Maine Statewide Rule
Maine Late Rent Fee Limits (Tit. 14 § 6028)
Key Facts
- Late fee cap
- 4% of one month's rent
- Grace period
- 15 days from due date
- Notice required
- Written, at start of rental agreement
- Statute
- Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14 § 6028
Summary
Maine caps residential late-rent penalties at 4% of one month's rent. A landlord may not charge a late fee until rent is at least 15 days overdue, and may only charge it if the lease gave written notice of the fee when the rental agreement was made.
§6028. Penalties for late payment of rent A landlord may assess a penalty against a residential tenant for late payment of rent for a residential dwelling unit according to this section. [PL 1987, c. 605 (AMD).] 1. Late payment. A payment of rent is late if it is not made within 15 days from the time the payment is due. [PL 1987, c. 215 (NEW).] 2. Maximum penalty. A landlord may not assess a penalty for the late payment of rent which exceeds 4% of the amount due for one month. [PL 1987, c. 215 (NEW).] 3. Notice in writing. A landlord may not assess a penalty for the late payment of rent unless the landlord gave the tenant written notice at the time they entered into the rental agreement that a penalty, up to 4% of one month's rent, may be charged for the late payment of rent. [PL 1987, c. 215 (NEW).] SECTION HISTORY PL 1987, c. 215 (NEW). PL 1987, c. 605 (AMD). The Revisor's Office cannot provide legal advice or interpretation of Maine law to the public. If you need legal advice, please consult a qualified attorney. Office of the Revisor of Statutes · 7 State House Station · State House Room 108 · Augusta, Maine 04333-0007 Data for this page extracted on 10/20/2025 14:32:56. Legislature • Executive • Judicial • Agency Rules Visit the State House Tour Guide • Accessibility • Security Screening • Directions & Parking
Full Breakdown
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14 § 6028 limits any penalty for late payment of rent to "4% of the amount due for one month." Rent is not late until "not made within 15 days from the time the payment is due," giving tenants a 15-day grace period before any fee may be assessed. The landlord must have notified the tenant in writing "at the time they entered into the rental agreement" that a penalty of up to 4% of monthly rent may be charged for late payment. The statute does not itself prescribe a monetary penalty against landlords who violate it, but an unlawful fee is unenforceable and recoverable by the tenant.
Violations & Penalties
No specific statutory penalty against the landlord; a late fee exceeding 4%, charged before 15 days, or charged without the required written notice is unenforceable (tit. 14 § 6028).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum late fee a Maine landlord can charge?
Can my Maine landlord charge a late fee the day after rent is due?
Sources
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