Maine Eviction Notice

Maine notice periods

Each period is the one LeaseCraft's record of the statute holds. Read it with the conditions under it: some periods are minimums and some apply unless the lease sets another. "Lease controls" means the record holds no statutory period for that situation, and "No pre-suit notice" means it holds no notice before filing. The source column shows the law and the date LeaseCraft read it on the official site (most recently 2026-09-27).

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).

Delivery, form and other Maine rules

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 2026-09-27

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 2026-09-27

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 2026-09-27

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. Check it before you serve the notice.

Preparing the notice

The form asks for the tenancy, the kind of notice and the dates, and the notice ends with a Certificate of Service to record how you delivered it. Beside the finished notice you get a Maine checklist of the period, form and delivery rules LeaseCraft recorded. The period in the notice is the one you choose; where LeaseCraft has verified the Maine period and your deadline is too soon, the document is not prepared until you move it.

Create a Maine eviction notice

A notice is not a court order and does not by itself remove a tenant. Cities and counties can add rules. LeaseCraft is not a law firm and this is not legal advice.

Eviction Notice rules in nearby states

Eviction Notice rules for every state