Security deposit return deadline in Maine
A Maine landlord has 30 days after the tenancy ends to return a security deposit, or 21 days for a tenancy at will.
- Deadline
- 30 days (21 for tenancy at will)
- What the landlord must send
- The landlord must return the deposit or give a written statement itemizing the reasons for keeping any of it, with the balance.
- If the landlord gets it wrong
- Missing the deadline forfeits the right to keep any of it; wrongful retention makes the landlord liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney fees and court costs.
- Deposit limit
- 2 months’ rent
Before suing, the tenant must give the landlord 7 days’ notice of intent to sue. For a written lease the deadline is the time in the lease, not more than 30 days.
The law
14 M.R.S. §§ 6032, 6033, 6034. Read the statute.
Checked against the statute in October 2026. Laws change, so confirm the current rule before you rely on it.
What to do next
If the deadline has passed, or the landlord kept money without a proper list, put your request in writing. Ask for the deposit back by a specific date, and keep a copy. The free first letter in the Deposit Demand Letters kit does this for Maine, and the deadline calculator works out your exact date from your move-out day.
Other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
General information about Maine law, not legal advice, and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Deposit Demand Letters is a self-help template kit from Kits For That.