In Maine, landlord entry is strictly regulated by
and 14 M.R.S. § 6025 . As of 2026, Maine remains unique for explicitly including animal welfare as a legal ground for emergency entry. 14 M.R.S. § 6025-A
Legal Entry Without Prior Permission
A landlord may enter a rental unit without 24 hours’ notice or immediate consent only in these specific scenarios:
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True Emergencies: Immediate entry is permitted for crises like fire, gas leaks, or active flooding that threaten life or property.
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Animal Welfare Emergencies: Under
14 M.R.S. § 6025-A -
Impracticability: If it is genuinely impossible to contact the tenant before an urgent maintenance task.
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Abandonment: If the tenant has clearly vacated the premises permanently without notice.
Requirements for Standard Entry
For routine inspections, repairs, or showing the unit to prospective buyers or tenants:
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24-Hour Notice: Landlords must provide at least 24 hours’ notice of their intent to enter. This notice period is “presumed to be reasonable” under Maine law.
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Reasonable Times: Entry is restricted to “reasonable times,” which generally means during standard business or daylight hours.
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Tenant Obligations: A tenant cannot unreasonably withhold consent for the landlord to enter for lawful purposes like inspections or repairs.
Protections Against Abuse
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Harassment: Landlords are prohibited from using the right of entry to harass tenants or making repeated, unreasonable demands for access.
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Legal Remedies: If a landlord violates these privacy laws, a tenant may recover actual damages or $100 (whichever is greater), obtain an injunction to stop future entries, and potentially recover attorney’s fees (
14 M.R.S. § 6025(3) -
Lock Changes: Tenants may not change locks without giving the landlord a key within 48 hours (or 72 hours for victims of domestic violence/stalking).
The information for this answer was found on our Maine Landlord Tenant Rights answers.