Chicago Residential Lease Agreement
Generate a residential lease agreement that complies with Chicago's local ordinances — including rent control rules, just-cause eviction requirements, and mandatory disclosures that go beyond Illinois state law.
Chicago Residential Lease Agreement
Chicago, Illinois
Local Ordinances
Chicago Lease Requirements
What Chicago's local ordinances require that Illinois state law does not.
Landlords of buildings with six or more residential units (excluding owner-occupied buildings with six or fewer units) must attach a current City of Chicago summary of the Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO, Chicago Municipal Code §5-12) to every written lease at the time of execution.
Security deposits must be held in a federally insured interest-bearing account at a Chicago financial institution, and the landlord must pay interest on the deposit at the rate announced annually by the City Comptroller (currently tied to the JPMorgan Chase one-year certificate of deposit rate).
Within 30 days of receiving a security deposit, the landlord must provide the tenant with a written receipt stating the name and address of the financial institution, the account number, and the current interest rate, per RLTO §5-12-080.
Landlords must maintain heating systems capable of providing heat of at least 68°F during the day (8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.) and 66°F at night from October 1 through May 31, per RLTO §5-12-110 and Chicago Municipal Code §13-196-700.
Any lease renewal or modification must be offered in writing no later than the number of days before lease expiration equal to the required notice period for that tenancy length; for month-to-month tenancies, 30 days' written notice is required for any material change.
Restrictions & Limits
If a landlord fails to return a security deposit (or provide a written itemized statement of deductions) within 30 days of the tenant vacating, the landlord is liable for twice the amount of the deposit plus attorney's fees and court costs, per RLTO §5-12-080(f).
Landlords may not retaliate against a tenant who complains to a government authority, requests repairs, or exercises any RLTO right by increasing rent, decreasing services, or initiating eviction within one year of the tenant's protected activity, per RLTO §5-12-150.
Before filing an eviction for habitability-related non-payment, a landlord must provide a 14-day written notice specifying the material non-compliance and giving the tenant a reasonable opportunity to cure; if the condition is remedied, the notice is void and eviction may not proceed on that basis (RLTO §5-12-130).
Landlords may not include lease terms that waive any right granted under the RLTO; any lease provision purporting to limit the landlord's RLTO obligations, waive the tenant's right to a jury trial, or require tenants to pay landlord's attorney's fees regardless of outcome is void and unenforceable under RLTO §5-12-140.
Landlords may not charge application fees that exceed the actual costs of processing the application, including the cost of a credit and background check; any excess collected must be refunded if the applicant is not accepted.
Notice Requirements
Chicago RLTO landlords must give tenants at least 30 days' written notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy, must provide a 10-day notice to pay rent or quit for non-payment, and must give 14 days to cure any lease violation before filing for eviction for non-rent-related breaches.
FAQ
Chicago Lease FAQ
Common questions about renting in Chicago.
Does the Chicago RLTO apply to my apartment?
The RLTO applies to most residential rental units in Chicago except owner-occupied buildings with six or fewer units, units in hotels or motels, units in employee housing as a condition of employment, and units in buildings covered by the Chicago Housing Authority. If your landlord lives in the building and the building has six or fewer units total, you are likely not covered. You can contact the Metropolitan Tenants Organization (MTO) or Chicago's Department of Housing for a coverage determination.
How much interest does my landlord owe on my security deposit?
Under RLTO §5-12-080, landlords must pay interest on security deposits at the rate set annually by the City Comptroller; the rate is based on the JPMorgan Chase one-year certificate of deposit rate and is typically updated each January. The interest is due annually (not at move-out) and must be paid to you within 30 days after each 12-month period. If your landlord fails to pay interest, you may deduct it from your rent after giving written notice, or sue for $100 plus court costs.
What remedies do I have if my landlord fails to make repairs?
Under RLTO §5-12-110, if your landlord fails to make repairs within a reasonable time after written notice, you may repair and deduct (up to $500 or one month's rent, whichever is less), withhold a proportional share of rent, or terminate the lease if the condition materially endangers health or safety. For serious habitability failures (no heat, water, or electricity), you can terminate immediately with written notice and sue for two months' rent or twice actual damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees.
Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities to force me out?
No — under RLTO §5-12-160, a landlord who unlawfully removes a tenant's possessions, locks out a tenant without a court order, or willfully interrupts essential services (heat, water, electricity, gas) is liable for two months' rent or twice the tenant's actual damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees and court costs. These self-help eviction tactics are illegal in Chicago regardless of the reason for the eviction, and a tenant may immediately seek a court order for re-entry.
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