Eviction notices in Maine

Once rent is 7 days or more in arrears, the landlord may give a 7-day written notice of termination (14 M.R.S. § 6002(1)(C)). The notice must state the amount 7 or more days in arrears and include the statutory statement about the right to pay (§ 6002(2)(A)). It must also tell the tenant they have the right to contest the termination in court (§ 6002). This applies to tenancies at will, and to written leases that have no termination/notice language (§ 6001(1-B)); otherwise the lease's notice terms apply. General assistance payment or written assurance counts as payment (§ 6002(1)).

Can the tenant pay to stop it? If the tenant pays the full rent due before the 7-day notice expires, the notice is void. Even after it expires, a tenant at will can reinstate the tenancy by paying all arrears, all rent due as of payment and the landlord's filing and service fees before the writ of possession issues.

The rent must be at least 7 days late before the notice can be served.

Type:

Pay or move out

Notice period:

7 days

Law:

14 M.R.S. § 6002(1)(C), (2)

A 7-day notice is allowed only for listed grounds the landlord must prove: substantial unrepaired damage, nuisance or making the unit unfit, violation of law regarding the tenancy, domestic violence/sexual assault/stalking against another tenant, violence or threats against others, or an unauthorized occupant (14 M.R.S. § 6002(1)). Other lease problems in a tenancy at will need the 30-day notice (§ 6002). Written leases follow their own breach/notice terms unless they have none (§ 6001(1-B)).

Chance to fix it: No right to cure the listed grounds by statute (damage must be unrepaired before notice).

Type:

Notice to vacate, no right to fix

Notice period:

7 days

Law:

14 M.R.S. § 6002(1)

The 7-day notice under § 6002(1) is the shortest for serious conduct; it must name the specific ground (§ 6002(2)).

When it applies: Substantial damage, nuisance, unfit conditions, violation of law, violence or threats, domestic violence against another tenant, or an unauthorized occupant.

Notice period:

7 days

Law:

14 M.R.S. § 6002(1), (2)

The statute does not say how to count the 7 days, whether weekends count, or whether a deadline on a weekend rolls over. It is silent on extra days for mailing.

In-hand delivery. If the landlord or agent made at least 3 good-faith efforts to serve in hand, service can be made by BOTH first-class mail to the last known address AND leaving the notice at the tenant's last and usual place of abode (14 M.R.S. § 6002).

The landlord files a forcible entry and detainer action in District Court (14 M.R.S. §§ 6001, 6003), served like other civil actions with a court form notice about the process, rental assistance and mediation (§ 6004). A written answer is required only if the tenant wants a recorded hearing (due by the return day); the hearing must be held within 10 days after the return day (§ 6003). If the landlord wins, the writ of possession issues 7 calendar days after judgment and is served by a sheriff or constable; the tenant then has 48 hours (§ 6005). Evictions without court process, lockouts and utility shutoffs are illegal; the tenant can recover at least $250 plus fees (§ 6014).

• A 30-day notice and a 7-day notice can be combined in one notice (§ 6002).
• Failure to include the right-to-contest language is not grounds to dismiss, but can set aside a default judgment (§ 6002).
• If the notice states an incorrect rent arrearage or has other clerical errors that do not materially change its meaning, it is not invalid if the landlord shows the error was unintentional (14 M.R.S. § 6002(2)(B)).
• In a nonpayment eviction the tenant may raise breach of the warranty of habitability as a defense if the landlord had notice of the problem, unreasonably failed to fix it, and the tenant did not cause it (14 M.R.S. § 6002(3)).

• Maine notice to end a month-to-month tenancy (no-cause notice by tenant or landlord)
• Maine security deposit law: deadlines after move-out
• Federal 30-day notice for covered properties (CARES Act)

• 14 M.R.S. § 6001 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• 14 M.R.S. § 6002 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• 14 M.R.S. § 6003 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• 14 M.R.S. § 6004 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• 14 M.R.S. § 6005 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• 14 M.R.S. § 6014 Retrieved October 13, 2026.

Laws change. This page was checked against the sources above on October 13, 2026. It is legal information, not legal advice; if you have an eviction case, contact your state's legal aid. See our methodology.