Laws by state / Illinois

Illinois landlord and tenant rules

The figures that decide most disputes between Illinois landlords and tenants, each with a calculator and the statute behind it.

Verified against the statutes 2026-10-22By RentByState Research
RuleIllinoisStatuteTool
Maximum security depositNo statutory limit (statewide); local ordinances such as the Chicago RLTO and Cook County RTLO impose their own rules765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act); 765 ILCS 715/1-2 (Security Deposit Interest Act)Deposit rules
Deposit return deadlineItemized statement of damages (with paid receipts or estimates) within 30 days after the tenant vacates or the right of possession ends, whichever is later; if no compliant statement is furnished, the full deposit must be returned within 45 days after the tenant vacates. Landlord is not liable if the tenant never supplies a mailing or e-mail address.765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act); 765 ILCS 715/1-2 (Security Deposit Interest Act)Deposit rules
Interest on the depositNot required765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act); 765 ILCS 715/1-2 (Security Deposit Interest Act)Chicago interest calculatorIllinois interest calculator
Maximum late feeNo statutory capNo statewide statute located (765 ILCS 705 has no late-fee provision)Late fee calculator
Landlord notice, month-to-month30 days735 ILCS 5/9-207; 735 ILCS 5/9-209Notice calculator
Tenant notice, month-to-month30 days735 ILCS 5/9-207; 735 ILCS 5/9-209Notice calculator
Rent increase noticeNo statute735 ILCS 5/9-207; 735 ILCS 5/9-209Notice calculator
Pay-or-quit notice5 days735 ILCS 5/9-207; 735 ILCS 5/9-209Notice calculator
Rent increase capNone statewide

Security deposits in Illinois

Illinois sets no statutory limit on the size of a security deposit. The deposit must be returned itemized statement of damages (with paid receipts or estimates) within 30 days after the tenant vacates or the right of possession ends, whichever is later; if no compliant statement is furnished, the full deposit must be returned within 45 days after the tenant vacates. Landlord is not liable if the tenant never supplies a mailing or e-mail address., with an itemised list of any deductions. No interest is owed on the deposit under state law. interestRequired is false for the general case (most landlords owe no interest). Interest is required ONLY of lessors of 25 or more units in one building or contiguous complex, on deposits held more than 6 months, at the passbook-savings rate of the largest Illinois commercial bank as of the preceding Dec. 31; paid within 30 days after each 12-month period when accrued interest is $5 or more, and in full at move-out (765 ILCS 715). Smaller landlords owe no interest. Bad-faith withholding: 2x the deposit plus costs and attorney's fees (710/1(c)). P.A. 103-224 (eff. Jan. 1, 2024) rewrote 710/1: the former 5-or-more-units threshold no longer appears in the statute, e-mail delivery of the itemization is allowed, and lease-specified repair costs may be deducted. ilga.gov refused connections during verification; text read from Internet Archive (2024-2026) captures of the official pages, cross-checked against FindLaw (current as of Jan. 1, 2025). Full deposit rules and move-out checklist.

Late fees in Illinois

Illinois sets no statutory cap on late fees. The amount is whatever the lease says, subject to the general rule that it must not be an unconscionable penalty. There is no statutory grace period, so the lease controls when the fee starts. Calculate the maximum fee.

Notice periods in Illinois

A Illinois landlord must give 30 days’ written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and the tenant must give the same. There is no separate statutory notice period for rent increases; the month-to-month termination notice is the practical minimum. For nonpayment, the landlord must serve a 5-day notice to pay or quit before filing for eviction. Calculate the effective date of a notice.

Deposit interest in Illinois

Sources

Frequently asked questions

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Illinois?

There is no statutory cap in Illinois; the market and the lease decide. interestRequired is false for the general case (most landlords owe no interest). Interest is required ONLY of lessors of 25 or more units in one building or contiguous complex, on deposits held more than 6 months, at the passbook-savings rate of the largest Illinois commercial bank as of the preceding Dec. 31; paid within 30 days after each 12-month period when accrued interest is $5 or more, and in full at move-out (765 ILCS 715). Smaller landlords owe no interest. Bad-faith withholding: 2x the deposit plus costs and attorney's fees (710/1(c)). P.A. 103-224 (eff. Jan. 1, 2024) rewrote 710/1: the former 5-or-more-units threshold no longer appears in the statute, e-mail delivery of the itemization is allowed, and lease-specified repair costs may be deducted. ilga.gov refused connections during verification; text read from Internet Archive (2024-2026) captures of the official pages, cross-checked against FindLaw (current as of Jan. 1, 2025).

What is the maximum late fee for rent in Illinois?

There is no statutory maximum in Illinois. No statewide statutory cap or grace period; no statute located. Late fees must be in the lease and reasonable (unenforceable penalty if excessive). The Landlord and Tenant Act (765 ILCS 705) was read in full and contains no late-fee section. The frequently cited '$20 or 20% of monthly rent, whichever is greater' rule is from the Self-Service Storage Facility Act (770 ILCS 95) and does not apply to residential rentals. Chicago (RLTO) and Cook County (RTLO) ordinances impose local caps and grace periods. The most common lease figure nationally is 5% of monthly rent, and courts in no-cap states generally accept fees in that range while rejecting ones that look like penalties.

How much notice does a landlord have to give a tenant to move out in Illinois?

30 days’ written notice for a month-to-month tenancy. 30 days' written notice for a month-to-month tenancy (any tenancy for a term under one year other than week-to-week); 7 days for week-to-week (735 ILCS 5/9-207). The statute is written in terms of landlord notice; tenant notice of 30 days follows the same period by lease and common practice.

How long is a pay-or-quit notice in Illinois?

5 days. The tenant can stop the eviction by paying the full amount within that time.

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