Illinois
Property Management Software for Illinois Landlords
Illinois has no rent control, but Chicago’s RLTO is one of the most complex landlord-tenant ordinances in the country — 9 required disclosures, strict late fee formulas, and security deposit penalties that catch landlords off guard. LeaseBase tracks it all.
Up to 3 units, no credit card. Growth from $79/mo.
Why Illinois Landlords Need a System
Illinois landlords face an unusual regulatory challenge. The state preempted rent control in 1997, which gives you freedom to set and increase rents at any level. But that freedom masks a much deeper compliance burden — particularly in Chicago, where the Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) imposes obligations that rival or exceed many rent control jurisdictions in complexity.
The RLTO requires nine separate disclosures attached to every lease. It mandates a specific late fee formula ($10 + 5% above $500) that most landlords get wrong. It requires annual interest payments on security deposits — and the penalty for missing even a few cents of interest is 2x the entire deposit plus attorney fees. The Fair Notice Ordinance requires 120 days’ notice for long-term tenants, catching landlords who default to a standard 30-day notice.
To make matters more complex, landlords with properties in both Chicago and suburban Cook County must comply with two different ordinances for buildings that may be only miles apart. And starting in 2026, two new statewide laws — the Safer Homes Act and the Junk Fee Ban — add additional requirements on top of existing local obligations. LeaseBase tracks all of these overlapping rules for every property in your portfolio.
Chicago Landlord Compliance Calculator
No rent control, but 9 required disclosures, strict late fee formulas, and security deposit rules with severe penalties. Use our free compliance tool to check what applies to your specific property.
Three Overlapping Ordinances
The rules that apply to your property depend entirely on where it sits. Chicago, Cook County, and Evanston each have separate ordinances with different requirements.
Chicago (RLTO)
- 9 required lease disclosures
- Late fee: $10 + 5% above $500
- Security deposit interest: 0.01%
- Fair Notice: 30/60/120 days tiered
- Lockout penalty: $500/day
Cook County (RTLO)
- Separate from Chicago RLTO
- Late fee: $10 + 5% above $500
- Security deposit interest required
- 30-day notice for non-renewal
- 2x deposit penalty for violations
Evanston (ERLTO)
- Own ordinance, separate from both
- Late fee: $10 + 5% above $500
- Security deposit interest required
- 60-day notice for non-renewal
- 2x deposit penalty for violations
Rest of Illinois
- State law only
- No rent control (preempted since 1997)
- Safer Homes Act (2026) applies statewide
- Junk Fee Ban (Jul 2026) applies statewide
- Standard 30-day notice
Illinois Landlord Compliance — Key Facts
Illinois Compliance Guides
The RLTO is dense, and the penalties for non-compliance are severe. These guides break down every rule that affects your Illinois rentals.
9 Required Lease Documents
Every disclosure Chicago landlords must attach to every lease in 2026.
Read the guide →Chicago Late Fee Calculator
The $10 + 5% formula most landlords get wrong, with worked examples.
Calculate your max fee →Security Deposit Interest
The 0.01% rate and the 2x penalty for non-compliance that catches landlords off guard.
Understand the rules →Chicago vs Cook County vs Evanston
Three overlapping ordinances explained side-by-side with comparison tables.
Compare the rules →Fair Notice Ordinance
30, 60, or 120 days? It depends on how long your tenant has lived there.
Know the deadlines →Safer Homes Act 2026
The new first-page lease requirement every Illinois landlord needs to know about.
Read the guide →Junk Fee Ban (Jul 2026)
What landlords can and cannot charge under the new statewide fee disclosure law.
Understand the rules →Midwest Compliance Tools
Rent control and compliance tools for landlords across the Midwest.
Chicago compliance is complex. Your software shouldn’t be.
LeaseBase tracks RLTO disclosures, late fee formulas, security deposit interest deadlines, and Fair Notice requirements automatically for every property in your portfolio.
Up to 3 units, no credit card. Growth from $79/mo.