Two months' rent. The return rule is 30 days. The controlling text is Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14 §§ 6031-6038.
Shared move-in, deduction, and refund workflow: the national state-law hub.
Maine's deposit ceiling
Two months' rent.
Maine's return deadline
30 days.
You have 30 days after the tenancy ends under a written lease, or 21 days for a tenancy at will, to return the deposit with an itemized statement of any deductions.
The itemized statement rule
A written itemized statement of damages is required whenever you keep any part of the deposit. Missing the deadline can forfeit your claim.
Where the deposit must be held
Deposits must be held apart from the landlord's own funds and may not be commingled with the landlord's assets or subject to the landlord's creditors.
Exposure for wrongful withholding
Up to 2x plus attorney fees (bad faith).
A landlord who retains a deposit in bad faith is liable for twice the amount wrongfully withheld plus the tenant's attorney fees. A timely itemized statement, delivered against the shorter clock if the tenancy is at will, is the defense.
Compare Maine with neighboring states
- New Hampshire: one month's rent or $100; return rule: 30 days.
Verified against Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14 §§ 6031-6038 and official state sources in July 2026. Before withholding money, check the current statute text or ask a local landlord-tenant attorney. General information, not legal advice.