Illinois Security Deposit Demand Letter
In Illinois, a landlord has 45 days after move-out to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions (as of 2026; source: 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act)). This letter cites that deadline, states the amount and your forwarding address, and gives the landlord a date to respond before you file. Free, no signup.
Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
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Illinois deposit rules at a glance
- Return deadline
- 45 days after move-out
- Deposit cap
- No statutory limit
As of 2026. Source: 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act) ↗. Want the exact due date? Use the deposit return calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Illinois landlord have to return the deposit?
45 days after you move out, as of 2026 (source: 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act)). Counted in calendar days; check the statute for whether the clock starts at move-out, lease end, or receipt of your forwarding address, and whether a weekend deadline rolls over. Use the deposit return calculator to get the exact date.
Is there a limit on how much deposit a Illinois landlord can charge?
Illinois sets no statutory cap on the security deposit (as of 2026; source: 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act)), so the amount is whatever the lease says. The return deadline still applies to the full amount.
How much can I sue for in Illinois if the landlord ignores this?
$10,000 exclusive of interest and costs (Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 281). Money claims only; no separate small claims court — it is a simplified procedure inside the Circuit Court. The court is the Small claims in the Circuit Court (simplified procedure under Supreme Court Rules 281-289), and the filing fee is Varies by county — set by county ordinance within Supreme Court fee schedules under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b; commonly ~$89 for the smallest claims up to ~$250-$330 for claims near $10,000 depending on county (Cook County runs higher). Check the circuit clerk's fee schedule for your county.. As of 2026; source: Ill. Sup. Ct. Rules 281-289; 705 ILCS 105/27.1b (fees).
Do I need a lawyer in Illinois small claims?
Attorneys are Allowed. Corporations appearing as plaintiff generally need counsel except as permitted by Rule 282(b).. Source: Ill. Sup. Ct. Rules 281-289; 705 ILCS 105/27.1b (fees) (as of 2026).
Deposit rules in every state, cited to statute: security deposit limits by state.
How Illinois compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Illinois: 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act) ↗.
- Deposit return deadline
Deposit return deadline: 45 days — above the national median of 30 days across the 51 states with a statutory rule.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 6 other states.
Deposit return deadline in neighboring states — Indiana (45 days), Iowa (30 days), Kentucky (30 days), Missouri (30 days), Wisconsin (21 days).
The rest of what Illinois requires
The figures below are Illinois's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full Illinois page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- No statutory limit 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act) ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 45 days after move-out 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act) ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act) ↗
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 5 days to pay or quit 735 ILCS 5/9-209; 5/9-210; 5/9-207 ↗
- Notice to cure a lease violation · as of 2026
- 10 days 735 ILCS 5/9-209; 5/9-210; 5/9-207 ↗
- Small claims limit · as of 2026
- $10,000 Ill. Sup. Ct. Rules 281-289; 705 ILCS 105/27.1b (fees) ↗
- Where you file · as of 2026
- Small claims in the Circuit Court (simplified procedure under Supreme Court Rules 281-289) · filing fee Varies by county — set by county ordinance within Supreme Court fee schedules under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b; commonly ~$89 for the smallest claims up to ~$250-$330 for claims near $10,000 depending on county (Cook County runs higher). Check the circuit clerk's fee schedule for your county. Ill. Sup. Ct. Rules 281-289; 705 ILCS 105/27.1b (fees) ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- Limited to the actual cost of screening Illinois General Assembly ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Illinois SoS / DMV.ORG ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization required · 1 witness 755 ILCS 45/3-3 ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules 805 ILCS 180/1-5 (definition); 805 ILCS 180/15-5 (operating agreement, scope) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- County Recorder of Deeds (in Cook County the Recorder of Deeds office was merged into the County Clerk in Dec. 2020) · no witnesses 765 ILCS 5/10; 765 ILCS 5/20 ↗
Security deposit demand letter in other states
More Illinois legal forms
Different state? See security deposit demand letters by state →