice (tenancy at will).
Where do the Maine rules for eviction notices come from?
They come from 14 M.R.S. Sec. 6002 Tenancy at will; buildings on land of another. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.
How Maine compares
For unpaid rent, 23 jurisdictions allow a shorter notice than Maine, and 14 jurisdictions require a longer one.
What this means in practice
A notice is usually the first step, not the eviction itself. A landlord generally needs a court order before a tenant can be removed, and changing the locks or cutting utilities to force a tenant out is not allowed in most states.
Serve the notice the way state law requires, keep a copy and proof of delivery, and count the days carefully: some states skip weekends and holidays.
Tenants who receive a notice can often stop the process by paying or fixing the problem within the notice period. Local legal aid offices can explain the options.
General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.