✓ Law Verified June 2026
This guide explains maine rent increase laws in plain English — whether there is a cap on how much your landlord can raise your rent, how much notice they must give, which Maine cities have local rent control, and what to do if an increase looks illegal. All figures are from Maine law, verified as of June 2026.
In This Maine Guide:
Maine Rent Increase Rules at a Glance
| Statewide rent cap | NO — Maine has no statewide cap on how much a landlord can raise rent. There is no state law limiting the dollar amount or percentage of a rent increase. However, under 14 M.R.S. §6016, a landlord may not increase rent if the dwelling unit violates the warranty of habitability. Additionally, under 14 M.R.S. §6015-2, landlords may not increase rent more than once in any 12-month period. |
| Notice required before increase | 45 days written notice for any rent increase under 10%. 75 days written notice if the increase is 10% or more (this threshold is cumulative — if multiple increases within a 12-month period total 10% or more, the 75-day notice applies to any increase that brings the total to 10% or more). The notice must state the new rent amount and the date it takes effect. A written or oral waiver of the notice requirement is void under Maine law (14 M.R.S. §6015-2). In Portland, landlords must give at least 90 days notice of any rent increase. |
| How often rent can be raised | No more than once every 12 months per unit statewide (14 M.R.S. §6015-2). After a landlord increases rent, they must wait a full 12 months before issuing another increase on that unit. |
| During a fixed-term lease | NO — a landlord cannot raise rent during a fixed-term lease unless the lease itself contains a specific clause allowing mid-lease increases. Rent increases may only take effect at the end of a lease term or, for month-to-month tenancies, after proper written notice (45 or 75 days depending on the increase amount). |
Retaliatory increases: YES — Maine prohibits retaliatory rent increases. If a landlord raises rent within 6 months of a tenant exercising legal rights (such as requesting repairs, filing a complaint with a housing code official, or organizing a tenants’ union), there is a rebuttable presumption under Maine law that the increase is retaliatory and therefore illegal.
Under 14 M.R.S. §6030, tenants who suffer retaliatory or discriminatory actions may recover actual damages of up to 3 months’ rent, plus reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs.
Maine Cities With Local Rent Control
Portland — rent increases capped at 100% of CPI (2.2% for 2026); applies to most rental units; exempts owner-occupied buildings with 4 or fewer units, buildings constructed after April 2020, subsidized housing, and municipal housing authority units. South Portland — rent increases capped at the lower of 100% of CPI or 5%; applies to most residential rental units; exempts owner-occupied buildings with 5 or fewer units and government-regulated units.
Old Orchard Beach and Waterville have narrower ordinances limiting rent increases at mobile home parks. Lewiston, Auburn, Brunswick, and Gorham have passed temporary measures limiting mobile home park rent increases.
Exempt properties: At the state level there are no rent caps to be exempt from — the statewide law only imposes notice requirements and the 12-month frequency limit, which apply to all residential rental properties. In Portland, exempt properties include: owner-occupied buildings with 4 or fewer units, buildings constructed after April 2020, publicly subsidized or controlled units (e.g.
Section 8), municipal housing authority units, hospital or extended care facilities, dormitories, and hotels/inns/boarding houses. In South Portland, exempt properties include: owner-occupied buildings with 5 or fewer units and units regulated by other government entities.
State preemption: NO — Maine does NOT preempt local rent control. Maine is one of a small number of states that allows cities and towns to enact their own rent control or rent stabilization ordinances. Portland and South Portland have done so, and other municipalities (including Bangor, Lewiston, and Augusta) have considered or are pursuing local rent stabilization measures.
What to Do If Your Rent Increase Is Illegal
If you believe your landlord raised your rent illegally — without proper notice, during a habitability violation, during a fixed-term lease, or in retaliation — you may be able to take the following steps: (1) Document everything in writing, including the notice you received (or lack of notice), the amount of the increase, and any complaints or requests you made before the increase.
(2) File a complaint with the Maine Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at https://www.maine.gov/ag/consumer-protection/consumer-help-topics/housing/tenant-rights.
(3) Contact Pine Tree Legal Assistance (www.ptla.org), Maine’s free legal aid organization for low-income tenants. (4) You may be able to file a claim in court — under 14 M.R.S. §6015-2, a landlord who violates the notice requirement is liable for the return of any sums unlawfully obtained, plus interest, reasonable attorney’s fees, and court costs.
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Under 14 M.R.S. §6030, if the increase was retaliatory, you may recover up to 3 months’ rent plus attorney’s fees. (5) If you live in Portland or South Portland, contact your city’s rent control program for guidance on filing a complaint about increases exceeding the local cap. Many tenants find it helpful to consult with an attorney or legal aid before taking action.
Other Maine rent rules: (1) Habitability bar on increases: Under 14 M.R.S. §6016, a landlord may not raise rent if the unit has unresolved habitability violations — unless the violation was caused by the tenant, their family, or their guests.
This is a unique and powerful tenant protection. (2) Mandatory recurring fees: Maine’s notice requirement (14 M.R.S. §6015-2) covers not just rent increases but also increases to any mandatory recurring fees (such as parking fees or pet fees).
The same 45-day or 75-day notice rules apply. (3) Waiver is void: Any written or oral waiver of the rent increase notice requirement is against public policy and void — a lease clause purporting to waive the notice requirement is unenforceable.
(4) Portland 90-day notice: Portland’s rent control ordinance requires 90 days notice for any rent increase, which is more protective than the state minimum of 45 days. (5) Mobile home park protections: Several Maine municipalities (Old Orchard Beach, Waterville, Lewiston, Auburn, Brunswick, Gorham) have enacted ordinances specifically limiting rent increases in mobile home parks.
(6) Self-help eviction ban: Under 14 M.R.S. §6014, a landlord may not change locks, shut off utilities, or remove a tenant’s belongings without a court order — tenants may sue for damages starting at 250 plus attorney’s fees.
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Official Maine Sources & Resources
- Maine Attorney General: https://www.maine.gov/ag/consumer-protection/consumer-help-topics/housing/tenant-rights
- Maine Rent Statute: https://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/14/title14sec6015-2.html
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: hud.gov
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex
Understanding Maine Rent Increase Laws
Whether a Maine rent increase is legal depends on the cap (if any), the notice given, and whether the increase is retaliatory. Maine rent increase laws protect tenants from surprise hikes by requiring a minimum notice period before any increase takes effect.
If you believe a Maine rent increase violates these rules, document the notice you received, check the math against the cap, and contact your local housing authority or legal-aid office.
Knowing the Maine rent increase rules before your lease renews puts you in a much stronger position.
This Maine rent increase guide was last verified against official sources in June 2026. Rent caps change — verify with your state or a local legal-aid office.
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Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal advice. Landlord-tenant laws change and vary by city and county within a state. Verify current rules with your state, your local court, or a free legal-aid office before acting. If you are facing eviction, contact a local tenant attorney or legal-aid organization right away.