Each Chicago guide answers one question — eviction, deposit, repairs, rent, entry, habitability — with the local office and the Illinois chapter. We do not invent a local deadline.
Illinois is statewide. The RLTO is Chicago.
State statutes still matter. The RLTO adds duties and remedies for most Chicago rental units, with exceptions the ordinance itself lists. Cook County and several suburbs have their own ordinances. An Evanston or Oak Park rule is not a Chicago rule.
Conditions and possession are different offices
Buildings and 311 handle many condition complaints. Possession still runs through the court. A City ordinance is not a lockout.
What if I got a notice in Chicago?
Read it for a court name, a case number, or an appearance date. A landlord notice is usually a step. Court papers mean a case has been filed in Circuit Court of Cook County — eviction. Date it, photograph every page, and call legal aid the same day if a court is named. Do not guess the deadline from a national chart.
What if the unit is not livable?
Write the problem, date it, and keep photos. Open a request with City of Chicago — Department of Housing or dial 311. An inspector’s dated notice is often worth more later than unanswered texts. Rent withholding and repair-and-deduct are Illinois questions — ask legal aid before you skip a payment.
What if the deposit did not come back?
The clock, the cap, and the itemization rules live mainly in Illinois law. The Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance is the Chicago layer. The City has also proposed updates — treat only what the Department of Housing currently publishes as in force. Gather the lease, move-out photos, the forwarding address you gave, and any deduction list, then open the Illinois deposit page.
What if the rent went up?
A lease still in term is not the same as month-to-month. Whether Chicago adds a local cap or just-cause rule is a coverage question — The Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance is the Chicago layer. The City has also proposed updates — treat only what the Department of Housing currently publishes as in force. Keep the letter. Confirm the Illinois chapter and the City office before you treat a percentage you saw online as the law.
What if they keep coming in without notice?
Entry rules in Chicago start with Illinois law and the lease. Emergencies, repairs, and showings are not always the same notice. Write the date and time. City of Chicago — Department of Housing may take a complaint. This desk does not invent an hour-count.
What if heat, water, or the structure fails?
That is a habitability problem. Photograph it, write the date, and open a request with City of Chicago — Department of Housing or 311. If it is dangerous tonight — a gas leak, no heat in winter, a collapsed ceiling — treat it as an emergency. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Does Chicago’s RLTO cover my building?
The Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance covers a large share of Chicago rentals — and not every unit. Building size and housing type matter. The Department of Housing publishes what is in force. A suburb’s ordinance, or a proposal, is not the Chicago RLTO.
Who hears an eviction in Chicago?
Cook County Circuit Court, often in the Municipal Department’s housing calls. A landlord notice is not a judgment. Papers that name a court or a case number mean a case has been filed. Legal aid the same day. The RLTO does not replace that court.
311 or the Department of Housing?
311 opens many City requests. Housing-ordinance questions — what the RLTO requires of this landlord — go to the Department of Housing. Put the repair in writing either way. An inspector’s dated notice is a different kind of paper than a text.
Official Chicago offices
The Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance is the Chicago layer. The City has also proposed updates — treat only what the Department of Housing currently publishes as in force. The Illinois chapter is Illinois tenancy and eviction-related statutes (765 ILCS 705 to 755). We name it. We do not paraphrase a number out of it.
Chicago renter questions
Can my landlord in Chicago evict me without going to court?
No. Changing locks, shutting off utilities, or dumping belongings is not how possession is completed. Circuit Court of Cook County — eviction is where those cases are heard. If the paper names a court, a case number, or an appearance date, call legal aid the same day. The Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance is the Chicago layer. The City has also proposed updates — treat only what the Department of Housing currently publishes as in force.
How do I get my security deposit back in Chicago?
Deposit caps, itemization, and return deadlines are usually Illinois questions — sometimes with a city overlay. Photograph the unit, return keys the way the lease requires, and keep a forwarding address. Confirm the chapter on the Illinois page. This desk does not reprint a dollar cap or a day-count.
Who inspects repairs in Chicago?
City of Chicago — Department of Housing is the local conditions door, and 311 is often how you open a request. Put the repair in writing first and keep photos. Do not skip rent on a rumor — ask legal aid before you change what you pay. The Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance is the Chicago layer. The City has also proposed updates — treat only what the Department of Housing currently publishes as in force.
Does Chicago have local rent rules on top of Illinois?
The Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance is the Chicago layer. The City has also proposed updates — treat only what the Department of Housing currently publishes as in force.
Does Chicago’s RLTO cover my building?
The Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance covers a large share of Chicago rentals — and not every unit. Building size and housing type matter. The Department of Housing publishes what is in force. A suburb’s ordinance, or a proposal, is not the Chicago RLTO.
Who hears an eviction in Chicago?
Cook County Circuit Court, often in the Municipal Department’s housing calls. A landlord notice is not a judgment. Papers that name a court or a case number mean a case has been filed. Legal aid the same day. The RLTO does not replace that court.
311 or the Department of Housing?
311 opens many City requests. Housing-ordinance questions — what the RLTO requires of this landlord — go to the Department of Housing. Put the repair in writing either way. An inspector’s dated notice is a different kind of paper than a text.
What number should I call in Chicago?
Danger: 911. Mental-health crisis: 988. Local City services: 311. Court papers: LawHelp.org the same day. City of Chicago — Department of Housing does not replace legal aid when a case is filed.
National answers on this desk
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org