How long does an eviction take in Illinois?
For unpaid rent, expect about 6 weeks from the first notice to the lockout, and anywhere from 3.5 to 14.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Not legal advice. Estimates from public sources, checked Oct 17, 2026. Laws vary by county and city; talk to a local attorney before you act.
What would a rental in Illinois actually earn?
We'll prefill Illinois's numbers and include the eviction cost from this page.
- Median rent $1,322/mo
- Property tax 1.92%–1.93%
- Insurance $888–$1,313/yr
- Vacancy 4.1%–4.2%
The Illinois eviction timeline
Each step comes from Illinois's rules, with the source linked. The typical case adds up to about 6 weeks; a contested hearing adds about 3 more. Timeline model.
- 1
Notice to pay or leave
5 days5 days to pay or move (735 ILCS 5/9-209)
- 2
File and get a judgment
14–60 days · typical 28Summons must be served at least 7 days before the court date; tenant appears on that date
- 3
Judgment to lockout
5–14 days (national default)Tenant must leave by the date in the eviction order; the sheriff enforces it
- 4
If the tenant appeals
30-day window30 days to file a notice of appeal; the eviction is stayed only with a court-approved bond (Ill. S. Ct. Rule 305)
Can the tenant pay and stay? Can pay in full during the notice period. official source Source ↗
Evicting in Chicago? City rules add to the state rules. Chicago eviction timeline, fees and protections →
What an eviction costs in Illinois
Court fees come from the fee schedules we found; most are set by county, so each one says where it applies. The calculator above adds them to your lost rent.
Court filing fee
Cook County$287–$388Cook County Circuit Court: eviction for possession only $287; joint action (possession + rent) $379-$388 depending on the amount claimed
Serving the tenant
Cook County$60–$95Cook County Sheriff service: $60 e-filed, $95 in person
Sheriff or marshal lockout
Cook County$65–$95Cook County Sheriff eviction filing: $65 e-filed, $95 in person
Lawyer, uncontested case
National estimate$500–$1,500Flat fees commonly charged when the tenant doesn't fight it. Not specific to this state; big-city rates run higher.
Lawyer, contested case
National estimate$2,000–$5,000+When the tenant contests the case. Not specific to this state.
Median gross rent
Census ACS 2024, 1-year$1,322/moIllinois median gross rent, ±$12. The calculator starts here; change it to your rent.
Statewide rules that can slow things down
Statewide rent control: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Statewide just-cause rules: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Right to counsel for tenants: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Seasonal or weather limits: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Required mediation or pre-filing program: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Illinois scores 77 out of 100
Faster timelines, fewer chances to pay-and-stay and fewer statewide tenant protections score higher.
Illinois eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Illinois?
A nonpayment eviction in Illinois typically takes about 6 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 3.5 to 14.5 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an LandlordCost estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked Oct 17, 2026.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Illinois?
5 days to pay or move (735 ILCS 5/9-209).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Illinois by paying the rent?
Can pay in full during the notice period.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Illinois?
The filing fee we found is $287-$388 (Cook County). That is a local example, not a statewide fee, and other courts charge different amounts. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Illinois?
A typical uncontested nonpayment eviction in Illinois costs a landlord roughly $2,700 to $3,900: about 6 weeks of lost rent at the median rent of $1,322/month (about $1,800), court and service fees of about $412-$578, and lawyer fees of about $500-$1,500 (a national estimate). A contested case running about 14.5 weeks can pass $7,000. These are LandlordCost estimates (Census ACS 2024 rent); they leave out rent owed before the notice, turnover and re-rent time.
Is Illinois landlord-friendly for evictions?
Illinois scores 77 out of 100 on the LandlordCost landlord-friendliness score (timeline 33.3/50, right to cure 14/20, statewide tenant protections 30/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
Not yet verified for Illinois: post judgment days. Fields we couldn't source are labeled unverified, never guessed. Download the data: states.json · states.csv.
- Notice periodofficial sourceilga.gov ↗
- Notice period (backup)secondary sourcenolo.com ↗
- Court deadlinesofficial sourceilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net ↗
- Judgment to lockoutofficial sourcecookcountycourtil.gov ↗
- Appealofficial sourceillinoiscourts.gov ↗
- Filing feeofficial sourceservices.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org ↗
- Service feeofficial sourcecookcountysheriffil.gov ↗
- Lockout feeofficial sourcecookcountysheriffil.gov ↗
- Right to cureofficial sourceilga.gov ↗
- Median rentofficial sourcewww2.census.gov ↗
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