Maine late rent fee: the legal maximum
Maine caps late fees at 4% of the monthly rent. Rent must be at least 15 days late before any fee may be charged.
Maximum late fee at common rents
Applying 4% of monthly rent once the 15-day grace period has passed.
| Monthly rent | Maximum fee |
|---|---|
| $1,000.00 | $40.00 |
| $1,500.00 | $60.00 |
| $2,000.00 | $80.00 |
| $3,000.00 | $120.00 |
What the statute says
Maximum 4% of one month's rent; rent is not 'late' until 15 days after the due date; landlord must give written notice at lease signing that a penalty up to 4% may be charged.
How this applies in practice
- A late fee must be written into the lease. The statute caps what the lease may say; it does not create a fee on its own.
- Rent is not "late" for fee purposes until 15 days after the due date. A fee charged earlier is unenforceable.
- Any amount above the cap cannot be collected or deducted from the deposit, and in several states charging an unlawful fee exposes the landlord to damages.
- Late fees are separate from interest on unpaid rent and from eviction filing costs, which have their own rules.
Related Maine rules
- Pay-or-quit notice: 7 days. Notice periods in Maine.
- Security deposit: 2 months' rent; returned Within the time stated in a written lease, not to exceed 30 days after termination; 21 days for a tenancy at will (measured from termination or surrender and acceptance, whichever is later).. Deposit rules in Maine.
- All rules on one page: Maine landlord and tenant law.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum late fee for rent in Maine?
4% of monthly rent. Maximum 4% of one month's rent; rent is not 'late' until 15 days after the due date; landlord must give written notice at lease signing that a penalty up to 4% may be charged.
Is there a grace period for rent in Maine?
Yes. State law requires rent to be 15 days late before a late fee can be charged, regardless of what the lease says.
Can a Maine landlord charge a daily late fee?
Only if the total stays within the statutory cap (4% of monthly rent). A daily fee that accumulates past the cap is unenforceable above it.
Can a landlord charge a late fee that is not in the lease in Maine?
No. A late fee is a contract term. If the lease does not provide for one, the landlord cannot impose it, and in Maine the statutory cap applies on top of whatever the lease says.