Illinois Landlord-Tenant Law Basics for Joliet Renters and Landlords

Most rules for renting a home in Joliet come from Illinois statutes. This guide summarizes the ones renters and landlords meet most often, with links to the current statute text, and describes the City of Joliet ordinances that also apply.

This is general information, not legal advice. For a specific situation, talk to a lawyer or a legal aid organization.

Security deposits

Returning the deposit (765 ILCS 710)

The Security Deposit Return Act sets the deadlines a landlord must meet:

• 30 days for an itemized statement. To keep any part of a deposit for damage, the landlord must deliver an itemized statement of the damage and repair costs, with paid receipts, within 30 days after the tenant moves out (or the right of possession ends, if later), in person, by postmarked mail or to a verified email address. If the statement uses estimates, paid receipts must follow within 30 days.
• 45 days to return the deposit. If no statement and receipts are sent, the full deposit must be returned within 45 days after the tenant moves out.
• Lease-specified charges. A landlord may deduct set amounts listed in the written lease for specific damage, if they are reasonable and for damage beyond normal wear and tear.
• Penalty. If a court finds the landlord refused to provide the statement, or provided it in bad faith, and didn't return the deposit on time, the landlord owes twice the deposit plus court costs and reasonable attorney's fees.
• Sale of the building. A new owner becomes liable for deposits the tenant paid to the previous owner, and the previous owner stays jointly liable.

Tenants should give the landlord a forwarding address. The Act says a landlord isn't liable for penalties if the tenant never provided a mailing or email address.

Interest on deposits (765 ILCS 715)

The Security Deposit Interest Act applies only to landlords of residential property with 25 or more units in a single building or a complex on contiguous parcels, and only to deposits held more than six months. The rate is tied to the passbook savings rate of the largest commercial bank headquartered in Illinois as of December 31 of the year before the lease began. Interest of $5 or more is due within 30 days after each 12-month rental period, and all unpaid interest is due when the tenancy ends.

Notice periods under the Eviction Act (735 ILCS 5/Article IX)

A landlord who wants to end a tenancy or file an eviction case must first give the right written notice:

• A 5-day notice must say that only full payment of the rent demanded will waive the landlord's right to end the lease, unless the landlord agrees in writing to accept partial payment.
• Notices can be served in person, by leaving a copy with a resident 13 or older, or by certified or registered mail with a return receipt.
• A notice is not an eviction. Illinois Legal Aid Online explains that only a sheriff can carry out an eviction, and only with a judge's order. Blocking entrances, cutting off essential utilities or removing belongings to force a tenant out is an illegal lockout, even if rent is unpaid.

The Landlord and Tenant Act (765 ILCS 705)

The Landlord and Tenant Act collects several separate rules. Those most relevant to Joliet-area rentals:

• No waiver of negligence (Sec. 1). A lease clause exempting the landlord from liability for injuries or property damage caused by the landlord's negligence is void.
• Electronic payments (Secs. 3.5 and 4). A landlord can't require tenants to pay by electronic funds transfer. If a landlord's online portal charges a fee, the landlord must offer a fee-free way to pay, such as a paper check or cash.
• Flood disclosure (Sec. 25). Before a lease is signed, landlords must disclose in writing if the property is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area and, if they know, whether and how often it has flooded. Landlords of garden, basement and first-floor units must disclose flooding in the last 10 years.
• Reusable screening reports (Sec. 30). A landlord can't charge a screening fee to an applicant who provides a qualifying reusable screening report prepared within the last 30 days.
• Coming January 1, 2027: fee rules (Sec. 35). Under Public Act 104-479, leases signed after that date must list all non-optional fees on the first page, listings must disclose non-optional fees and whether utilities are included, and application fees are capped at $50 except in limited cases. Several other fees, including lease renewal fees and fees for move-in and move-out walk-throughs, are prohibited. The section does not apply to owner-occupied buildings with six or fewer units.

Retaliation and repairs

• Landlord Retaliation Act (765 ILCS 721). Effective January 1, 2025, a landlord may not knowingly end a tenancy, raise rent, cut services, sue or threaten to sue for possession, or refuse to renew because the tenant in good faith complained about code violations, asked for required repairs, joined a tenants' organization, testified about the property's condition or used another legal right. The Act lets a tenant recover up to two months' rent or twice the damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees.
• Right to repair (765 ILCS 742). For a required repair costing no more than $500 or half the monthly rent, whichever is less, a tenant may send the landlord written notice by registered or certified mail. If the landlord doesn't make the repair within 14 days (or sooner in an emergency), the tenant can have it done professionally and deduct the paid bill from rent. The Act does not apply when the tenant caused the problem, and it does not apply to public housing.

Fair housing

The Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/3-102) bars discrimination in rentals and rental ads on more grounds than federal law, including source of income, immigration status and arrest record. See our fair housing guide for landlords for the full list.

Joliet ordinances

We did not find a comprehensive residential landlord-tenant ordinance in Joliet's code of ordinances (checked October 2026 version). State law governs deposits, notices and evictions. The city does have local rules that apply to rentals:

• Rental registration and inspection. Under Chapter 8, Division 15 of the city code, owners of any dwelling unit offered for rent must register with the city and be licensed, re-register every year, and register within 30 days of buying a rental. Properties are inspected before a rental registration certificate is issued, and certificates expire after one year.
• Notices to tenants. At move-in or when the lease is delivered, the owner must tell the tenant in writing whether a current certificate of inspection is available, and must give a written notice about the city's rules on illegal activity and nuisances, sometimes called the crime-free addendum. The city's Rental Inspection Program page posts the registration form, inspection consent form and addendum.
• Heat. Chapter 8, Division 16 requires owners who rent dwelling units and are required to furnish heat to keep habitable rooms at 65°F or warmer from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and 60°F or warmer at other hours, from September 1 through May 15.
• Anti-Discrimination Ordinance. Joliet's Chapter 9½ prohibits discrimination in real estate transactions based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age or disability, and allows complaints to the Joliet Community Relations Commission within 120 days.

The Neighborhood Services Division is at 150 W. Jefferson Street, Joliet, and can be reached at 815-724-4000, according to the city's rental inspection page.

Crest Hill, Lockport, Shorewood, Plainfield, Romeoville and New Lenox set their own local rules. Check each municipality's code before renting there.