Illinois Rent Increase Laws: Rules, Limits, and Notices

Operating under the legal framework established since Illinois gained statehood on December 3, 1818, and the subsequent Rent Control Preemption Act (50 ILCS 825/), property owners have immense leeway when adjusting rent prices. Understanding the notice periods is the key to legally executing rent increases.

Official Law Citation: The rules and regulations outlined on this page are governed by the Illinois Compiled StatutesPreview unavailable, the Cook County Residential Tenant and Landlord Ordinance (CCRTLO), and local Fair Notice Ordinances.

No State or Local Rent Control

Under the Rent Control Preemption Act (50 ILCS 825/), the state of Illinois explicitly bans local municipalities from enacting rent control measures.

This means that whether a property is located in rural Illinois, downtown Chicago, or suburban Cook County, there is no statutory limit on how much a landlord can increase the rent.

Required Notice Periods

While there is no maximum rent cap, a landlord cannot simply hike the rent at a moment's notice. The rules dictate when a landlord can increase rent based on the lease structure and the property's location.

Fixed-Term and Year-to-Year Leases

For a tenant on a standard fixed-term lease (e.g., a one-year lease), the rent cannot be increased during the term. Rent increases can only occur at the time of lease renewal.

For a Year-to-Year Tenancy, Illinois law (735 ILCS 5/9-205) statutorily requires at least 60 days' written notice to terminate the existing tenancy or alter the terms (including rent increases) at the end of the year.

Month-to-Month Tenancy

For a month-to-month tenant, a landlord must provide at least 30 days' written notice before raising the rent under 735 ILCS 5/9-207(b).

• The notice must generally terminate the tenancy at the end of a rental period. For instance, notice given on May 15th for an increase would not take effect until July 1st.

Week-to-Week Tenancy

If renting on a week-to-week basis, the landlord must provide 7 days' written notice pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/9-207(a).

City of Chicago (Fair Notice Ordinance)

If the property is located within the city limits of Chicago, the Fair Notice Ordinance (MCC 5-12-130(j)) significantly extends the timeline requirements for raising the rent.

If a Chicago landlord intends to raise the rent, the notice period scales with the tenant's history at the property:

• Tenancy of less than 6 months: 30 days notice
• Tenancy of 6 months to 3 years: 60 days notice
• Tenancy of more than 3 years: 120 days notice

Suburban Cook County (CCRTLO)

Under the Cook County Residential Tenant and Landlord Ordinance (§ 42-810), which applies to most suburban units (excluding Chicago and certain exempt municipalities like Evanston or Oak Park), landlords must provide extended notice for rent increases:

• Tenancy of less than 3 years: 60 days notice
• Tenancy of more than 3 years: 120 days notice

Retaliation and Discrimination

Even without rent control, it is fundamentally illegal to raise rent based on discriminatory reasons under the Fair Housing Act.

Additionally, effective January 1, 2025, the Landlord Retaliation Act (765 ILCS 721/) prohibits landlords from increasing rent in retaliation for a tenant's good-faith actions, such as:

• Reporting code violations to government agencies.
• Requesting necessary repairs.
• Joining or organizing a tenant union.

Under 765 ILCS 721/5, violations may entitle the tenant to damages equal to the greater of two months' rent or twice the actual damages, plus attorney's fees.

Best Practices

• Communicate early: Sending a rent increase notice well beyond the minimum requirements preserves a positive landlord-tenant relationship.
• Explain the rationale: While not required, briefly explaining that a rent increase is tied to rising operational costs, property taxes, or insurance can reduce friction.

How Landager Helps

Landager tracks lease terms, required compliance items, and accounting records - making it easy to stay compliant with Illinois regulations.

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