Illinois Notice to Vacate: Notice Periods and Rules

In Illinois, no statute sets how much notice a tenant gives on a month-to-month tenancy, so one rental period is the safe choice, and landlords give at least 30 days. For unpaid rent, the notice period is 5 days. The details, exceptions and statute citations are below.

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Illinois notice periods at a glance

Tenant ending a month-to-month tenancyNo statute sets a period; one rental period (usually 30 days) is the common practice
Landlord ending a month-to-month tenancy30 days
735 ILCS 5/9-207(b)
Longer tenancies and special casesYear-to-year tenancies need 60 days' written notice before the end of the year (735 ILCS 5/9-205). In Chicago, the landlord must give 30 days' notice if the tenant has been there under 6 months, 60 days for 6 months to 3 years, and 120 days for 3+ years, both to end a periodic tenancy and to not renew a lease (Chicago Mun. Code § 5-12-130(j)). Suburban Cook County RTLO: 60 days for any tenancy. After a foreclosure sale, the new owner must give 90 days (735 ILCS 5/9-207.5).
Notice for unpaid rent5 days
735 ILCS 5/9-209
End of a fixed-term leaseUnder state law no notice is needed to end a lease at its stated end date. In Chicago (30/60/120 days) and suburban Cook County (60 days), however, a landlord must give written notice of non-renewal.
How notice can be deliveredHand delivery to the tenant; leaving it with a person aged 13 or older who lives at or is in possession of the premises; certified or registered mail with return receipt; or posting on the premises if no one is in possession (735 ILCS 5/9-211).

The Illinois statute sets only the landlord's notice. By custom and lease practice tenants give 30 days' written notice ending on the last day of a rental period. The 5-day demand must contain the statutory "Only FULL PAYMENT..." language, or the landlord's acceptance of partial payment waives the notice. In Chicago, a landlord who gives short notice lets the tenant stay up to 60 or 120 days after the notice. Evanston, Oak Park and Mount Prospect have their own ordinances.

What a Illinois notice to vacate should include

  • The names of every tenant on the lease and the full address, including unit number
  • The date you are giving the notice and the date the tenancy ends
  • A move-out date that gives at least the minimum notice above, counted from the day the notice is delivered
  • For unpaid rent: the exact amount owed and how to pay it
  • Your name, signature and contact details
  • A record of how and when you delivered it (keep a copy)

Many month-to-month notices must also end on the last day of a rental period, so if rent is due on the 1st, the safest move-out date is the end of a month. Giving more notice than the minimum is fine; giving less usually makes the notice invalid.

Illinois notice to vacate FAQ

How much notice does a tenant have to give in Illinois?

Illinois has no statute that sets the tenant's notice for a month-to-month tenancy. Giving one full rental period in writing (usually 30 days, ending on the day before rent is due) is the common, safe practice, unless your lease says otherwise.

How much notice does a landlord have to give in Illinois?

To end a month-to-month tenancy without a specific reason, at least 30 days (735 ILCS 5/9-207(b)). Year-to-year tenancies need 60 days' written notice before the end of the year (735 ILCS 5/9-205). In Chicago, the landlord must give 30 days' notice if the tenant has been there under 6 months, 60 days for 6 months to 3 years, and 120 days for 3+ years, both to end a periodic tenancy and to not renew a lease (Chicago Mun. Code § 5-12-130(j)). Suburban Cook County RTLO: 60 days for any tenancy. After a foreclosure sale, the new owner must give 90 days (735 ILCS 5/9-207.5).

What is the notice period for unpaid rent in Illinois?

The tenant gets 5 days to pay or move out (735 ILCS 5/9-209). If the tenant does neither, the landlord can file an eviction case; only a court can order the tenant out.

How do you deliver a notice to vacate in Illinois?

Hand delivery to the tenant; leaving it with a person aged 13 or older who lives at or is in possession of the premises; certified or registered mail with return receipt; or posting on the premises if no one is in possession (735 ILCS 5/9-211).

Do I need to give notice at the end of a fixed-term lease in Illinois?

Under state law no notice is needed to end a lease at its stated end date. In Chicago (30/60/120 days) and suburban Cook County (60 days), however, a landlord must give written notice of non-renewal.

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Sources

Checked October 2026. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules. This page is general information, not legal advice.

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