For renters: your fee rights from 2027
If your Illinois lease was signed on or after January 1, 2027, every required fee must be on its first page. A required fee missing from page one is one you are not liable for.
Updated November 1, 2026 · Based on Public Act 104-0479
Check your lease in three steps
- Find the signing date. The rules apply to leases and renewals entered into from January 1, 2027.
- Read page one. Compare every charge on your ledger with the fees listed there.
- Check banned fees. Renewal fees, roommate change fees, after-hours or hotline fees, walkthrough fees, no-fault pest fees and eviction notice fees are not allowed at all. Application fees over $50 are limited. Check a fee
What you can do
- Ask the landlord in writing to remove the charge, citing 765 ILCS 705/35.
- Keep copies of the listing, the lease and receipts. A fee page link in the listing shows what was disclosed when.
- The law lets tenants sue for injunctive relief, damages, attorney's fees and costs. Contact a tenant attorney or a legal aid group such as Illinois Legal Aid Online for advice.
Exceptions: units in owner-occupied buildings with six units or fewer are exempt from these rules, and leases signed before 2027 are not covered.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay a fee that is not on the first page of my lease?
For a covered lease signed on or after January 1, 2027, you are not liable for a non-optional fee that is not on the first page.
Can my landlord charge me to renew?
No. Fees or fines for renewing or modifying a lease are banned for renewals signed from January 1, 2027.
How much can an Illinois application fee be?
$50, including background checks, unless a third-party check costs more and the landlord bills it within 14 days with receipts.
Related
Sources: Illinois General Assembly: Public Act 104-0479 (HB 3564) · KSN Law: New rental fee transparency law takes effect January 1, 2027
Not legal advice. Confirm your lease with an Illinois attorney.
Not legal advice. Confirm your lease with an Illinois attorney.