Move-in fees in Illinois from 2027
The final version of HB 3564 does not cap or ban move-in fees. Earlier drafts proposed both, but that language was removed before passage. What changed is disclosure.
Updated November 1, 2026 · Based on Public Act 104-0479
What the law requires
A move-in fee that every tenant must pay is a non-optional, one-time fee. For leases signed on or after January 1, 2027, it must be explicitly on the first page of the lease. If it is missing there, the tenant is not liable for it. It must also be disclosed in the listing, or in a weblink that comes with the listing, whenever the listing shows the rent.
Move-in fee or security deposit?
In Chicago, many landlords use a non-refundable move-in fee instead of a security deposit, because deposits carry the RLTO's handling, interest and return rules. HB 3564 does not change that choice. Whichever you charge, state on page one whether it is refundable.
Watch the label
A move-in fee must not cover something the law bans, such as a move-in walkthrough or a second screening charge. The law bars renaming a banned fee to get around it, so a move-in fee that is really a walkthrough fee is still a walkthrough fee.
How to disclose it
| Where | Example wording |
|---|---|
| Lease page one | Move-in fee: $400, one-time, non-refundable, due before move-in. |
| Listing | Rent $1,650/month. Required fees: move-in fee $400 (non-refundable). Full fee disclosure: [your fee page link] |
Calculate the total move-in cost
Make your disclosure in about two minutes. Add the move-in fee once and it appears on your public fee page, in your listing text and on the printable page-one table.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a cap on move-in fees in Illinois?
Not in the state law. The enacted HB 3564 does not cap move-in fees. It requires them to be on page one of the lease and in the listing.
Is a move-in fee refundable?
A move-in fee is usually non-refundable, which is what separates it from a security deposit. Say so on page one.
Do I owe a move-in fee that was not on page one of my lease?
For a covered lease signed on or after January 1, 2027, a tenant is not liable for a required fee missing from the first page.
Related
Not legal advice. Confirm your lease with an Illinois attorney.