Can You Have Pets in Apartments in Maine? Landlord Rules, Fees, and Renter Rights Explained
August 19, 2026
If you’re wondering whether you can have pets in apartments in Maine, the short answer is: it depends entirely on your lease. Maine has no statewide law that forces landlords to accept pets, which means a “no pets” clause is generally enforceable exactly as written. At the same time, several important exceptions — covering service animals, fee limits, and how policies can change mid-lease — shape what actually happens once you sign.
This breakdown walks through what Maine landlords can and cannot legally do when it comes to pets, what fees and deposits are allowed, and what steps to take if a landlord refuses to let you keep your animal.
Important Note: This article explains general Maine landlord-tenant practices and is not a substitute for legal advice. If you’re facing a specific dispute, contact a licensed attorney or a legal aid organization such as Pine Tree Legal Assistance.
Can a Landlord Ban Pets in Maine
Yes. A landlord can generally prohibit pets in the lease, and Maine’s landlord-tenant statutes don’t override that right. There’s no state requirement forcing rental owners to permit dogs, cats, or other animals on the property, so a blanket “no pets” clause is typically valid unless it conflicts with fair housing protections for service or assistance animals.
Disputes over pet clauses fall under Maine’s Landlord-Tenant Code, and the rules governing rental property generally sit in Maine Revised Statutes, Title 14, Chapter 709. Landlords are permitted to set reasonable lease terms, including rules for pets, smoking, and common areas, as long as those terms don’t run afoul of state or federal anti-discrimination law.
Pet limits themselves aren’t set at the state level either. Maine leaves nearly all pet limit decisions to individual cities, towns, and municipalities, which means what’s allowed in a Portland high-rise can look completely different from a small building in Bangor. Before you sign anything, it’s worth checking both the lease and your local zoning rules.
If your building turns out to be pet-free, you’re not necessarily out of options for animal companionship. Several low-maintenance pets require less space and generate fewer objections from property managers than dogs or cats, which can be a useful workaround if your current lease has strict language.
Pet Deposits and Pet Fees: What Maine Allows
Maine law doesn’t set a specific statewide cap on pet rent or one-time pet fees, so landlords may charge them if the amounts are included in the lease agreement. That gives property owners fairly wide latitude, though local municipalities can impose their own additional restrictions on top of state law.
Where Maine law does draw a firm line is on security deposits generally. Landlords cannot ask for more than two months’ rent as a security deposit for most rental units, with that cap rising to three months for mobile home lots. A pet deposit, if one is charged, typically falls inside that same overall security deposit ceiling.
Monthly pet rent works differently. It’s treated as a separate ongoing charge rather than a deposit, so the two-month security deposit cap does not apply to separate monthly pet rent charges. Landlords must still provide receipts and follow standard deposit procedures for whatever portion is collected as a deposit.
| Charge Type | What It Covers | Maine Cap | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security Deposit | General damage, unpaid rent | 2 months’ rent (3 for mobile homes) | Yes, minus deductions |
| Pet Deposit | Pet-related damage | Usually counted within the security deposit cap | Yes, minus deductions |
| Pet Rent | Ongoing monthly charge for keeping a pet | No statewide cap | No |
If a pet fee seems unusually high, ask the landlord for a breakdown and keep every receipt. Smaller, quieter animals — certain rabbit breeds, for example — sometimes come with lower fees than dogs, since property managers often price pet charges according to expected wear and tear.
Pro Tip: Always ask for written confirmation of pet rules, fees, and any exceptions before you sign, so there’s no confusion later about what you agreed to pay.
Breed and Weight Restrictions in Maine
Breed and weight limits are common in Maine leases, and they’re legal. Because this is a private contract issue rather than a public safety law, your landlord has the legal right to prohibit specific dog breeds in a lease agreement. Maine’s own breed-specific legislation bans don’t apply to private rental decisions — that distinction matters, because it means a landlord can restrict a breed even if the city or state doesn’t classify it as dangerous.
Breeds such as Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and Doberman Pinschers are frequently included in these bans, usually tied to insurer requirements rather than anything specific to your dog’s temperament. Weight limits work as an alternative or companion restriction — some properties cap dogs around 20 to 30 pounds once fully grown, regardless of breed.
Insurance is often the real driver behind these policies. Many landlords check with their carrier before allowing certain breeds, because some companies won’t issue liability policies if certain “dangerous breeds” are kept on the property. Lawmakers have taken notice of this dynamic — a bill introduced in the Maine Legislature, LD 1192, would bar insurers from canceling or refusing property policies based solely on dog breed ownership, unless the dog has been legally designated dangerous. Check the bill’s current status before assuming it has become law, since introduced bills don’t automatically take effect.
Weight and breed limits aren’t the only restrictions you’ll run into. Exotic and unconventional pets face their own hurdles — whether a species is even legal to keep in Maine is a separate question from whether your specific building allows it. Some properties welcome caged animals like small reptiles while banning others outright; it’s common for a building to accept a pet chameleon while refusing to allow scorpions, snakes, or spiders under any circumstances.
If you’re considering an unusual pet for a small apartment, it helps to ask management directly rather than assume. Some renters find that insects kept as pets clear approval more easily than reptiles simply because they generate fewer liability concerns for property owners.
Pro Tip: Canine Good Citizen certification from the American Kennel Club can sometimes help when negotiating breed restrictions with a landlord, since it documents a standardized behavioral assessment rather than relying on breed alone.
Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals: Your Rights in Maine
Breed bans and “no pets” clauses hit a wall when it comes to service and assistance animals. Maine law draws a clear distinction here: a service animal is a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability, while an assistance animal is broader — it can include animals that provide emotional support, comfort, or companionship related to conditions like depression, anxiety, or certain phobias, and doesn’t always require special training.
Under the Maine Human Rights Act, housing providers must allow these animals even in units with a strict no-pets policy. Reasonable accommodations mean landlords must evaluate each accommodation request individually and cannot charge extra fees for granting them. According to the Maine Human Rights Commission, it is illegal to charge a person with a service or assistance animal extra fees for that animal — even if the property normally charges pet deposits for other tenants.
Breed restrictions specifically don’t apply to assistance animals either. According to Pine Tree Legal Assistance, a landlord cannot legally stop a renter from keeping a Doberman or Pit Bull assistance dog just because the complex has a general breed ban — what matters is the individual animal’s behavior, not its breed. A landlord can still object to a specific animal that has a documented history of dangerous behavior, regardless of breed.
Landlords can still bill for actual damage. The Maine Human Rights Commission notes that housing providers may charge for damage beyond normal wear and tear caused by a service or assistance animal, if that’s their standard practice for all tenants. Falsely claiming a pet is a service animal is also a real risk: misrepresenting an animal as a trained service animal is a civil violation under Maine law.
| Category | Legal Definition | Pet Fees Allowed? | Breed Restrictions Apply? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Pet | Kept for companionship | Yes | Yes |
| Service Animal | Dog trained to perform tasks for a disability | No | No, unless individually dangerous |
| Assistance/ESA | Provides emotional support or comfort for a disability | No | No, unless individually dangerous |
If you need an accommodation, put the request in writing. Describe the animal, the reason it’s needed, and include supporting documentation from a physician, psychologist, or licensed social worker where possible, then send it by email and certified mail so you have a clear record.
Can a Landlord Change the Pet Policy Mid-Lease in Maine
Once a lease is signed, its pet terms generally stay fixed until renewal. Any changes to pet policies should be communicated clearly to existing tenants, and a landlord typically can’t unilaterally rewrite an active lease’s pet clause without your agreement — doing so would usually require a signed addendum, not just a verbal announcement or a posted notice.
Lease terms carry over even when the building itself changes hands. If ownership of a rental property in Maine changes, the terms of existing leases remain in effect, which means any pet agreements already in your lease should be honored by the new owner. That protection is one reason it’s worth ensuring pet permissions are documented in writing rather than agreed to verbally with a previous landlord or manager.
All lease provisions, including pet clauses, have to comply with Maine law to be enforceable, so a mid-lease pet policy change that violates your existing written agreement may not hold up if challenged. If a new policy shows up in a renewal offer rather than mid-term, that’s different — landlords typically have more flexibility to adjust pet rules at renewal, since you’re agreeing to a new lease term at that point.
Common Mistake: Assuming a landlord’s verbal promise about pets carries the same weight as a written lease clause. If a property manager tells you pets are fine but the lease says otherwise, the written document typically controls.
What to Do If Your Landlord Won’t Allow Your Pet in Maine
If you’re renting in Maine and your landlord refuses to allow a pet, the right response depends on whether you’re dealing with an ordinary pet or a service/assistance animal. For an ordinary pet, your options are more limited — a “no pets” clause is generally enforceable, so negotiation, not legal action, is usually the practical path.
For a service or assistance animal, you have stronger legal footing. Here’s a practical sequence to follow:
- Request the policy in writing. Always ask for written confirmation of pet rules, fees, and exceptions before signing, so you know the exact terms that apply to your situation.
- Submit a formal accommodation request. If your animal qualifies as a service or assistance animal, describe the accommodation sought, the reason it’s needed, and include documentation from a medical provider or qualified professional.
- Keep records of every communication. Send your request by email and certified mail when possible, and keep copies of all correspondence with the landlord.
- File a complaint if denied. If a landlord refuses a reasonable accommodation, you can file a complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission or HUD, and disputes may also be raised in Maine District Court for eviction or contract enforcement matters.
- Get free legal help. Pine Tree Legal Assistance and local housing clinics can offer free or low-cost help to renters dealing with pet-fee or accommodation disputes.
If your landlord won’t budge on an ordinary pet and you’re not dealing with a disability-related need, it may be worth reconsidering the type of animal rather than the building. Some renters facing strict pet policies opt for genuinely low-maintenance companions that are easier to justify to a skeptical property manager — a useful list of low-maintenance pets suited to smaller households can help you weigh alternatives before walking away from a lease you otherwise like.
Important Note: Maine residential tenancy disputes are handled by the Maine District Court, and official statutory guidance sits in Maine Revised Statutes, Title 14, Chapter 709. If a dispute escalates, that’s where formal enforcement ultimately happens.
Renting with a pet in Maine comes down to reading the lease carefully before you sign it. A landlord’s right to restrict ordinary pets is broad, but that right narrows considerably once a service or assistance animal is involved, and it narrows again if a landlord tries to change pet terms without your consent mid-lease. Getting policies, fees, and accommodations in writing from the start is the single best way to avoid a dispute later.