Landlord Atlas

Portland, Maine: Rent Control and Tenant Protections

Verified August 13, 2026 All Maine topics →

Portland caps rent increases on most rental units: the standard annual allowance is 70% of the Greater Boston inflation rate (2.2% for 2026), a landlord may add 5% when a tenant leaves voluntarily, and no increase may exceed 10% or come more than once in 12 months.

Cited to Portland City Code ch. 6, § 6-232 (Allowable Increase Percentage) and 3 more sources · Verified August 13, 2026

Landlords must register every unit with the city each year, give 90 days' written notice of any increase, and a seven-member Rent Board hears tenant appeals and landlord requests for larger increases. Application fees are banned citywide and security deposits are capped at one month's rent.

Current published figures

Figure Value Applies to Source
Allowable Increase Percentage 2.2% Calendar year 2026 Official source

These figures change on a published cycle; each row states the window it applies to and links the source that published it. Confirm the current figure at the source before acting on it.

What is in force

In force today. Adopted by citizen-initiated referendum in November 2020, with base rents fixed at June 1, 2020 levels and registration from January 1, 2021. Substantially amended by a second referendum in November 2022 (Question C), which cut the annual allowance from 100% to 70% of inflation, conditioned the 5% turnover increase on voluntary departure, extended increase notice to 90 days, banned rental application fees, and capped security deposits at one month. A November 2023 rollback initiative failed, and the rent control articles (City Code Chapter 6, Articles XII and XIII) are unamended since November 2022.

The rent increase limit

The standard annual allowance is 70% of the 12-month change in the Greater Boston consumer price index, set each September 1 for the following calendar year — 2.2% for 2026. A landlord may add 5% of base rent when a new tenant moves in, but only if the previous tenant left voluntarily, and unused increase room may be banked. The city's Rent Board can grant fair-return increases. No increase may exceed 10% in total or come more than once in 12 months; room above 10% must be banked. Increases require 90 days' written notice stating the amount, banked balance, and justification — a defective notice is void.

What housing is covered

All rental units in city limits, including short-term rentals, except municipal housing authority units, hospital and religious accommodations, extended-care facilities, dormitories, units in an owner-occupied building of two to four units, government-subsidized or rate-controlled units, and accessory dwelling units. Exempt units must still register with the city.

What happens on vacancy

No vacancy decontrol: base rent carries through turnover. The only turnover adjustment is the 5%-of-base-rent increase available when the prior tenant left voluntarily, at most once per 12 months.

Eviction and termination rules

Portland is not a just-cause jurisdiction, but 90 days' written notice is required to terminate any tenancy (7 days for cause under state law; shorter stays excepted). A landlord who gives 60 to 89 days' notice owes one month's rent as relocation reimbursement, and 30 to 59 days' notice two months'. A termination or increase within 6 months of a tenant's complaint is presumed retaliatory.

Registration and filings

Every rental unit must be registered with the city annually by January 1 (new units within 14 days, new owners within 30). The long-term rental fee is $55 per unit per year, part of which funds the Housing Safety Office and Rent Board. Banked rent is recorded at registration.

Other requirements

Rental application fees are banned citywide and security deposits are capped at one month's rent — both stricter than state law. Landlords must give tenants a rights document with signed acknowledgment, and tenants' unions have recognized standing. A seven-member Rent Board hears appeals and fair-return requests.

Notes and caveats

Cite this page: "Landlord Atlas, Portland, Maine: Rent Control and Tenant Protections (verified August 13, 2026), landlordatlas.com/laws/maine/portland/" — free to cite and quote with a link (how these records are verified).

Citations

This page records local law. Statewide rules — deposits, notice periods, late fees, entry, evictions — live on the Maine hub, and the state-level position on local rent regulation appears there with its own citations and verification date.