Not legal advice. Verify current state law. These are summaries of general statewide rules from the cited secondary sources, checked October 2026. Laws change, and cities and counties add their own rules. Confirm the current statute, or ask a local attorney, before you act.
| Rule | Illinois |
|---|---|
| Pay-or-quit (nonpayment) | 5 days to pay[1] |
| Cure-or-quit (lease violation) | 10 days to cure[2] |
| Month-to-month termination (landlord) | 30 days[3] |
| Security deposit limit | No statutory cap[4] |
| Deposit return deadline | 30 days with itemization (45 days if no itemization)[5] |
| Late-fee rule | No state statute (check local ordinances, e.g., Chicago)[6] |
| Wholesaling / assignment rule | Real estate license required if you market contract interests 2+ times in 12 months (225 ILCS 454/1-10)[7] |
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Sources
- Nolo, State Laws on Termination for Nonpayment of Rent (updated 2/05/2026): https://www.nolo.com/landlord-tenant/state-laws-termination-nonpayment-rent.html
- Nolo, State Laws on Termination for Violation of Lease (updated 2/05/2026): https://www.nolo.com/landlord-tenant/state-laws-termination-violation-lease.html
- Nolo, State Rules on Notice Required to Change or Terminate a Month-to-Month Tenancy (updated 1/15/2026): https://www.nolo.com/landlord-tenant/state-rules-on-notice-required-to-change-or-terminate-a-month-to-month-tenancy.html
- Nolo, State Security Deposit Limits (updated 8/21/2026): https://www.nolo.com/landlord-tenant/state-security-deposit-limits.html
- Nolo, State Deadlines for Returning Security Deposits (updated 1/16/2026): https://www.nolo.com/landlord-tenant/state-deadlines-for-returning-security-deposit.html
- Nolo, Late Rent Fees and Other State Rules on Paying Rent (updated 2/05/2026): https://www.nolo.com/landlord-tenant/late-rent-fees-and-other-state-rules-on-paying-rent.html
- FrontPorchOffers, Real Estate Wholesaling Laws by State (2026), checked 9/30/2026 (secondary; cites statutes): https://frontporchoffers.com/research/wholesaler-laws/