Housing & Tenant · Eviction Notice
Eviction Notice in Illinois
How many days of written notice a landlord must give before filing an eviction in Illinois, broken down by reason, and what you can do about it, cited to the statute.
Every notice period in Illinois
The written notice for each reason a landlord can end a tenancy, and what each one means.
| Reason for the notice | Notice in Illinois | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Nonpayment of rent | Can fix and stay5 days | A 5-day written notice to pay before an eviction for unpaid rent (735 ILCS 5/9-209). Pay the full amount demanded within the 5 days and the landlord cannot proceed on that notice. |
| Lease violation (not rent) | 10 days | A 10-day notice to terminate for a non-rent lease breach (735 ILCS 5/9-210). Unlike the rent notice, the statute does not guarantee a right to cure, though the landlord may allow it. |
| No-cause end of a month-to-month tenancy | 30 days | A 30-day written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy (735 ILCS 5/9-207). A week-to-week tenancy needs 7 days. |
| No-cause end of a year-to-year tenancy | 60 days | A 60-day notice to end a year-to-year tenancy (735 ILCS 5/9-205). |
| End of a fixed-term lease | None by statute | No state notice is required to decline renewal at the end of a fixed term, but Chicago and Cook County ordinances require their own notice based on how long the tenant has lived there. |
| Local ordinance | Varies | The Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance and the Cook County Residential Tenant and Landlord Ordinance add their own fair-notice periods for non-renewal, tiered by length of tenancy (for example 30, 60, or 120 days), separate from the state Eviction Act. Chicago and suburban Cook County tenants should check those ordinances. |
| After the notice | Court | After the notice period, the landlord files an eviction action under the Forcible Entry and Detainer / Eviction Act. The tenant is served with a summons and can appear to contest. Only a court order carried out by the sheriff can remove a tenant. |
| Statute | 735 ILCS 5/9-209, 5/9-210, 5/9-207, 5/9-205 | The controlling statute for these notice periods. Read the full text through the source link below. |
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps if you have received an eviction notice in Illinois. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Identify the notice and count the days
Check whether you got a 5-day (unpaid rent), 10-day (lease violation), or 30/60-day (ending the tenancy) notice. For unpaid rent, the 5 days start when the notice is delivered.
- Pay within the 5 days if it is a rent notice
For a 5-day rent notice, paying the full amount demanded within the 5 days stops that notice and keeps your tenancy. Keep proof of payment. If the landlord refuses full payment, save that record too.
- Check for a Chicago or Cook County rule
If your home is in Chicago or suburban Cook County, a local ordinance may give you more notice than the state Eviction Act, especially for a non-renewal. Look up the Chicago RLTO or the Cook County ordinance for the exact period.
- Answer the case and get help
If the landlord files, you are served with a summons and should appear on the court date. Illinois Legal Aid Online explains each notice and case step and can connect you with free help before your hearing.
If you have received a notice, you can still act. This resource explains your rights and the deadlines, and points you to local help.
→ Illinois Legal Aid Online (Eviction)This is general legal information, not legal advice. Read your own lease and check for a local ordinance, since either can change the notice that applies to your home.
What Illinois renters get wrong
Illinois ties the eviction notice to the reason and the type of tenancy, and the periods are short at the low end. Unpaid rent gets a 5-day notice under 735 ILCS 5/9-209, and paying the full amount demanded within those 5 days keeps your home. A non-rent lease violation gets a 10-day notice under 5/9-210, and unlike the rent notice the statute does not guarantee a chance to cure. Ending a tenancy for no reason depends on its length: 30 days for a month-to-month tenancy under 5/9-207 (7 days for week-to-week), and 60 days for a year-to-year tenancy under 5/9-205. A fixed-term lease needs no state notice to end at its date, but this is where local law matters most: Chicago and Cook County each require their own fair-notice periods for non-renewal, tiered by how long you have lived there, which can be far longer than the state default. After the notice runs, the landlord files under the Eviction Act, and only a court order carried out by the sheriff can remove you.
Common questions
How many days notice does a landlord give before eviction in Illinois?
It depends on the reason. Unpaid rent gets a 5-day notice (735 ILCS 5/9-209). A non-rent lease violation gets a 10-day notice (5/9-210). Ending a month-to-month tenancy for no cause takes 30 days (5/9-207), and a year-to-year tenancy takes 60 days (5/9-205). Chicago and Cook County set longer notices for non-renewal.
What is the 5-day notice in Illinois?
For unpaid rent, the landlord must give a written 5-day notice before starting an eviction (735 ILCS 5/9-209). If you pay the full amount demanded within the 5 days, the landlord cannot proceed on that notice and your tenancy continues. Keep proof of payment.
How much notice to end a month-to-month tenancy in Illinois?
A 30-day written notice ends a month-to-month tenancy under 735 ILCS 5/9-207, and a week-to-week tenancy needs 7 days. In Chicago and suburban Cook County, a local ordinance can require a longer fair-notice period based on how long you have lived there.
Do Chicago tenants have different eviction notice rules?
Yes. The Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance and the Cook County ordinance add their own notice periods, especially for declining to renew, tiered by length of tenancy (for example 30, 60, or 120 days). These are separate from and often longer than the state Eviction Act, so Chicago-area tenants should check the local rule.
Can an Illinois landlord evict without going to court?
No. After the notice period, the landlord must file an eviction action under the Forcible Entry and Detainer / Eviction Act and win a judgment. You are served with a summons and can appear to contest it. Only a court order carried out by the sheriff can remove you; a landlord cannot change the locks or shut off utilities to force you out.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.