Operative Text
A landlord may assess a penalty against a residential tenant for late payment of rent for a residential dwelling unit according to this section. 1. Late payment. A payment of rent is late if it is not made within 15 days from the time the payment is due. 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. 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.
Under Maine law at 14 M.R.S. §§ 6021–6028, a landlord is permitted to charge a late fee on residential rent, but only under specific conditions. A payment is not considered late until it remains unpaid for more than 15 days past its due date. Even then, the fee cannot exceed 4% of one month's rent, and the landlord must have disclosed the possibility of such a fee in writing at the time the rental agreement was signed.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators who wish to collect late fees under 14 M.R.S. §§ 6021–6028 generally ensure that their written lease or rental agreement explicitly notifies tenants—at the time of signing—that a late fee of up to 4% of one month's rent may be charged. A compliant operator does not begin counting a payment as late until 15 days have passed since the due date, and does not assess any fee exceeding the 4% statutory cap. Maintaining clear written records of the disclosure and any fees assessed is a common practice among operators seeking to stay within the bounds of this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 14 M.R.S. §§ 6021–6028, tenants have the right to a 15-day grace period before a rent payment can be treated as late, and any late fee charged cannot exceed 4% of one month's rent. Critically, a landlord who never provided written notice of a potential late fee at the time the rental agreement was signed is not permitted to assess one at all. Tenants who believe a late fee was improperly charged—whether because no written notice was given, the grace period was not honored, or the amount exceeded the cap—may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service familiar with Maine housing law to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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