Do this today
- Write the date, time, and how they entered.
- Ask in writing for notice next time, if that is the rule.
- If it felt like harassment, City of Chicago — Department of Housing or legal aid — not a group chat.
Can a landlord in Chicago enter whenever they want?
Generally no — except that emergencies and the lease can change the picture. Illinois tenancy and eviction-related statutes is the Illinois starting point. Write down any entry you believe was improper. 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.
What if they keep coming in?
A pattern of unannounced entry can be a harassment or privacy problem. City of Chicago — Department of Housing may take a complaint. Legal aid can tell you whether Illinois gives a specific remedy. Do not change the locks without advice.
The Chicago layer
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.
Illinois tenancy and eviction-related statutes (765 ILCS 705 to 755) is the Illinois floor. We name it. We do not paraphrase a day-count or a dollar cap out of it.
Chicago questions
How much notice does a landlord in Chicago have to give before entering?
That hour-count or day-count is in Illinois tenancy and eviction-related statutes and sometimes in a city rule. This desk does not invent it. Write down what happened and take it to legal aid or City of Chicago — Department of Housing.
What number should I call in Chicago?
Danger: 911. Mental-health crisis: 988. 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