Maine Notice to Vacate: Notice Periods and Rules

In Maine, tenants give at least 30 days written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and landlords give at least 30 days. For unpaid rent, the notice period is 7 days. The details, exceptions and statute citations are below.

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Maine notice periods at a glance

Tenant ending a month-to-month tenancy	30 days 14 M.R.S. § 6002(1)
Landlord ending a month-to-month tenancy	30 days 14 M.R.S. § 6002(1)
Notice for unpaid rent	7 days 14 M.R.S. § 6002(1)(C), (2)(A)
End of a fixed-term lease	Maine's statute does not require notice to end a written lease at its stated end date. If the tenant stays on by consent, the holdover is treated as a tenancy at will that needs 30 days' notice.
How notice can be delivered	Written notice served on the tenant in hand. Only after the landlord has made at least 3 good-faith attempts at personal service may it be served by first-class mail to the last known address plus leaving it at the tenant's last and usual place of abode (14 M.R.S. § 6002).

A landlord's 30-day notice must tell the tenant they have the right to contest the termination in court. If rent is paid through a later date, the notice must expire on or after that date. The 7-day nonpayment notice is allowed only once rent is 7+ days in arrears and must state the amount and the statutory reinstatement wording; paying in full before it expires voids it. Portland has its own local tenant ordinance, so check city rules.

What a Maine notice to vacate should include

The names of every tenant on the lease and the full address, including unit number
The date you are giving the notice and the date the tenancy ends
A move-out date that gives at least the minimum notice above, counted from the day the notice is delivered
For unpaid rent: the exact amount owed and how to pay it
Your name, signature and contact details
A record of how and when you delivered it (keep a copy)

Many month-to-month notices must also end on the last day of a rental period, so if rent is due on the 1st, the safest move-out date is the end of a month. Giving more notice than the minimum is fine; giving less usually makes the notice invalid.

Maine notice to vacate FAQ

How much notice does a tenant have to give in Maine?

For a month-to-month tenancy, at least 30 days in writing (14 M.R.S. § 6002(1)). If you have a fixed-term lease, check the lease: it may require notice before the end date or renew automatically.

How much notice does a landlord have to give in Maine?

To end a month-to-month tenancy without a specific reason, at least 30 days (14 M.R.S. § 6002(1)).

What is the notice period for unpaid rent in Maine?

The tenant gets 7 days to pay or move out (14 M.R.S. § 6002(1)(C), (2)(A)). If the tenant does neither, the landlord can file an eviction case; only a court can order the tenant out.

How do you deliver a notice to vacate in Maine?

Written notice served on the tenant in hand. Only after the landlord has made at least 3 good-faith attempts at personal service may it be served by first-class mail to the last known address plus leaving it at the tenant's last and usual place of abode (14 M.R.S. § 6002).

Do I need to give notice at the end of a fixed-term lease in Maine?

Maine's statute does not require notice to end a written lease at its stated end date. If the tenant stays on by consent, the holdover is treated as a tenancy at will that needs 30 days' notice.

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Sources

Checked October 2026. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules. This page is general information, not legal advice.