Maine security deposit law: know your rights.
Understand the return, deduction and notice rules in Maine. Check which conditions apply to your rental, then choose your next step.
Your deposit rights in Maine
- Return timing
- Written lease: within the lease's stated time, max 30 days; tenancy at will: within 21 days after termination or surrender and acceptance, whichever is later (§ 6033(2)).
- Accounting for deductions
- Any retention requires a written statement itemizing the reasons, with payment of the balance (§ 6033(2)); no retention for normal wear and tear.
- Deposit interest
- The state deposit statute does not require interest. Check any additional lease or local rule.
Registry review: August 2026. Review dates refer to the cited rules, not an attorney review of your case.
Does this rule apply to your rental?
Maine's security deposit law does not apply if you rent in an owner-occupied building with 5 or fewer units (§ 6037(2)). If your landlord lives in your building and it has five units or fewer, the deadlines and penalties described here do not cover your tenancy.
Have you confirmed that the deposit protections described below apply to your rental?
Maine's security deposit law does not apply if you rent in an owner-occupied building with 5 or fewer units (§ 6037(2)). If your landlord lives in your building and it has five units or fewer, the deadlines and penalties described here do not cover your tenancy. If unsure, leave this unanswered; the disputed refund can still be analyzed without assuming these statutory remedies.
These statutory protections have not been established for this rental. The refund dispute remains based on the lease and the charges.
What starts the return clock?
Written lease: within the lease's stated time, max 30 days; tenancy at will: within 21 days after termination or surrender and acceptance, whichever is later (§ 6033(2)).
Maine requires it: at least 7 days' written notice of intent to sue - if the deposit isn't returned within those 7 days, wrongful retention is presumed and the burden shifts to the landlord (§ 6034(2)).
14 M.R.S. §§ 6033, 6034 ↗Check your return timing
Optional estimate from your move-out date. Read the start conditions above before treating that estimate as the return deadline. You can start the free analysis without completing this check.
Check what the landlord deducted
No statutory requirement for receipts or estimates - only the itemized written statement of reasons.
Match each charge to the work alleged, the lease provision and the records supporting the amount. Keep refunds and charges you accept separate from those you dispute.
14 M.R.S. §§ 6033, 6034 ↗What could you recover?
Double the portion wrongfully withheld plus attorney's fees and costs (§ 6034(2)). The tenant must first give at least 7 days' written notice of intent to sue - if the landlord doesn't return the full deposit within those 7 days, wrongful retention is presumed and the burden shifts to the landlord.
Start with the unpaid amount you dispute. Any additional statutory recovery depends on the conditions in 14 M.R.S. § 6034(2), including applicable notice requirements. A multiplier that already includes the deposit should not be added to that deposit again.
14 M.R.S. §§ 6033, 6034 ↗Put the rules to work
See how the rules fit your deposit dispute
Free analysis
Add the refund, charges and records. Review the deductions and possible remedies with an explanation tied to your facts.
Full case package $29-$49
Turn your case into a demand letter, organized exhibits and a next-step plan. Review the analysis before deciding to buy.
Your entered dates and deposit amount carry forward. Additional timing details are saved in case notes. The next step asks for the refund and charges so you can build on this check.
Choose your next step
Small-claims limit: $10,000. Filing: $70 (incl. $15 mediation fee). The court guide explains the applicable limits and additional costs.
Questions about Maine deposit rights
How long does a Maine landlord have to return a security deposit?
Written lease: within the lease's stated time, max 30 days; tenancy at will: within 21 days after termination or surrender and acceptance, whichever is later (§ 6033(2)).
14 M.R.S. §§ 6033, 6034 ↗See the timing rules →What happens if my landlord does not follow the deposit return rules in Maine?
Missing the deadline forfeits the right to withhold any portion (§ 6033(3)); wrongful retention then exposes the landlord to double damages under § 6034. Keep proof of the dates, any refund, and the itemized statement.
14 M.R.S. §§ 6033, 6034 ↗Understand the possible recovery →Which coverage conditions should I check in Maine?
Maine's security deposit law does not apply if you rent in an owner-occupied building with 5 or fewer units (§ 6037(2)). If your landlord lives in your building and it has five units or fewer, the deadlines and penalties described here do not cover your tenancy. Maine's security deposit law does not apply if you rent in an owner-occupied building with 5 or fewer units (§ 6037(2)). If your landlord lives in your building and it has five units or fewer, the deadlines and penalties described here do not cover your tenancy. If unsure, leave this unanswered; the disputed refund can still be analyzed without assuming these statutory remedies. These statutory protections have not been established for this rental. The refund dispute remains based on the lease and the charges.
14 M.R.S. §§ 6033, 6034 ↗What accounting should I ask for in Maine?
Any retention requires a written statement itemizing the reasons, with payment of the balance (§ 6033(2)); no retention for normal wear and tear. No statutory requirement for receipts or estimates - only the itemized written statement of reasons.
14 M.R.S. §§ 6033, 6034 ↗