Maine Eviction Laws

Maine notice periods for ending a tenancy and starting an eviction, each as LeaseCraft read it in the statute at the official source, with its citation and read date (most recently ).

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Maine notice periods

Periods are as the statute states them: some are minimums, some apply unless the lease sets another. "Lease controls" means there is no statutory period; "No pre-suit notice" means none is required before filing.

SituationNotice periodSource
Unpaid rent 7 calendar days 14 M.R.S. §6002(1)(C), (2); §6001(7); §6004(2)
Read
Lease violation Lease controls 14 M.R.S. §6002(1) (no comply-or-quit provision); §6001(1-B)
Read
Ending the tenancy without a chance to cure 7 calendar days 14 M.R.S. §6002(1)(A)-(F), (2); §6001(7)
Read
Ending a month-to-month tenancy 30 calendar days 14 M.R.S. §6002(1); §6001(7)
Read
Tenant staying after the lease ends No pre-suit notice 14 M.R.S. §6001(1)
Read

What the Maine statute says

Unpaid rent 7 calendar days
  • Tenancy at will: landlord may terminate on 7 days' written notice if the tenant is 7 days or more in arrears in rent (14 M.R.S. §6002(1)(C)) — i.e., rent must be at least 7 days late before the notice is given.
  • Notice must state the amount of rent 7+ days in arrears as of the notice date, the statutory void/reinstatement statement, and language advising the tenant of the right to contest the termination in court (§6002(2), §6002(1)).
  • Since 2024-01-01 the landlord must attach the Judicial Branch form notice (CV-256 'Residential FED (Eviction) Information Sheet and Mediation Request') to every notice to terminate tenancy (14 M.R.S. §6001(7); §6004(2)).
  • Notice is void if the tenant pays the full amount of rent due before the 7-day notice expires; after expiry the tenancy must be reinstated if the tenant pays all arrears, rent due and filing/service fees before the writ of possession issues.

Exceptions

  • Written residential lease: lease terms govern unless the lease lacks termination/notice provisions, in which case the landlord may terminate under §6002(1)-(2) (14 M.R.S. §6001(1-B)).
Ending the tenancy without a chance to cure 7 calendar days
  • Tenancy at will may be terminated on 7 days' written notice, with affirmative proof, for: (A) substantial damage not repaired; (B) causing or permitting a nuisance, or violating the law relating to the tenancy; (C) rent 7+ days in arrears; (D) tenant is the perpetrator of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking against another tenant/occupant; (E) tenant or guest committed violence or threats of violence; (F) occupant is not an authorized occupant (14 M.R.S. §6002(1)).
  • Notice must indicate the specific ground claimed, include the right-to-contest language, and have the Judicial Branch form (CV-256) attached (§6002(2); §6001(7)).
Ending a month-to-month tenancy 30 calendar days
  • Tenancy at will (any rent period): minimum 30 days' written notice by either party (14 M.R.S. §6002(1)).
  • If the tenant has paid rent through the date the 30-day notice would expire, the notice must expire on or after the date through which rent has been paid.
  • Notice must include language advising the tenant of the right to contest the termination in court, and the Judicial Branch form (CV-256) must be attached (§6001(7)).

Exceptions

  • City of Portland ordinance requires longer notice for covered units (local overlay, not researched).
Tenant staying after the lease ends No pre-suit notice
  • Tenant holding under a written lease or contract (or person holding under such tenant): forcible entry and detainer may be maintained at the expiration or forfeiture of the term WITHOUT notice if commenced within 7 days from the expiration or forfeiture (14 M.R.S. §6001(1)).

Exceptions

  • If not commenced within 7 days, the tenant is treated as a tenant at will requiring §6002 notice (inference; statute text on conversion not read).

Just cause, delivery, form and local rules in Maine

How the notice may be delivered

14 M.R.S. §6002(1): notice is given to the tenant (in-hand delivery by the landlord or agent is the primary method); if the landlord or agent has made at least 3 good-faith efforts to serve the tenant, service may be accomplished by BOTH mailing the notice by first-class mail to the tenant's last known address AND leaving it at the tenant's last and usual place of abode. The CV-256 information sheet must be served with the notice.

14 M.R.S. §6002(1); §6001(7) · read

Required form or contents

MANDATORY ATTACHMENT + mandatory statements: since 2024-01-01 every notice to terminate tenancy must have attached the Judicial Branch form notice (form CV-256 'Residential Forcible Entry and Detainer (Eviction) Information Sheet and Mediation Request', https://www.courts.maine.gov/forms — see https://www.courts.maine.gov/help/eviction/evict-tenant.html) per 14 M.R.S. §6001(7)/§6004(2). The notice itself must state the specific ground, advise of the right to contest in court, and for rent arrears state the amount owed and the statutory sentence 'If you pay the amount of rent due as of the date of this notice before this notice expires, then this notice as it applies to rent arrearage is void...' with the reinstatement sentence (§6002(2)).

14 M.R.S. §6002(1)-(2); §6001(7); §6004(2) · read

Statewide just-cause rule

No statewide just-cause requirement

  • No statewide good-cause requirement; tenancies at will terminable on 30 days' notice without stated cause (14 M.R.S. §6002(1)).

14 M.R.S. §6002(1) · read

City and county rules

Could not verify LeaseCraft has not verified this at the official source (Portland (ME) City Code ch. 6 (Rent Control / Tenant Protections)), so this page states no rule.

For Maine landlords

  • Find the period for your situation in the table above and count it from the day the notice is delivered.
  • Deliver the notice the way Maine law allows and keep a record of how and when.
  • A notice is not a court order and does not by itself remove a tenant.

For Maine tenants

  • Compare the notice you received with the period for its situation in the table above and the date it reached you.
  • A notice is not a court order. If a case is filed, the court papers say how and by when to respond.
  • Local legal aid and tenant organizations can explain your options.

How an eviction generally proceeds

A general outline, not Maine law: the steps, their names and their deadlines differ by state and court. The Maine rules LeaseCraft has verified are the ones above.

  1. Written notice. The landlord gives the notice the situation calls for and waits out its period.
  2. Court filing. If the tenant has not paid, cured or left, the landlord files an eviction case in court.
  3. Hearing. Both sides can be heard; the tenant may raise defenses such as an improper notice.
  4. Judgment. The court decides who has the right to the property.
  5. Removal. If the court rules for the landlord, removal follows its order. A notice is not a court order and does not by itself remove a tenant.

Maine eviction questions

  • 7 calendar days, under 14 M.R.S. §6002(1)(C), (2); §6001(7); §6004(2). Tenancy at will: landlord may terminate on 7 days' written notice if the tenant is 7 days or more in arrears in rent (14 M.R.S. §6002(1)(C)) — i.e., rent must be at least 7 days late before the notice is given. LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

  • LeaseCraft's record sets no statutory period for this, so the lease controls. Source: 14 M.R.S. §6002(1) (no comply-or-quit provision); §6001(1-B). LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

  • 30 calendar days, under 14 M.R.S. §6002(1); §6001(7). Tenancy at will (any rent period): minimum 30 days' written notice by either party (14 M.R.S. §6002(1)). LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

  • 14 M.R.S. §6002(1): notice is given to the tenant (in-hand delivery by the landlord or agent is the primary method); if the landlord or agent has made at least 3 good-faith efforts to serve the tenant, service may be accomplished by BOTH mailing the notice by first-class mail to the tenant's last known address AND leaving it at the tenant's last and usual place of abode. The CV-256 information sheet must be served with the notice. Source: 14 M.R.S. §6002(1); §6001(7). LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

  • No statewide just-cause requirement, under 14 M.R.S. §6002(1). No statewide good-cause requirement; tenancies at will terminable on 30 days' notice without stated cause (14 M.R.S. §6002(1)). LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

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Cities and counties can add rules. LeaseCraft is not a law firm and this is not legal advice.