Illinois Notice to Pay Rent or Quit (5-Day)
Create a free Illinois notice to pay rent or quit. Illinois requires a 5-day notice to pay rent or quit. Fill in the details, preview it live, and download a PDF or email it.
Illinois requirement
Illinois requires a 5-day notice to pay rent or quit. 5 calendar days, counted from service of the written demand (735 ILCS 5/9-209). No statutory grace period — the count runs from service of the notice ('not less than 5 days after service thereof'), not the rent due date. The notice must state the exact rent due and prominently include the FULL-PAYMENT waiver language; courts have voided 5-day notices that overstated the amount or included non-rent charges. Cook County RTLO and Chicago RLTO also use a 5-day rent notice.
Tenant Name(s)
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⚠ Illinois requires a 5-day notice for a notice to pay rent or quit; the count runs from the date of SERVICE, and some states exclude weekends/holidays — verify before relying on a date. 5 calendar days, counted from service of the written demand (735 ILCS 5/9-209). No statutory grace period — the count runs from service of the notice ('not less than 5 days after service thereof'), not the rent due date. The notice must state the exact rent due and prominently include the FULL-PAYMENT waiver language; courts have voided 5-day notices that overstated the amount or included non-rent charges. Cook County RTLO and Chicago RLTO also use a 5-day rent notice.
Notice to Pay Rent or Quit (Illinois)
NOTICE TO PAY RENT OR QUIT
Date of Notice: ________________
From (Landlord/Agent): [LANDLORD/AGENT NAME], [LANDLORD ADDRESS]
To: [TENANT NAME(S)], Tenant(s) in possession of: [PROPERTY ADDRESS]
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that rent is now due and unpaid in the amount of $________. This amount is for unpaid RENT only and excludes late fees, utilities, and other charges unless your state and lease allow them.
You are required to PAY the full amount of rent due within 5 days after this notice is served on you, OR to vacate and surrender possession of the property. Payment must be made to [LANDLORD/AGENT NAME] at [LANDLORD ADDRESS], by cash, check, or money order. If you mail payment, it must be RECEIVED by the deadline.
If you do not comply with this notice within the time stated, the landlord may begin legal proceedings to recover possession of the property under 735 ILCS 5/9-201 et seq. (Code of Civil Procedure, Article IX — Eviction); key sections 9-209 (rent demand), 9-210 (lease default), 9-207 (month-to-month), 9-211 (service).
Only a court can order you to move out. The landlord may NOT lock you out, remove your belongings, or shut off your utilities; doing so is illegal.
This notice is given without waiving, and the landlord expressly reserves, all other rights and remedies, including the right to recover unpaid rent and damages.
How this notice may be served: Per 735 ILCS 5/9-211, notice may be served by: (1) delivering a written copy personally to the tenant; (2) leaving it with a person of the age of 13 years or older residing on or in possession of the premises; (3) sending it by certified or registered mail with a return receipt from the addressee; or (4) if no one is in actual possession, by posting it on the premises. The 5-day rent notice must demand only rent actually due — Illinois courts (especially Cook County/Chicago) have invalidated notices that bundle in late fees, utilities, or damages.
_______________________________________
[LANDLORD/AGENT NAME] — Landlord / Authorized Agent
[LANDLORD ADDRESS]
Date: ________________
PROOF OF SERVICE
I served this notice on the tenant(s) on ____________ (date).
Method of service (use a method permitted in your state — see the service note above):
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________ Date: ____________
Signature of person serving the notice
Email yourself a copy (PDF)
Self-help template, not legal advice. You cannot remove a tenant yourself — serve a proper notice and, if needed, file in court. Confirm Illinois and local rules first.
Illinois Notice to Pay Rent or Quit Rules
A Notice to Pay Rent or Quit is the first step a landlord takes when a tenant has not paid rent. It demands that the tenant pay the full amount owed within the state's required number of days or move out, before the landlord can file for eviction.
Illinois requires a 5-day notice to pay rent or quit. 5 calendar days, counted from service of the written demand (735 ILCS 5/9-209). No statutory grace period — the count runs from service of the notice ('not less than 5 days after service thereof'), not the rent due date. The notice must state the exact rent due and prominently include the FULL-PAYMENT waiver language; courts have voided 5-day notices that overstated the amount or included non-rent charges. Cook County RTLO and Chicago RLTO also use a 5-day rent notice. The notice is served under 735 ILCS 5/9-201 et seq. (Code of Civil Procedure, Article IX — Eviction); key sections 9-209 (rent demand), 9-210 (lease default), 9-207 (month-to-month), 9-211 (service).
How to Serve a Notice to Pay Rent or Quit in Illinois
Per 735 ILCS 5/9-211, notice may be served by: (1) delivering a written copy personally to the tenant; (2) leaving it with a person of the age of 13 years or older residing on or in possession of the premises; (3) sending it by certified or registered mail with a return receipt from the addressee; or (4) if no one is in actual possession, by posting it on the premises. The 5-day rent notice must demand only rent actually due — Illinois courts (especially Cook County/Chicago) have invalidated notices that bundle in late fees, utilities, or damages. A defective notice or improper service can get an eviction dismissed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days is a Illinois notice to pay rent or quit?
Illinois requires a 5-day notice to pay rent or quit. 5 calendar days, counted from service of the written demand (735 ILCS 5/9-209). No statutory grace period — the count runs from service of the notice ('not less than 5 days after service thereof'), not the rent due date. The notice must state the exact rent due and prominently include the FULL-PAYMENT waiver language; courts have voided 5-day notices that overstated the amount or included non-rent charges. Cook County RTLO and Chicago RLTO also use a 5-day rent notice.
What happens after I serve the notice?
If the tenant does not comply by the deadline, you can file an eviction case in Illinois court. Only a court order, enforced by a sheriff or constable, can remove the tenant.
Can I email or download the notice?
Yes — fill in the form above, then download the PDF or email a copy to yourself. Serve it on the tenant using a method Illinois allows.
Disclaimer
This Illinois notice to pay rent or quit generator is a self-help tool for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Confirm Illinois and local requirements before serving.