Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§ 6021–6030-K § 6025
Access to premises
Operative Text
1. Tenant obligations. A tenant may not unreasonably withhold consent to the landlord to enter into the dwelling unit in order to inspect the premises, make necessary or agreed repairs, decorations, alterations or improvements, supply necessary or agreed services or exhibit the dwelling unit to prospective or actual purchasers, mortgagees, tenants, workers or contractors. A tenant may not change the lock to the dwelling unit without giving notice to the landlord and giving the landlord a duplicate key within 48 hours of the change. A victim may change the locks to the unit at the victim's expense. If the victim changes the locks to the unit, the victim shall provide the landlord with a duplicate key within 72 hours of changing the locks. For the purposes of this subsection, "victim" has the same meaning as in section 6000, subsection 4 . 2. Landlord obligations. Except in the case of emergency or if it is impracticable to do so, the landlord shall give the tenant reasonable notice of the landlord's intent to enter and shall enter only at reasonable times. Twenty-four hours is presumed to be a reasonable notice in the absence of evidence to the contrary. An emergency when the welfare of an animal is at risk as described in section 6025‑A is grounds for permitting entry without 24 hours' notice. 3. Remedy. If a landlord makes an entry in violation of this section, makes a lawful entry in an unreasonable manner or makes repeated demands for entry otherwise lawful that have the effect of harassing the tenant, the tenant may recover actual damages or $250, whichever is greater, and obtain injunctive relief to prevent recurrence of the conduct, and if the tenant obtains a judgment after a contested hearing, reasonable attorney's fees. If a tenant changes the lock and does not provide the landlord with a duplicate key, in the case of emergency the landlord may gain admission through whatever reasonable means necessary and charge the tenant reasonable costs for any resulting damage. If a tenant changes the lock and refuses to provide the landlord with a duplicate key, the landlord may terminate the tenancy with a 7-day notice. 4. Waiver. Any agreement by a tenant to waive any of the rights or benefits provided by this section is against public policy and is void.
Maine law under 14 M.R.S. §§ 6021–6025 establishes mutual obligations governing when and how a landlord may enter a rental unit and what tenants must do regarding lock changes. Landlords are generally required to give at least 24 hours' notice before entering and may only do so at reasonable times, except in emergencies. Tenants, in turn, cannot unreasonably refuse entry for legitimate purposes and must share a duplicate key with the landlord within 48 hours of changing a lock (or 72 hours if the tenant is a protected victim of certain crimes). Violations by either party carry defined consequences, and any lease clause attempting to waive these protections is void.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 14 M.R.S. §§ 6021–6025, compliant property operators document their notice to tenants before entering—typically at least 24 hours in advance—and schedule entry during reasonable hours for inspections, repairs, showings, or other permitted purposes. Operators also recognize that emergency situations, including animal welfare emergencies described in § 6025-A, may permit entry without advance notice. When a tenant changes a lock and fails to provide a duplicate key, the statute permits landlords to recover reasonable costs for emergency entry damage and, if the tenant refuses to provide a key at all, to initiate a 7-day termination notice.
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. §§ 6021–6025, tenants have the right to receive reasonable advance notice—presumed to be at least 24 hours—before a landlord enters the dwelling unit, and entry must occur at reasonable times. If a landlord enters in violation of this section, enters in an unreasonable manner, or makes repeated entry demands that amount to harassment, tenants may be entitled to recover actual damages or $250 (whichever is greater), injunctive relief, and potentially attorney's fees following a contested hearing. Tenants who believe their access rights have been violated may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization, consulting with a legal aid office, or raising the violation as a defense or counterclaim in a relevant court proceeding.
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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