Illinois rent late fee law & calculator
No Illinois statute caps residential late fees — the lease and the reasonableness standard govern. See the rules below before setting yours.
Late fee due
$75.00
Paid 9 days late; grace ends 5 days after due
A late fee is only collectible if your lease authorizes it. General information, not legal advice.
The Illinois late-fee rules
- Maximum fee: No statewide cap — Chicago, Cook County & Evanston cap it locally
- Grace period: None statewide — local rules differ
- Statewide, Illinois sets no cap — the fee must be reasonable and in the lease
- Chicago (RLTO §5-12-140): max $10 on the first $500 of monthly rent plus 5% of the rent above $500
- Suburban Cook County (RTLO, 2021): max $10 on the first $1,000 plus 5% of the rent above $1,000
- Evanston: max $25 on the first $1,600 plus 5% above $1,600
Rules as of August 2026. Statutes change — verify with the current text before relying on a number, and check city and county ordinances, which can be stricter. This is general information, not legal advice; consult a Illinois attorney for your situation.
Not in Illinois? Every state's late-fee rules → Also for Illinois landlords: the security-deposit return deadline →
Frequently asked questions
What late fee can a Chicago landlord charge?
Under the Chicago RLTO, at most $10 per month on the first $500 of monthly rent plus 5% of any rent above $500 — so $1,500 rent caps the fee at $60. Suburban Cook County and Evanston use the same shape with different breakpoints. Outside those ordinances, Illinois has no statewide cap, but the fee must be reasonable and in the lease.
Late fees that apply themselves
Set the rule once — LetsGoLandlord applies fees on schedule, on their own ledger line. Free for 14 days.