LOCAL RULES: 14 M.R.S. 6025

Maine notice of entry requirements

Your Maine notice of entry has one rule to meet. ReportDraft puts it on your checklist and checks your draft before you sign.

  • Reasonable notice (24 hours presumed), entry at reasonable times
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Maine asks for reasonable notice before a landlord enters and presumes 24 hours is reasonable. Since 2023 an emergency involving an animal's welfare also allows entry. An unlawful entry costs at least 250 dollars. Here is each rule with a link to the Maine Revised Statutes.

Last reviewed October 26, 2026 against the official sources listed below.

Notice of entryMAINE / FREE CALCULATOR

Notice period and entry times

WhatWhenRule
Notice givenNovember 2, 2026 (attached to the door)14 M.R.S. s. 6025 (2)
Earliest lawful entry without the tenant's consentNovember 3, 2026, at or after the time of day the notice was given (24 hours later)14 M.R.S. s. 6025 (2)
Planned entryNovember 4, 2026: after the notice period14 M.R.S. s. 6025 (2)
Hours of entryAt reasonable times14 M.R.S. s. 6025 (2)
What the notice must sayReasonable notice of the intent to enter; 24 hours is presumed reasonable14 M.R.S. s. 6025 (2)

Emergencies, an abandoned unit and the tenant's consent at the time of entry follow their own rules (listed on this page). A lease may give the tenant more notice; check it.

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What Maine requires

  • A tenant may not unreasonably withhold consent for the landlord to enter to inspect, make necessary or agreed repairs, decorations, alterations or improvements, supply necessary or agreed services, or show the unit to prospective or actual purchasers, mortgagees, tenants, workers or contractors14 M.R.S. s. 6025 (1)
  • A tenant who changes the lock must tell the landlord and give a duplicate key within 48 hours; a victim (as section 6000 defines) may change the locks at their own expense and gives a duplicate key within 72 hours14 M.R.S. s. 6025 (1)
  • Except in an emergency or if it is impracticable, the landlord gives reasonable notice of the intent to enter and enters only at reasonable times; 24 hours is presumed reasonable unless evidence shows otherwise14 M.R.S. s. 6025 (2)
  • An emergency when an animal's welfare is at risk allows entry without 24 hours' notice; a landlord may make it a condition of tenancy that the tenant allow such entry, and may ask for information about animals in the unit and people authorized to retrieve them14 M.R.S. s. 6025-A ยท 14 M.R.S. s. 6025 (2)
  • For an unlawful entry, a lawful entry made unreasonably or repeated harassing demands, the tenant may recover actual damages or 250 dollars, whichever is greater, an injunction, and reasonable attorney's fees after a contested hearing; a tenant who changes the lock and refuses a duplicate key can be given a 7-day termination notice14 M.R.S. s. 6025 (3)
  • Any agreement by a tenant to waive the rights or benefits of section 6025 is void14 M.R.S. s. 6025 (4)

Reasonable notice, 24 hours presumed

Except in an emergency or where it is impracticable, give the tenant reasonable notice of your intent to enter and come at a reasonable time. Twenty-four hours is presumed reasonable; a lease clause waiving this right is void.

Locks and animals

A tenant who changes a lock gives the landlord a duplicate key within 48 hours (72 hours for a victim changing locks). A landlord may require, as a condition of tenancy, entry when an animal's welfare is at risk, and may ask for the names of people authorized to collect the animal.

Damages for unlawful entry

A tenant can recover actual damages or 250 dollars, whichever is greater, plus an injunction and attorney's fees after a contested hearing.

Common mistakes

  • A lease clause that lets the landlord enter at any time: it is void.
  • Entering for a routine check with only a few hours' notice.
  • Forgetting the duplicate key rule when a tenant changes the lock.

Sources

Last reviewed October 26, 2026. Next review due January 26, 2027. This page explains published rules to help you write your report. It is not legal advice; the official text linked above governs.