What are the steps to evict a tenant for unpaid rent in Illinois?

In Illinois, an eviction for unpaid rent runs through 6 steps, each set by the statute or court rule beside it: (1) Serve a 5-day notice for nonpayment of rent — 735 ILCS 5/9-209; (2) File a complaint for possession — 735 ILCS 5/9-106; (3) Summons served at least three days before the appearance date — 735 ILCS 5/9-107; (4) The appearance date — 735 ILCS 5/9-106; (5) Order for possession, with a stay — 735 ILCS 5/9-110; (6) The sheriff executes the order — 735 ILCS 5/9-117. A five-day notice for nonpayment must state the amount due, and payment of that amount in full within the five days ends it as a matter of law. Chicago adds requirements of its own. The procedure as a whole is set by 735 ILCS 5/9-104, 9-209, 9-106, 9-117; Chicago RLTO § 5-12-130.

WhatIllinois
CourtCircuit Court for the county where the property is.
Steps with a citation6
Cities with their own rules on fileChicago

Notes

A five-day notice for nonpayment must state the amount due, and payment of that amount in full within the five days ends it as a matter of law.

Source

735 ILCS 5/9-104, 9-209, 9-106, 9-117; Chicago RLTO § 5-12-130 — last checked 2026-09-16.

This is a summary of the published procedure, not legal advice. Courts, local rules and the facts of a tenancy change what applies, and a defect in a notice or a filing can end a case. Have a lawyer review anything before it is served or filed.

How Seayora uses this rule

Seayora does not file, serve or appear in an eviction, and is not anybody’s lawyer. When a tenant has stopped paying, it lays out these steps for the property’s own state and city with the statute beside each one, holds back any step that would come too early, keeps an append-only record of the case — and shows the resident what would end it, legal-aid links included.

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