Eviction Notice for Illinois landlords
Formal eviction notice for various tenant violations Written to IL landlord-tenant law, with the notice period counted for you.
- Pay or quit
- 5 days
- Month-to-month
- 30 days
- Rent increase notice
- 30 days
- Max deposit
- No limit
- Deposit return
- 45 days
Illinois · ILCommonly used
When you need a eviction notice.
- Tenant violating lease terms
- Tenant engaged in illegal activity
- Tenant causing property damage
- Tenant disturbing other tenants
Illinois rules that apply here.
Rent control applies in parts of Illinois. Where a local ordinance is stricter than state law, the local rule governs.
- 5-day notice for nonpayment
- 10-day notice for lease violations
- Chicago has specific landlord-tenant ordinance (RLTO)
Rent control areas
Chicago (under RLTO)
What landlords ask about this in Illinois.
- What are valid reasons for eviction?
- Nonpayment of rent, a material lease violation, expiry of the term where no just-cause rule applies, and illegal activity. In Illinois, nonpayment starts with a 5-day pay-or-quit notice. Retaliation and discrimination are never valid and expose you to damages well beyond the rent owed.
- How do I serve an eviction notice?
- Follow your state’s service rules exactly, because defective service is the most common reason these cases get dismissed. Personal delivery is safest. Where posting and mailing is allowed, do both, and record the date and method the same day.
- Can the tenant fight the eviction?
- Yes. Tenants can contest service, the amount claimed, the condition of the unit, and whether your reason is lawful. Contested cases are usually decided by the paper trail: notices, receipts, and how you answered repair requests.
- How long does eviction take?
- Weeks at best, months where courts are backed up. The 5-day notice in Illinois is only the first step. Filing, service, a hearing and the sheriff’s lockout each add time, and the unit is unavailable throughout.
This is general information about Illinois landlord-tenant law, not legal advice. Local ordinances can be stricter than the state rule, and if a dispute is already underway it is worth an hour of a lawyer’s time.
Related IL forms
This form in other states
The document is the same; the notice period is not. Pick the state the property is in, not the one you live in.
Generate your Illinois eviction notice.
Free, no account, and dated against IL rules. Create an account only when you want the tenant details reused next month and the copies kept.