Illinois Security Deposit Laws (2026)
Key rules for deadlines, penalties, and documentation requirements, with direct links to the official statute.
Reviewed: 2026-03-03
Reviewer: ReclaimDeposit legal research team
Quick answer for Illinois renters
In Illinois, landlords generally must return the deposit or send a lawful itemized statement within 30-45 days. Penalty exposure can reach 2x damages.
Requirements
Notes
- Chicago has separate RLTO ordinance with stricter requirements (5% interest, penalties)
- Interest required on deposits held over 6 months in buildings with 25+ units
- Itemized statement with paid receipts/estimates required within 30 days
- Willful violation = 2x deposit + attorney fees
Citations
Quick references pulled from our shared state law dataset. Open each explainer for plain-English context.
Deposit return deadline
765 ILCS 710/1 - Landlord must return deposit within 30-45 days after tenant vacates
Explain this statuteOfficial sectionItemized deductions
765 ILCS 710/1 - Landlord must provide itemized statement if making deductions
Explain this statuteOfficial sectionNormal wear and tear
765 ILCS 710/1 - Cannot deduct for normal wear and tear
Explain this statuteOfficial sectionReceipts and invoices
765 ILCS 710/1 - Paid receipts or estimates required for all deductions
Explain this statuteOfficial sectionBad faith penalties
765 ILCS 710/1 - Willful failure = 2x deposit + attorney fees
Explain this statuteOfficial sectionInterest on deposits
765 ILCS 715/1 - Interest required on deposits held over 6 months (buildings 25+ units)
Explain this statuteOfficial section
Common Illinois dispute scenarios
Choose the scenario that matches your case to get state-specific next actions.
Landlord missed the deposit deadline
Use this path when your landlord returned the deposit late or failed to send any lawful itemized statement on time.
No itemized deduction statement
Use this path when money was withheld but no legally compliant itemized statement was provided.
Charged for normal wear and tear
Use this path when deductions include routine aging, ordinary use, or charges that should have been depreciated.
Evidence of landlord bad faith
Use this path when withholding appears intentional, reckless, or unsupported by evidence and statute.
Next steps
Use free tools to estimate your deadline, prepare a demand letter, and map your court path.