Not legal advice. This is a free reference compiled from official government sources. Laws change and local details matter. Confirm every deadline with the official source or a licensed attorney before you rely on it.
Last verified: · Confidence: medium
Illinois landlord deadlines
Statewide rules for Illinois. Cities and counties can add their own rules. Statutes and agency pages: ilga.gov.
Itemized damage statement with receipts within 30 days after move-out (to keep any deposit for damage) Verified
Deadline: Within 30 days after move-out
To withhold any part of a deposit for damage, deliver an itemized statement of the damage and repair costs, with paid receipts (or estimates, then receipts within 30 more days), within 30 days after the tenant vacates or their right of possession ends, whichever is later.
"may not withhold any part of that deposit as reimbursement for property damage unless the lessor has, within 30 days of the date that the lessee vacated the leased premises or within 30 days of the date the lessee's right of possession ends, whichever is later," ilga.gov
"an itemized statement of the damage allegedly caused to the leased premises and the estimated or actual cost for repairing or replacing each item on that statement, attaching the paid receipts," ilga.gov
Notes: 765 ILCS 710/1(a) (as amended by P.A. 103-224, eff. 1-1-24). Bad-faith failure: liability of twice the deposit plus costs and attorney's fees (§1(c)). The current text has no minimum unit count. Chicago's RLTO adds its own rules.
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction
Return the full deposit within 45 days of move-out if no damage statement was sent Verified
Deadline: Within 45 days after move-out
If you do not send the itemized statement and receipts in time, return the full security deposit within 45 days after the tenant vacates, in person or by postmarked mail to the last known (or provided) address.
"the lessor shall return the security deposit in full within 45 days of the date that the lessee vacated the premises," ilga.gov
Notes: 765 ILCS 710/1(a).
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction
Deposit interest for buildings/complexes with 25+ units: pay within 30 days after each 12-month rental period Verified
Deadline: Within 30 days after each lease anniversary
Landlords of 25+ unit properties must pay interest on deposits held more than six months, at the rate the largest Illinois bank paid on passbook savings, within 30 days after each 12-month rental period (if $5 or more), by cash or rent credit.
Who it covers: Only buildings or complexes on contiguous parcels with 25 or more units, for deposits held more than 6 months. Not public housing.
"A lessor of residential real property, containing 25 or more units in either a single building or a complex of buildings located on contiguous parcels of real property," ilga.gov
"The lessor shall, within 30 days after the end of each 12 month rental period, pay to the lessee any interest that has accumulated to an amount of $5 or more, by cash or credit to be applied to rent due," ilga.gov
Notes: 765 ILCS 715/1-2. Most 1-10 unit landlords are below this threshold; Chicago's RLTO has its own interest rule for smaller buildings.
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction
Carbon monoxide alarms within 15 feet of sleeping rooms; batteries working at move-in; written information Verified
Deadline: When the lease starts
Install approved CO alarms within 15 feet of every sleeping room, make sure batteries work when the tenant takes possession, and give one tenant per unit written information on testing and maintenance.
Who it covers: Exempt: units in buildings with no fossil-fuel heat, ventilation or hot water, no attached garage and no nearby CO source (430 ILCS 135/20).
"Every dwelling unit shall be equipped with at least one approved carbon monoxide alarm in an operating condition within 15 feet of every room used for sleeping purposes." ilga.gov
"The owner is responsible for providing one tenant per dwelling unit with written information regarding alarm testing and maintenance." ilga.gov
"except that the owner shall ensure that the batteries are in operating condition at the time the tenant takes possession of the dwelling unit." ilga.gov
Notes: 430 ILCS 135/10, 20.
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction
Smoke detectors installed, batteries working at move-in, written testing information to the tenant Verified
Deadline: When the lease starts
Supply and install required smoke detectors (one at the top of each interior stairwell in multi-unit buildings), make sure batteries work when the tenant takes possession, and give one tenant per unit written information on testing and maintenance.
Who it covers: Battery-powered detectors that are newly installed, more than 10 years past manufacture, or failing must have a self-contained, non-removable, long-term battery (or be hard-wired), unless part of a monitored or wireless-connected system.
"It shall be the responsibility of the owner of a structure to supply and install all required detectors." ilga.gov
"The owner shall be responsible for providing one tenant per dwelling unit with written information regarding detector testing and maintenance." ilga.gov
"the owner shall ensure that such batteries are in operating condition at the time the tenant takes possession of the dwelling unit." ilga.gov
Notes: 425 ILCS 60/3(d)-(e).
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction
Before leasing pre-1978 units: give IDPH lead brochure; disclose any prior lead mitigation notice before renewal Verified
Deadline: Before entering into a lease (brochure); before renewing a lease for a unit with an outstanding mitigation notice
Before signing a lease for a unit built before 1978, give the prospective tenant the Illinois Department of Public Health lead brochure (in addition to the federal disclosure). If the unit received a lead mitigation notice, give the current tenant a copy before renewal, and mitigate and get a certificate of compliance before any new lease.
Who it covers: Mitigation-notice duty applies if the Department has issued a mitigation notice for the unit and no certificate of compliance has been obtained.
"Before entering into a residential lease agreement or sales contract, all owners of regulated facilities containing dwelling units built before 1978 shall give prospective lessees or purchasers information on the potential health hazards posed by lead" ilga.gov
"before entering into a new lease agreement for the dwelling unit for which the mitigation notice was issued, mitigate the lead hazard previously identified in the regulated facility and obtain a certificate of compliance under Section 9." ilga.gov
Notes: 410 ILCS 45/9.1. Adds to the federal lead disclosure rule.
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction
Flood disclosure before signing (FEMA flood zone, known flooding; lower-level units: floods in last 10 years) Verified
Deadline: When the lease starts
Before each lease or renewal is signed, disclose in writing whether the property is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area and any known flooding (and, for garden/basement/first-floor units, flooding in the last 10 years), using the statutory form, signed by both parties.
"Every landlord shall clearly disclose to each of the landlord's tenants in writing prior to signing the lease for the rental property that a rental property is located in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Special Flood Hazard Area" ilga.gov
"Every landlord who leases a lower-level unit shall clearly disclose to each of the landlord's lower-level unit tenants in writing prior to the signing of the lease" ilga.gov
Notes: 765 ILCS 705/25 (P.A. 103-754, eff. 1-1-25; amended by P.A. 104-417). Tenant may terminate and recover advance rent if not disclosed. Before signing the lease or renewal; must also be in the lease and signed by both parties.
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction
Give the written utility-allocation formula before billing tenants for master-metered utilities Verified
Deadline: Before demanding any payment for a share of master-metered utilities
If tenants pay a share of master-metered utilities, give them the allocation formula in writing (in the lease or another written agreement) before demanding payment, and show the utility bill on request. Total charges may not exceed the utility's bill.
Who it covers: Only if the lease makes tenants pay a share of master-metered public utility service.
"No landlord may demand payment for master metered public utility services pursuant to a lease provision providing for tenant payment of a proportionate share of public utility service without the landlord first providing the tenant with a copy in writing" ilga.gov
Notes: 765 ILCS 740/5.
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction
Leases from January 1, 2027: all non-optional fees on page 1; application fee capped at $50; many fees banned Verified
Deadline: For every lease entered into after the January 1, 2027 effective date
For leases entered into after January 1, 2027, list every non-optional fee on the first page of the lease (unlisted fees cannot be collected), disclose whether utilities are included, cap application/screening fees at $50 (with narrow exceptions), and drop banned junk fees.
Who it covers: Does not apply to owner-occupied buildings with 6 or fewer units. Banned fees include lease renewal fees, eviction-notice fees, after-hours maintenance fees and move-in/move-out walk-through fees.
"All non-optional fees, regardless of whether they are one-time fees or recurring fees, shall be explicitly contained on the first page of a lease agreement." ilga.gov
"A fee for a rental application, including background checks, in excess of $50." ilga.gov
"except that this Section does not apply to lease agreements entered into for dwelling units in owner-occupied premises containing 6 units or fewer." ilga.gov
"When default is made in any of the terms of a lease, it is not necessary to give more than 10 days' notice to quit," ilga.gov
Notes: 735 ILCS 5/9-210.
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction
5-day written demand for unpaid rent before eviction Verified
Deadline: After rent is due: written demand giving at least 5 days after service to pay
After rent is late, you may serve a written demand giving at least 5 days to pay before the lease is terminated. The notice must contain the statutory 'Only FULL PAYMENT' language to keep it valid after partial payments.
"demand payment thereof and notify the tenant, in writing, that unless payment is made within a time mentioned in such notice, not less than 5 days after service thereof, the lease will be terminated." ilga.gov
""Only FULL PAYMENT of the rent demanded in this notice will waive the landlord's right to terminate the lease under this notice," ilga.gov
Notes: 735 ILCS 5/9-209.
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction
Notice to end a periodic tenancy: 7 days (week-to-week), 30 days (month-to-month), 60 days (year-to-year) Verified
Deadline: At least 60 days before the lease ends (7 days for week-to-week tenancy; 30 days for month-to-month (any term under one year) tenancy; 60 days for year-to-year tenancy)
To end a periodic tenancy, give written notice: 7 days for week-to-week, 30 days for other terms under a year (such as month-to-month), and 60 days before the end of the year for year-to-year tenancies.
Who it covers: Tenancies without a fixed end that the tenant holds over without special agreement. Fixed-term leases end on their own terms unless the lease says otherwise. Local ordinances (e.g., Chicago) can require longer notice.
"tenancy from week to week, where the tenant holds over without special agreement, the landlord may terminate the tenancy by 7 days' notice, in writing," ilga.gov
"in all cases of tenancy for any term less than one year, other than tenancy from week to week, where the tenant holds over without special agreement, the landlord may terminate the tenancy by 30 days' notice, in writing," ilga.gov
"in all cases of tenancy from year to year, 60 days' notice, in writing, shall be sufficient to terminate the tenancy at the end of the year." ilga.gov
Notes: 735 ILCS 5/9-205, 9-207. Rent increases on periodic tenancies are not separately regulated by state statute; the same notice is commonly used, but that is not quoted here.
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction