Can an Illinois landlord charge a rent payment processing fee?
For Illinois residential leases signed on or after January 1, 2027 (765 ILCS 705/35).
Last reviewed November 1, 2026 against Public Act 104-0479 and the sources below · How we check facts
Only as an optional choice
A landlord cannot require online payment, and for leases from January 1, 2025, tenants must be able to pay by check or cash without a transaction fee. A card or online fee can apply only when the tenant chooses that method.
What the law says
Only as an optional charge for a payment method the tenant chooses. A landlord cannot require electronic payment, and for leases from January 1, 2025, tenants must be able to pay by check or cash without a transaction fee (Public Act 103-0809). Disclose it with the optional fees.
How to disclose it on page one
Example wording for the first page of the lease:
Paying rent by credit card online (optional): 2.9% processing fee charged by the payment company. Paying by check or cash has no fee.
Use the same wording in the listing, or link a free fee disclosure page that shows it.
Other Illinois fees
After-hours maintenance fee · Amenity fee · Application fee · Eviction notice fee · Fee for contacting the manager · Key replacement fee · Late fee · Lease admin fee · Lease renewal fee · Lockout fee · Maintenance hotline fee · Maintenance trip charge · Move-in fee · Move-in or move-out inspection fee · Parking fee · Pest control fee · Pet deposit · Pet fee · Pet rent · Resident benefit package · Returned payment (NSF) fee · Routine maintenance fee · Security deposit · Storage fee · Technology or internet fee · Trash or valet trash fee · Utility bill-back
For renters
If a rent payment processing fee is required but missing from page one of a lease signed from January 1, 2027, you are not liable for it. Renter rights.
Make your disclosure in about two minutes. Put every required fee on one page with a link you can paste into any listing, plus a print-ready block for page one of your lease.
Frequently asked questions
Can an Illinois landlord charge a rent payment processing fee?
Only as an optional choice. Only as an optional charge for a payment method the tenant chooses. A landlord cannot require electronic payment, and for leases from January 1, 2025, tenants must be able to pay by check or cash without a transaction fee (Public Act 103-0809). Disclose it with the optional fees.
Does a rent payment processing fee have to be on the first page of the lease?
If every tenant (or every tenant in that situation) must pay it, yes. Non-optional fees must be explicitly listed on page one, or the tenant is not liable for them.
Related
Not legal advice. Confirm your lease with an Illinois attorney.