How long does an eviction take in Maine?
For unpaid rent, expect about 4.5 weeks from the first notice to the lockout, and anywhere from 3.5 to 10 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Not legal advice. Estimates from public sources, checked Oct 17, 2026. Laws vary by county and city; talk to a local attorney before you act.
What would a rental in Maine actually earn?
We'll prefill Maine's numbers and include the eviction cost from this page.
- Median rent $1,210/mo
- Property tax 0.91%–0.93%
- Insurance $549–$1,349/yr
- Vacancy 3.6%–4.2%
The Maine eviction timeline
Each step comes from Maine's rules, with the source linked. The typical case adds up to about 4.5 weeks; a contested hearing adds about 3 more. Timeline model.
- 1
Notice to pay or leave
7 days7-day notice once rent is 7 days late (Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 6002)
- 2
File and get a judgment
10–28 days · typical 14Hearing at least 7 days after service (court guidance: 14 days for residential nonpayment)
- 3
Judgment to lockout
9–14 daysWrit of possession issues 7 days after judgment; tenant then has 48 hours
- 4
If the tenant appeals
7-day windowAppeal must be filed before the writ issues
Can the tenant pay and stay? Can pay in full during the notice period. official source Source ↗
What an eviction costs in Maine
Court fees come from the fee schedules we found, and each one says where it applies. Fees we couldn't verify are labeled Unverified and use the national default range. The calculator above adds them to your lost rent.
Court filing fee
Statewide$100–$105FED filing fee $100 (includes mediation) plus $5 summons per defendant
Serving the tenant
Unverified · national default$30–$77No official amount verified for Maine yet, so the calculator uses the national default range.
Sheriff or marshal lockout
Unverified · national default$75–$180No official amount verified for Maine yet, so the calculator uses the national default range.
Lawyer, uncontested case
National estimate$500–$1,500Flat fees commonly charged when the tenant doesn't fight it. Not specific to this state; big-city rates run higher.
Lawyer, contested case
National estimate$2,000–$5,000+When the tenant contests the case. Not specific to this state.
Median gross rent
Census ACS 2024, 1-year$1,210/moMaine median gross rent, ±$30. The calculator starts here; change it to your rent.
Statewide rules that can slow things down
Statewide rent control: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Statewide just-cause rules: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Right to counsel for tenants: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Seasonal or weather limits: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Required mediation or pre-filing program: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Local rules: Some cities or counties have their own rules.
Maine scores 84 out of 100
Faster timelines, fewer chances to pay-and-stay and fewer statewide tenant protections score higher.
Maine eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Maine?
A nonpayment eviction in Maine typically takes about 4.5 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 3.5 to 10 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an LandlordCost estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked Oct 17, 2026.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Maine?
7-day notice once rent is 7 days late (Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 6002).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Maine by paying the rent?
Can pay in full during the notice period.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Maine?
The court filing fee is $100-$105 statewide. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Maine?
A typical uncontested nonpayment eviction in Maine costs a landlord roughly $2,000 to $3,100: about 4.5 weeks of lost rent at the median rent of $1,210/month (about $1,300), court and service fees of about $205-$362 (some are national defaults because we could not verify them), and lawyer fees of about $500-$1,500 (a national estimate). A contested case running about 10 weeks can pass $5,200. These are LandlordCost estimates (Census ACS 2024 rent); they leave out rent owed before the notice, turnover and re-rent time.
Is Maine landlord-friendly for evictions?
Maine scores 84 out of 100 on the LandlordCost landlord-friendliness score (timeline 39.6/50, right to cure 14/20, statewide tenant protections 30/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
Not yet verified for Maine: service fee, lockout fee. Fields we couldn't source are labeled unverified, never guessed. Download the data: states.json · states.csv.
- Notice periodofficial sourcelegislature.maine.gov ↗
- Notice period (backup)secondary sourcenolo.com ↗
- Court deadlinesofficial sourcecourts.maine.gov ↗
- Judgment to lockoutofficial sourcelegislature.maine.gov ↗
- Appealofficial sourcecourts.maine.gov ↗
- Filing feeofficial sourcecourts.maine.gov ↗
- Service feeunverifiednone found
- Lockout feeunverifiednone found
- Right to cureofficial sourcelegislature.maine.gov ↗
- Median rentofficial sourcewww2.census.gov ↗
Get an email if Maine's rules change
One short email when notice periods, fees or tenant protections change. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.