Maine · Security deposits · Updated Oct 2026

Maine security deposit law

How much a landlord in Maine can charge, the deadline to return a deposit, what may be deducted, the penalty for keeping it wrongly and how to get yours back.

Short answer

In Maine, the deposit limit is: two months' rent. The landlord must return it as follows: With a written lease: within the time the lease says, but no more than 30 days.

deposit limit: 2 months' rent
to return a deposit: 30 days
deposit penalty: Up to 2×

Security deposit in Maine

Limit: two months' rent
Deadline to return it: With a written lease: within the time the lease says, but no more than 30 days. With a tenancy at will (no written lease): within 21 days after the tenancy ends or you hand back the home, whichever is later. The landlord may mail the refund and statement to your last known address, so give a forwarding address.
Itemized list: Yes. If the landlord keeps any part, it must send a written statement listing the reasons, together with the rest of the deposit, within the same deadline. Receipts are not required by the statute.
What may be deducted: Unpaid rent, unpaid utility charges you owed the landlord directly, costs of storing and disposing of property you left behind, and damage beyond normal wear and tear (for example from negligence, carelessness, accident or abuse). Normal wear and tear may not be charged.
Interest: no
Separate account: Yes. The deposit may not be mixed with the landlord's money and must be held in a bank account protected from the landlord's creditors. On request, the landlord must tell you the bank and account number. If the landlord breaks this rule, you can recover actual damages, $500 or one month's rent, whichever is greatest, plus costs and possibly attorney's fees (14 M.R.S. §6038).
If the landlord keeps it wrongly: If the landlord misses the deadline for the statement or refund, it loses the right to keep any part of the deposit. Before suing, send the landlord written notice that you intend to sue at least 7 days before filing; if the landlord still does not return the whole deposit, it is presumed to be wrongfully keeping it. Wrongful keeping makes the landlord liable for double the amount wrongly withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs. The landlord has the burden of proof.
Law: 14 M.R.S. §§6031-6038

Get your deposit back, step by step

Before you move out, clean, take dated photos and video of every room, and return all keys.
Give your landlord your new address in writing. In Maine: The landlord may mail the refund and statement to your last known address, so give a forwarding address.
Wait for the deadline: With a written lease: within the time the lease says, but no more than 30 days.
If the money or an itemized list doesn't come, or the deductions are wrong, send a demand letter (below). Keep proof of mailing.
If that doesn't work, sue in small claims court. Limit: $10,000 since January 1, 2026. Small claims court in Maine on Small Claims Map

Deposit return calculator for Maine

Find your state's deadline for returning a security deposit, whether your landlord is late and what you may be owed. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Security deposit demand letter for Maine

A short, firm and polite letter asking your landlord to return your deposit by a date. It cites your state's deposit law. Many landlords pay at this step, and the letter is proof that you asked. Fill this in, download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it), sign it, keep a copy and send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt.

Small claims court in Maine

Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer. Limit: $10,000 since January 1, 2026.

How to file in Maine

Questions about security deposits in Maine

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Maine?

two months' rent

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Maine?

With a written lease: within the time the lease says, but no more than 30 days. With a tenancy at will (no written lease): within 21 days after the tenancy ends or you hand back the home, whichever is later. The landlord may mail the refund and statement to your last known address, so give a forwarding address.

What can I do if my landlord won't return my deposit in Maine?

If the landlord misses the deadline for the statement or refund, it loses the right to keep any part of the deposit. Before suing, send the landlord written notice that you intend to sue at least 7 days before filing; if the landlord still does not return the whole deposit, it is presumed to be wrongfully keeping it. Wrongful keeping makes the landlord liable for double the amount wrongly withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs. The landlord has the burden of proof.

What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in Maine?

Unpaid rent, unpaid utility charges you owed the landlord directly, costs of storing and disposing of property you left behind, and damage beyond normal wear and tear (for example from negligence, carelessness, accident or abuse). Normal wear and tear may not be charged.

Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Maine?

What is the small claims limit in Maine?

$10,000 since January 1, 2026.

More for Maine renters

Security deposit in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.