Maine Security Deposit Law: How Many Days and What to Do
In Maine, a landlord has 30 days or 21 days. Which one applies depends on one question below.
- I had a written lease or rental agreement
- I had no written agreement (a tenancy at will)
Last checked 2026-07-14
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Details of the return rules
In Maine, a landlord has 30 calendar days (written rental agreement; statutory outer limit is 30 days; lease may set a shorter period) or 21 calendar days (tenancy at will (no written rental agreement)) to return a security deposit.
| When it applies | Deadline | Starts from |
|---|---|---|
| I had a written lease or rental agreement | 30 days | after end of tenancy under written rental agreement (or shorter time stated in the agreement) |
| I had no written agreement (a tenancy at will) | 21 days | after termination of the tenancy or surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs later |
Maine return rule: 30 calendar days (written rental agreement; statutory outer limit is 30 days; lease may set a shorter period). Check the dates you entered above.
Key facts
| Deadline | 30 calendar days (written rental agreement; statutory outer limit is 30 days; lease may set a shorter period); trigger: after end of tenancy under written rental agreement (or shorter time stated in the agreement) |
|---|---|
| Additional deadline 2 | 21 calendar days (tenancy at will (no written rental agreement)); trigger: after termination of the tenancy or surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs later |
| Penalty formula | failure to provide written statement or return deposit within the statutory time: landlord forfeits right to withhold any portion; if landlord still fails to return entire deposit within 7 days after tenant's pre-suit notice of intent to sue, wrongful retention is presumed and landlord is liable for double the portion wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs; landlord bears burden to prove withholding was not wrongful |
| Bad faith required | No |
| Statute citation | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§ 6031-6039 (esp. §§ 6032-6034) |
How does Maine's deadline compare with other states?
Maine's return deadline is 30 days. The middle of the comparable state deadlines is ≈30 days. Use the dates and questions above to see which deadline applies to you.
| State | Return rule |
|---|---|
| Maine | 30 days |
| Colorado | 30 days |
| Georgia | 30 days |
| Iowa | 30 days |
| Louisiana | 30 days |
| Massachusetts | 30 days |
See all 51 jurisdictions
| State | Return rule |
|---|---|
| Montana | 10 days |
| Alaska | 14 days |
| Arizona | 14 days |
| Hawaii | 14 days |
| Kansas | 14 days |
| Nebraska | 14 days |
| New York | 14 days |
| Vermont | 14 days |
| Florida | 15 days |
| Delaware | 20 days |
| Rhode Island | 20 days |
| California | 21 days |
| Connecticut | 21 days |
| Idaho | 21 days |
| Minnesota | 21 days |
| South Dakota | 21 days |
| Wisconsin | 21 days |
| Colorado | 30 days |
| Georgia | 30 days |
| Iowa | 30 days |
| Louisiana | 30 days |
| Maine | 30 days |
| Massachusetts | 30 days |
| Michigan | 30 days |
| Missouri | 30 days |
| Nevada | 30 days |
| New Hampshire | 30 days |
| New Jersey | 30 days |
| New Mexico | 30 days |
| North Carolina | 30 days |
| North Dakota | 30 days |
| Ohio | 30 days |
| Pennsylvania | 30 days |
| South Carolina | 30 days |
| Texas | 30 days |
| Utah | 30 days |
| Washington | 30 days |
| Wyoming | 30 days |
| Oregon | 31 days |
| District of Columbia | 45 days |
| Illinois | 45 days |
| Indiana | 45 days |
| Maryland | 45 days |
| Mississippi | 45 days |
| Oklahoma | 45 days |
| Virginia | 45 days |
| Alabama | 60 days |
| Arkansas | 60 days |
| West Virginia | 60 days |
| Kentucky | No fixed return deadline |
| Tennessee | No fixed return deadline |
Source: state statute records · checked 2026-07-14 · n=48 fixed rules among 51 jurisdictions · method: first listed return deadline; calendar months plotted as ≈30 days · computed, not measured · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6
What happens if the landlord misses the deadline?
failure to provide written statement or return deposit within the statutory time: landlord forfeits right to withhold any portion; if landlord still fails to return entire deposit within 7 days after tenant's pre-suit notice of intent to sue, wrongful retention is presumed and landlord is liable for double the portion wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs; landlord bears burden to prove withholding was not wrongful The statutory amount depends on the facts and any conditions in Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§ 6031-6039 (esp. §§ 6032-6034); it is separate from the deposit owed.
Maine is one of 36 states where the law sets a multiple of the deposit.
| Rule | States | Share |
|---|---|---|
| The law sets a multiple of the deposit ← Maine | 36 | 71% |
| The law names another remedy (forfeiture, fees, damages) | 10 | 20% |
| Read the cited remedy; no multiple is set | 5 | 10% |
With a deposit of $1,139 (median county rent), a claim for the deposit plus the maximum penalty is $3,417; fits under the $10,000 small claims limit.
Source: Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§ 6031-6039 (esp. §§ 6032-6034) · checked 2026-07-14 · n=51 · method: computed from state records · computed, not measured · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6
What do you have to do before you can claim the penalty?
Send the required information to start the clock.
- Seven days notice of intent to sue before seeking double damages. Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§ 6031-6039 (esp. §§ 6032-6034)
Does the deadline move if it falls on a weekend or holiday?
Maine law does not clearly say whether a deposit deadline moves when it falls on a weekend or holiday.
To be safe: if the last day falls on a weekend or holiday, treat the deadline as passed only after the next business day. Example: October 10, 2026 is a Saturday, so wait until October 12, 2026 before saying the deadline has passed.
What Maine law requires of the landlord
The deposit return rule is 30 calendar days (written rental agreement; statutory outer limit is 30 days; lease may set a shorter period) or 21 calendar days (tenancy at will (no written rental agreement)). The law also requires an itemized statement when deductions are made.
- Return window
- 30 calendar days (written rental agreement; statutory outer limit is 30 days; lease may set a shorter period) or 21 calendar days (tenancy at will (no written rental agreement))
- Itemization
- Required
- Receipts threshold
- No separate threshold recorded
- Interest
- No statewide interest requirement in the verified data. Deposits must be held in a bank or other financial institution account beyond creditors' claims (14 M.R.S. § 6038); statute does not require interest to be paid to the tenant.
Is interest owed on a deposit in Maine?
Maine is one of 37 states where interest is not required by state law.
| Rule | States | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Required by state law | 3 | 6% |
| Owed only in some cases | 11 | 22% |
| Not required by state law ← Maine | 37 | 73% |
Source: Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§ 6031-6039 (esp. §§ 6032-6034) · checked 2026-07-14 · n=51 · method: computed from state records · computed, not measured · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6
Maine security deposit deductions
FAQ
How do I confirm the Maine deadline?
Use the questions above to match your dates to Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§ 6031-6039 (esp. §§ 6032-6034), and keep proof of each date.
What is the small claims limit in Maine?
See the applicable court limits and jurisdictions in the state court guide. Maine court guide
City data on this page currently includes Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, South Portland, Auburn, Biddeford, Sanford, Saco.
Statute text, sources and changes
Statute says
A landlord shall return to a tenant the full security deposit deposited with the landlord by the tenant or, if there is actual cause for retaining the security deposit or any portion of it, the landlord shall provide the tenant with a written statement itemizing the reasons for the retention of the security deposit or any portion of it: A. In the case of a written rental agreement, within the time, not to exceed 30 days, stated in the agreement; and B. In the case of a tenancy at will, within 21 days after the termination of the tenancy or the surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs later. The written statement itemizing the reasons for the retention of any portion of the security deposit must be accompanied by a full payment of the difference between the security deposit and the amount retained.
What this means
Sources
- https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/14/title14sec6033.html · accessed 2026-07-14
- https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/14/title14sec6034.html · accessed 2026-07-14
- https://www.ptla.org/security-deposit · accessed 2026-07-14
- https://www.courts.maine.gov/help/small-claims/index.html · accessed 2026-07-14
Changes
- : Record verified against the cited statute.
Verified 2026-07-14 · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6