Maine Security Deposit Laws
Maine caps security deposits at two months' rent and requires landlords to return deposits within 21 days (30 days if deductions are claimed) with an itemized accounting.
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Key Rules
- Limit
- 2 months' rent
- Return Deadline
- 21 days (30 days if deductions claimed)
- Interest Required
- No statewide requirement
- Itemization Required
- Yes — written itemized statement required with any deductions
- Penalty For Wrongful Withholding
- Double the wrongfully withheld amount plus attorney fees
Applicable Statutes
Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 14, § 6032
Security deposit limit and return: deposit may not exceed two months' rent. Landlord must return deposit within 21 days after tenancy ends (30 days if notice of deductions is claimed).
Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 14, § 6033
Penalty for wrongful withholding: landlord who wrongfully retains deposit is liable for twice the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney fees.
Legal Aid Resources
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