Rental fees Illinois landlords can no longer charge
Section 35 of the Landlord and Tenant Act lists fees that are prohibited on covered leases. Putting them on page one does not save them. Here is each one, with what it means in practice.
Updated November 1, 2026 · Based on Public Act 104-0479
| Fee | Status | What the law says |
|---|---|---|
| Application / screening fee | Limited | Capped at $50 including background checks. More is allowed only for a third-party background check that costs more than $50, paid by you upfront and billed to the applicant within 14 days with the receipts. |
| Lease renewal or modification fee | Banned | Banned. No fee or fine for renewing or modifying a lease, including adding or removing a roommate. |
| After-hours maintenance request fee | Banned | Banned. No fee or fine for an after-hours maintenance request. |
| Maintenance hotline or service-call fee | Banned | Banned. No fee for a maintenance hotline or for calling one. |
| Fee for contacting the owner or manager | Banned | Banned. No fee for contacting the owner or manager about maintenance, service requests, lease questions or other tenancy matters. |
| Maintenance travel / trip charge | Banned | Banned. No fee for travel needed to complete maintenance or safety repairs. |
| Routine maintenance or upkeep fee | Banned | Banned. No fee for routine maintenance and upkeep of the unit. |
| Pest control / abatement fee | Limited | Banned when the tenant did not contribute to the infestation, so a blanket monthly pest fee is not allowed. |
| Move-in or move-out walkthrough fee | Banned | Banned. No fee for an in-person walkthrough at move-in or move-out. |
| Eviction notice or filing fee | Banned | Banned before a court grants an eviction order. Court costs and filing fees can still be recovered through the court. |
| Lockout fee (flat) | Banned | Likely banned: it is a fee for contacting the manager for a tenancy service, and after hours it is also an after-hours request fee. |
What each ban means in practice
Renewal and modification fees
No fee or fine for renewing a lease or changing it. That covers lease-change fees, add-a-roommate fees, remove-a-tenant fees and roommate swap fees. The ban applies to any renewal signed after January 1, 2027, even if the original lease is older.
Maintenance-related fees
No fee for an after-hours maintenance request, for calling a maintenance hotline, for contacting the owner or manager about the tenancy, for the travel needed to complete repairs, or for routine maintenance and upkeep. If a tenant damaged something, billing back the actual repair cost through your normal damage process is a different thing from charging a fee for the request.
Pest abatement
No pest abatement or removal fee when the tenant did not contribute to the infestation. A flat monthly pest fee charged to everyone does not fit that rule.
Walkthroughs
No fee for an in-person walkthrough at move-in or move-out.
Eviction notices and filings
No fee or fine for an eviction notice or for filing an eviction case before a court grants an eviction order. Court costs and filing fees can still be recovered through the court.
Application extras
No application fee above $50, background check included, unless the third-party check itself costs more. No second fee that duplicates screening costs or covers costs unrelated to screening. Details on the cap.
Lockout fees
The statute does not name lockouts, but a flat fee to let a tenant in is a fee for contacting the manager for a tenancy service, and after hours it is an after-hours request fee. Billing back an actual locksmith or rekey cost is the safer structure.
Renaming does not work. The law bars renaming a fee to avoid Section 35. A "resident support fee" that pays for the maintenance line is still a hotline fee.
Check your own fee list
Use the fee checker for a single fee, or build your fee page, which flags banned fees as you type.
Frequently asked questions
Can I charge a lease renewal fee in Illinois?
Not on a renewal signed on or after January 1, 2027. Fees or fines for renewing or modifying a lease are banned under 765 ILCS 705/35.
Can I charge for a move-out inspection?
No. A fee for an in-person walkthrough at move-in or move-out is banned. Deductions for actual damage still follow the normal security deposit rules.
Can a tenant be charged for a 5-day notice?
No. Fees or fines for an eviction notice, or for filing an eviction before an order is granted, are banned.
Are resident benefit packages banned?
Not by name. They must be disclosed like any required fee, and no part of the bundle may work as a banned fee.
Related
Not legal advice. Confirm your lease with an Illinois attorney.