In Maine, a landlord must give at least 45 days' written notice before raising rent, and at least 75 days' written notice if the increase is 10% or more. If rent goes up more than once in 12 months and the increases add up to 10% or more, the increase that pushes the total over the line needs 75 days. A tenant cannot waive these periods, and a landlord who skips them can owe money back with interest and attorney's fees.
Where the rule comes from
The notice rule is in Title 14, section 6015 of the Maine Revised Statutes. It covers rent and any "mandatory recurring fee," so a required recurring charge is treated the same way a rent increase is. The Maine Attorney General's office says it applies to any kind of rental housing, including rented mobile homes. Mobile home parks have a separate, longer rule of 90 days for any rent or fee increase.
The 75-day tier is the more recent addition to the law. Landlords who learned the old 45-day rule should check that their templates and calendars reflect it.
Doing the math on 10%
Take a $1,500 apartment. A 9% increase brings rent to $1,635, which needs 45 days' notice. A 10% increase brings it to $1,650, which needs 75 days. That is a $15 difference in rent and a month more of lead time.
The trap is stacking. If you raise rent 5% in the spring and another 5% in the fall, the second increase brings the 12-month total to 10%, so the fall notice has to be 75 days. Look back over the previous year before you decide which number applies.
There are exceptions to the 75-day rule for housing with recorded affordability restrictions or tied to a government housing program. If you manage one of those, confirm which rules apply before sending anything.
Deadlines for the winter calendar
Notice periods are easy to miss when the new rent is meant to start on the first of a month. Counting back from the effective date:
| New rent starts | Last day for 45-day notice | Last day for 75-day notice |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2027 | Nov 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 |
| Feb 1, 2027 | Dec 18, 2026 | Nov 18, 2026 |
| Mar 1, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Dec 16, 2026 |
The statute does not say how to count the days or how to deliver the notice, and the Attorney General's guidance asks only for "written notice." So treat those dates as the latest possible, not a target. A January 1 increase of 10% or more is already out of reach, but February 1 is still possible until November 18. Deliver the notice a week or two early, and use a method you can prove later, such as hand delivery with a signed copy or certified mail. State the current rent, the new rent and the date it takes effect so nobody has to guess.
Don't mix it up with ending a tenancy
A rent increase notice is not a termination notice. To end a tenancy at will, either side generally needs to give 30 days' notice, with shorter notice for specific causes such as unpaid rent. If a tenant on a month-to-month agreement does not accept the new rent, ending the tenancy takes its own notice. Keep the two documents separate.
Local rules can add more
State law sets the floor on notice, but some cities limit the amount of an increase too. Portland has a rent control ordinance that caps annual increases, and the city set the 2026 limit at 2.2%. Check your city's current limit and registration requirements before you set a number, because a notice that satisfies the state can still break a local cap.
If you are the tenant
You are entitled to the notice in writing, and you do not have to agree to a shorter period. If the date on the notice does not leave you the full 45 or 75 days, ask for a corrected notice. If a landlord collects the higher rent without giving enough notice, the statute requires the landlord to return it with interest and to pay the tenant's reasonable attorney's fees and costs. The Attorney General's office takes complaints and can help with mediation. Use the extra weeks to budget, compare other places, or talk with your landlord about timing.
Planning ahead with Loon
Rent notices are one of many small deadlines that add up across a portfolio of rentals. If you own long-term rentals and would rather not track them yourself, our long-term rental management page explains how we work. If your property is in the Portland area, local rules matter even more, so see our Portland property management page. For central Maine owners, we also cover Waterville and the Kennebec Valley.
This post is general information about Maine law, not legal advice. Laws change, so check the current statute or ask an attorney about your situation.