Illinois eviction rules

Illinois renamed its eviction action from 'forcible entry and detainer' in 2018. The 5-day pay-or-quit notice is a tenant-friendly window. Chicago tenants have substantial additional protections under the RLTO.

Non-payment notice

Lease violation notice

10d

No-cause notice

30d

Typical timeline

30–75 days

Governing statute

735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq.

Read the statute

Right to cure non-payment

Yes

Tenant may pay back rent within 5 days of the notice. After that period, the landlord may file an eviction action under 735 ILCS 5/9-209.

Self-help eviction

Illegal

Illinois prohibits self-help eviction under 735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq. and the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance imposes treble-damage penalties.

Just-cause eviction

Not required

Illinois has no statewide just-cause requirement. Cities of Chicago and Evanston have local ordinances that impose limited just-cause-style protections in specific situations.

More Illinois tools

Service of process

Did I get served correctly? →

Small claims

Illinois max & fees →

Cost to sue

Illinois all-in cost →

Other states

Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming

Not legal advice. Local ordinances (city / county rent-control boards) frequently override the state defaults. If you've been served with an eviction notice, contact a local legal aid clinic or tenant-rights attorney immediately — the windows are short.