10 of the 10 rules below carry a statute citation that was read at the official source (most recently October 2026), with the controlling text quoted. The rest are conservative reference values from Aptoria's compliance data and are labeled unverified.
Security deposit size: No statewide statutory cap on the security deposit amount. The Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710) and Landlord and Tenant Act (765 ILCS 705) regulate return and fees but not the deposit amount; the Illinois AG fact sheet states there is no legal limit. (765 ILCS 705; 765 ILCS 710; Ill. AG 'Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws' (01/24), confirmed 2026-10). Returning the deposit: Split deadlines: if the landlord withholds for damage, an itemized statement (with paid receipts or, if not yet available, estimates) must be delivered within 30 days of the tenant vacating; the remaining deposit balance is due within 45 days. Bad-faith failure exposes the landlord to twice the deposit plus court costs and attorney’s fees. (765 ILCS 710/1, confirmed 2026-07).
How Illinois treats the landlord's core obligations
Late fees: No statewide statutory cap on residential late fees and no mandatory grace period. 765 ILCS 705 contains no late-fee limit; the AG fact sheet says a landlord 'may charge you a reasonable fee for late rent payments.' Local ordinances (e.g., Chicago) may cap late fees — check locally. (765 ILCS 705 (no late-fee provision); Ill. AG fact sheet (01/24), confirmed 2026-10). Application fees: Currently no cap, but P.A. 104-479 (765 ILCS 705/35, effective January 1, 2027) bans application fees (including background checks) over $50 unless the actual third-party background-check cost exceeds $50, the landlord pays it up front and bills the applicant with receipts within 14 days; it does not apply to owner-occupied premises of 6 or fewer units. Separately, since 1-1-25 a landlord may not charge an application screening fee when the applicant supplies a qualifying reusable tenant screening report (765 ILCS 705/30). (765 ILCS 705/35(c)(1) (eff. 1-1-27); 765 ILCS 705/30, confirmed 2026-10).
Nonpayment notice: Written demand giving the tenant not less than 5 days after service to pay; if unpaid, the landlord may treat the lease as ended and file an eviction without further notice. Partial payment does not invalidate the notice only if the notice prominently states that only FULL PAYMENT waives the landlord's right to terminate. (735 ILCS 5/9-209, confirmed 2026-10). Rent increases: No statute specifically governs rent-increase notice; in practice the 30-day written notice required to terminate a tenancy of less than a year (735 ILCS 5/9-207(b)) controls a month-to-month rent increase, and 7 days for week-to-week. No statewide rent cap (Rent Control Preemption Act bars local rent control). (735 ILCS 5/9-207; Ill. AG fact sheet (01/24), confirmed 2026-10). Ending a month-to-month tenancy: 30 days' written notice to terminate any tenancy for a term of less than one year other than week-to-week (7 days for week-to-week); the notice must end on a periodic rent date per case law. Year-to-year tenancies require 60 days (735 ILCS 5/9-205). (735 ILCS 5/9-207(b), confirmed 2026-10). Entry: No Illinois statute requires advance notice before a landlord enters; the Landlord and Tenant Act (765 ILCS 705) contains no right-of-entry section. Entry terms come from the lease and quiet-enjoyment law. (765 ILCS 705 (no entry-notice statute), confirmed 2026-10).
Illinois has no statewide rent regulation on file, so any cap on increases would come from a local ordinance. Source-of-income protection is on file statewide, so voucher and benefit income must be treated like any other lawful income in screening and advertising. Card surcharges on rent: allowed within card-network limits. Managing property for others for compensation generally requires a state license: State real estate broker license required for property management for others — confirm with state commission.
Security deposits
What Illinois allows a landlord to collect up front, how it must be held, and the deadline and paperwork for returning it.
Security deposit limit
Source-confirmed 2026-10
No statewide statutory cap on the security deposit amount. The Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710) and Landlord and Tenant Act (765 ILCS 705) regulate return and fees but not the deposit amount; the Illinois AG fact sheet states there is no legal limit.
“there is no legal limit on the amount your landlord can require.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Chicago RLTO and other local ordinances may add rules (interest, timing).
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “No statewide cap”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The maximum a landlord may collect up front as security against unpaid rent or damage, usually expressed as a multiple of one month's rent. Separate pet, key or cleaning deposits often count toward the same limit.
Deposit return deadline
Source-confirmed 2026-07
Split deadlines: if the landlord withholds for damage, an itemized statement (with paid receipts or, if not yet available, estimates) must be delivered within 30 days of the tenant vacating; the remaining deposit balance is due within 45 days. Bad-faith failure exposes the landlord to twice the deposit plus court costs and attorney’s fees.
The Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710) applies to landlords of 5 or more units; smaller properties follow common-law/lease terms, and Chicago (RLTO) imposes stricter rules. Scope-check before citing to a specific tenancy.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “45 days after move-out”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The window after the tenant vacates in which the landlord must refund the deposit or deliver an itemized statement of deductions. Missing the deadline is the most common way a landlord forfeits the right to keep any part of the deposit.
Separate pet deposit
Source-confirmed 2026-10
No statewide cap on security deposits and no statute authorizing or prohibiting a separate pet deposit. The Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710) governs any 'security deposit from a lessee to secure the payment of rent or to compensate for damage'; a refundable pet deposit falls within it and is subject to the 30-day itemized-statement / 45-day full-return rules and the double-deposit penalty for bad-faith withholding. Local ordinances (e.g., Chicago RLTO) may add rules.
“a lessor of residential real property who has received a security deposit from a lessee to secure the payment of rent or to compensate for damage to the leased premises may not withhold any part of that deposit as reimbursement for property damage unless the lessor has, within 30 days”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Act is silent on deposit amount and on pets. Current text (P.A. 103-224, eff. 1-1-24) no longer limits the Act to lessors of 5+ units; wave-1 note on that point should be re-checked.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “Permitted”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
Whether a refundable pet deposit can be collected on top of the security deposit. Even where it is permitted, the combined amount usually has to stay inside the overall deposit limit.
In practice
• Hold the deposit the way the statute requires (separate or escrow account where applicable) and record the account in the file.
• Document move-in condition with a dated, photographed inventory the tenant can sign; it is the only evidence that supports a later deduction.
• Send the itemized statement and any refund by a trackable method, and keep the receipts or estimates behind every deduction.
Rent, late fees and application fees
The fees a Illinois lease can charge, the statutory ceilings that override the lease, and whether rent increases are regulated statewide.
Late fees
Source-confirmed 2026-10
No statewide statutory cap on residential late fees and no mandatory grace period. 765 ILCS 705 contains no late-fee limit; the AG fact sheet says a landlord 'may charge you a reasonable fee for late rent payments.' Local ordinances (e.g., Chicago) may cap late fees — check locally.
“May charge you a reasonable fee for late rent payments.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Quote is from the Illinois AG fact sheet. The '$20 or 20% / 5-day' rule often cited online is 770 ILCS 95/7.10 (Self-Service Storage Facility Act) and does NOT apply to residential tenancies.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “Capped at $20; 5 days grace”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
Any statutory ceiling on the fee for late rent and any mandatory grace period before it can be charged. Where there is no statutory cap, courts still strike fees they find punitive rather than a reasonable estimate of the landlord's cost.
Application fee limit
Source-confirmed 2026-10
Currently no cap, but P.A. 104-479 (765 ILCS 705/35, effective January 1, 2027) bans application fees (including background checks) over $50 unless the actual third-party background-check cost exceeds $50, the landlord pays it up front and bills the applicant with receipts within 14 days; it does not apply to owner-occupied premises of 6 or fewer units. Separately, since 1-1-25 a landlord may not charge an application screening fee when the applicant supplies a qualifying reusable tenant screening report (765 ILCS 705/30).
“A fee for a rental application, including background checks, in excess of $50.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Delayed effective date: ILGA flags Sec. 35 as text from a Public Act not yet in effect (P.A. 104-479, eff. 1-1-27). Sec. 35 also bans lease-renewal fees, pre-judgment eviction-notice fees, maintenance-call fees, and move-in/move-out walk-through fees, and requires all non-optional fees on page 1 of the lease.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “No statewide cap”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
A cap on what an applicant can be charged to apply, sometimes limited to the actual cost of screening and sometimes prohibited outright. Fee receipts and refund rules usually travel with the cap.
Statewide rent regulation
Source-confirmed 2026-10
(b) Statewide preemption of local rent control. No statewide rent cap. The Rent Control Preemption Act, 50 ILCS 825/5 and /10, bars any unit of local government (including home-rule units) from enacting, maintaining or enforcing an ordinance or resolution controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property; local governments may manage property in which they have a property interest.
“A unit of local government, as defined in Section 1 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution, shall not enact, maintain, or enforce an ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Sec. 10: 'A home rule unit may not regulate or control the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property.' P.A. 90-313, eff. 8-1-97. Repeal bills have been introduced repeatedly but the Act remains in force on the ILGA database.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “No statewide rent regulation (check local ordinances)”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
Whether a statewide law caps annual rent increases or whether rent control exists for covered units. Local ordinances can add limits even where the state has none.
In practice
• State the late fee, the grace period and the application fee in the lease in dollars or a clear percentage; a fee that is not in the lease is rarely enforceable.
• Never charge above the statutory cap even when the lease says more; the excess is unenforceable and can expose the landlord to penalties.
• Keep fee calculations in the ledger so a tenant, a court or an auditor can reproduce them from the rent roll.
Notices, rent increases and termination
How much written notice Illinois requires before a rent increase, before ending a month-to-month tenancy, and before filing for nonpayment.
Rent-increase notice
Source-confirmed 2026-10
No statute specifically governs rent-increase notice; in practice the 30-day written notice required to terminate a tenancy of less than a year (735 ILCS 5/9-207(b)) controls a month-to-month rent increase, and 7 days for week-to-week. No statewide rent cap (Rent Control Preemption Act bars local rent control).
“the landlord can raise your rent by any amount if he/she gives you seven days' notice for a week-to-week lease or 30 days' notice for a month-to-month lease.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
the AG fact sheet is the source that applies it to rent increases.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “30 days”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The written notice a landlord must give before a rent increase takes effect on a periodic (month-to-month) tenancy. Fixed-term leases generally cannot be changed mid-term.
Month-to-month termination notice
Source-confirmed 2026-10
30 days' written notice to terminate any tenancy for a term of less than one year other than week-to-week (7 days for week-to-week); the notice must end on a periodic rent date per case law. Year-to-year tenancies require 60 days (735 ILCS 5/9-205).
“the landlord may terminate the tenancy by 30 days' notice, in writing, and may maintain an action for eviction or ejectment.”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “30 days”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The notice a landlord must give to end a periodic tenancy without cause. Some jurisdictions require longer notice for long-term tenants or require a stated cause.
Pay-or-quit notice
Source-confirmed 2026-10
Written demand giving the tenant not less than 5 days after service to pay; if unpaid, the landlord may treat the lease as ended and file an eviction without further notice. Partial payment does not invalidate the notice only if the notice prominently states that only FULL PAYMENT waives the landlord's right to terminate.
“unless payment is made within a time mentioned in such notice, not less than 5 days after service thereof, the lease will be terminated”
Excerpt from the cited source as read on the date shown.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “5 days”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The notice a tenant must receive for nonpayment before the landlord can file for possession, and the time the tenant has to pay in full and cure. This is the step most often done wrong in an eviction.
In practice
• Serve notices in the form and by the method the statute names, and keep proof of service with the dated notice.
• Count notice periods the way the statute counts them (calendar days, business days, or "before the next rent due date") and build in a margin.
• Treat a notice to a possibly rent-regulated or subsidized unit as a legal check, because longer periods and extra content requirements usually apply.
Landlord entry
When a Illinois landlord may enter an occupied unit and how much notice the tenant must receive.
Non-emergency entry notice
Source-confirmed 2026-10
No Illinois statute requires advance notice before a landlord enters; the Landlord and Tenant Act (765 ILCS 705) contains no right-of-entry section. Entry terms come from the lease and quiet-enjoyment law.
Chicago RLTO requires two days' notice for non-emergency entry (Chi. Mun. Code 5-12-050). Absence at state level confirmed by reading 765 ILCS 705 in full.
Reference value in Aptoria's compliance data: “Reasonable notice”. Where it differs from the statute above, the statute controls; differences found in review are logged for an engine update.
The advance notice required before a landlord enters an occupied unit for repairs, inspections or showings. Emergencies are the usual exception.
In practice
• Give written notice with the date, a reasonable time window and the purpose, and log the entry afterwards.
• Emergencies are the only common exception; document what made the entry urgent.
• A pattern of unannounced entries is a common basis for tenant complaints and counterclaims.
Payments, fair housing and licensing
Operational rules that sit outside the landlord-tenant act but decide how rent can be collected, who can be screened out, and who may manage for others.
Card surcharges on rent
Allowed within card-network limits
Returned-payment (NSF) fee
No statewide statutory cap on file
Source-of-income protection
Protected statewide
Local ordinances can extend protection beyond the statewide rule.
Property-management licensing
License generally required to manage for others
State real estate broker license required for property management for others — confirm with state commission.
Compliance posture values are reference data compiled from public statutes and are not source-confirmed line by line. Confirm with the state agency before relying on them.
Illinois next to its neighbors
Own units on both sides of a state line? These are the reference values for every bordering jurisdiction. Open a state to see which values carry a citation.
Federal and state disclosures Aptoria's lease workflow surfaces for Illinois. This is a working checklist from public sources, not a complete legal inventory for a specific property.
• Lead-based paint hazards (pre-1978 housing) — EPA Pamphlet "Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home"
• Radon (post-2013 construction)
• Chicago: Bedbug, Heat ordinance, RLTO summary
Official sources
Primary sources a Illinois landlord should bookmark. Each link was fetched and read during the October 2026 review; the binding text is always the current official version.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Illinois?
No statewide statutory cap on the security deposit amount. The Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710) and Landlord and Tenant Act (765 ILCS 705) regulate return and fees but not the deposit amount; the Illinois AG fact sheet states there is no legal limit. (765 ILCS 705; 765 ILCS 710; Ill. AG 'Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws' (01/24), confirmed 2026-10).
How long does a Illinois landlord have to return the security deposit?
Split deadlines: if the landlord withholds for damage, an itemized statement (with paid receipts or, if not yet available, estimates) must be delivered within 30 days of the tenant vacating; the remaining deposit balance is due within 45 days. Bad-faith failure exposes the landlord to twice the deposit plus court costs and attorney’s fees. (765 ILCS 710/1, confirmed 2026-07).
What is the maximum late fee in Illinois?
No statewide statutory cap on residential late fees and no mandatory grace period. 765 ILCS 705 contains no late-fee limit; the AG fact sheet says a landlord 'may charge you a reasonable fee for late rent payments.' Local ordinances (e.g., Chicago) may cap late fees — check locally. (765 ILCS 705 (no late-fee provision); Ill. AG fact sheet (01/24), confirmed 2026-10).
How many days does a Illinois pay-or-quit notice give the tenant?
Written demand giving the tenant not less than 5 days after service to pay; if unpaid, the landlord may treat the lease as ended and file an eviction without further notice. Partial payment does not invalidate the notice only if the notice prominently states that only FULL PAYMENT waives the landlord's right to terminate. (735 ILCS 5/9-209, confirmed 2026-10).
How much notice must a Illinois landlord give before entering?
No Illinois statute requires advance notice before a landlord enters; the Landlord and Tenant Act (765 ILCS 705) contains no right-of-entry section. Entry terms come from the lease and quiet-enjoyment law. (765 ILCS 705 (no entry-notice statute), confirmed 2026-10).
How much notice is required to raise rent in Illinois?
No statute specifically governs rent-increase notice; in practice the 30-day written notice required to terminate a tenancy of less than a year (735 ILCS 5/9-207(b)) controls a month-to-month rent increase, and 7 days for week-to-week. No statewide rent cap (Rent Control Preemption Act bars local rent control). (735 ILCS 5/9-207; Ill. AG fact sheet (01/24), confirmed 2026-10).
How much notice is required to end a month-to-month tenancy in Illinois?
30 days' written notice to terminate any tenancy for a term of less than one year other than week-to-week (7 days for week-to-week); the notice must end on a periodic rent date per case law. Year-to-year tenancies require 60 days (735 ILCS 5/9-205). (735 ILCS 5/9-207(b), confirmed 2026-10).
Does Illinois have statewide rent control?
No statewide rent regulation is on file for Illinois. Local ordinances can still limit increases, so check the city or county where the unit sits before setting a renewal rent.
Is source of income a protected class in Illinois?
Statewide source-of-income protection is on file for Illinois. Screening criteria, advertising and income calculations must treat vouchers and benefit income like other lawful income. Local rules can add further protections.
Can a Illinois landlord add a surcharge for paying rent by card?
Allowed within card-network limits. Where a surcharge is allowed, it must still follow card-network rules and be disclosed before payment.
How this page was verified
Every rule is shown in one of two states. “Source-confirmed” means an editor opened the official statute page named next to the rule on the date shown, read the controlling text, and recorded the excerpt you see; the excerpt is quoted verbatim so you can check it. “Reference value” means Aptoria's compliance engine applies a conservative number for this rule, but nobody has yet tied it to a specific statute section on this page, so it must be checked before you rely on it.
This page meets Aptoria's evidence floor for publication (10 source-confirmed rules and 5 fetched official sources). Statutes change; local ordinances can be stricter; the facts of a tenancy change the result.