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Rent Late Fee Laws in Maine

In Maine, rent is late only after 15 days, and a late fee may not exceed 4% of one month's rent, with written notice of the fee required at lease signing.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Maine at a glance

Late fee cap
4% of one month's rent
The landlord must give written notice of the possible penalty when the rental agreement is made.
Cap (% of rent)
4%
Grace period
15 days
Rent is late only if not paid within 15 days after the due date.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Maine

How much can a landlord charge as a late fee in Maine?

Late fee cap in Maine: 4% of one month's rent. The landlord must give written notice of the possible penalty when the rental agreement is made.

What percentage of the rent is the late fee cap in Maine?

Cap (% of rent) in Maine: 4%.

How many days does a tenant have before a late fee can be charged in Maine?

Grace period in Maine: 15 days. Rent is late only if not paid within 15 days after the due date.

Where do the Maine rent late fee laws come from?

The rules above come from 14 M.R.S. 6028. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

In many states, a landlord can charge a late fee only if the lease provides for it. Putting the amount, the due date, and any grace period in the lease in plain numbers helps both sides avoid disputes.

When a state counts a grace period, the details matter: whether weekends and holidays count, and whether the clock starts on the due date or the day after. Read the statute text linked on each state page rather than relying on a rounded summary.

Late fees are separate from unpaid rent. Keeping rent receipts and a record of the date each payment arrived makes it easier to check whether a fee was charged correctly and to resolve disagreements before they reach court.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.