How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case in Illinois?

In Illinois, the time a tenant has to respond to an eviction case is governed by 735 ILCS 5/9-104, 9-209, 9-106, 9-117; Chicago RLTO § 5-12-130. The summons states the appearance date. In Cook County that is typically two to three weeks after filing; the tenant appears rather than filing a written answer, though a written appearance and answer may be required for a jury demand.

WhatIllinois
CourtCircuit Court for the county where the property is.

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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