Last updated: April 2026
Chicago cannot pass rent control under state law. But Chicago's RLTO is one of the strongest tenant protection ordinances in the country. Here's what you actually have.
Check your Chicago address to see which tenant protections apply.
No. Chicago has no rent control and is legally prohibited from enacting one. The Illinois Rent Control Preemption Act (50 ILCS 825/) bars all Illinois cities from limiting rent increases. Chicago's City Council has repeatedly called on the state legislature to repeal the preemption, but it remained in full effect as of April 2026.
This means a Chicago landlord can raise rent by any amount — there is no legal ceiling. The only constraints are: giving proper notice and honoring the terms of any existing lease.
Chicago's Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) — Chicago Municipal Code Chapter 5-12 — applies to most Chicago rental units (with limited exceptions for owner-occupied buildings of 6 or fewer units). It is one of the most comprehensive local tenant protection laws in the United States.
If your landlord collects a security deposit, they must:
Penalty for violations: tenants can recover twice the deposit amount plus court costs and attorney fees.
Your landlord must maintain the unit in compliance with the Chicago Building Code and keep it in a "habitable condition." If they fail to make repairs after written notice (and the defect substantially affects health or safety), you may be able to:
For leases of 6 months to 3 years, landlords must give at least 30 days written notice before the lease ends if they don't intend to renew. For leases of 3 years or more, the notice period is 60 days. If the landlord fails to give proper notice, you are entitled to remain in the unit under the same terms.
This is a meaningful protection in a hot rental market — it prevents surprise non-renewal with no time to find housing.
The RLTO prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who:
If your landlord raises rent, refuses to renew, or files for eviction within a year of you exercising these rights, there is a legal presumption of retaliation. You can sue for damages equal to two months' rent plus attorney fees.
Self-help evictions — changing locks, removing your belongings, or shutting off utilities to force you out — are illegal under the RLTO. You can sue for actual damages, two months' rent, attorney fees, and a court order to restore possession.
While Chicago cannot cap rent increases, landlords must give proper notice:
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No. Illinois law (50 ILCS 825/) prohibits all cities from enacting rent control. Chicago has no local rent cap and cannot pass one without state legislation repealing the preemption.
The Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) is a comprehensive local law covering most Chicago rentals. It does not cap rent but provides strong protections: security deposit interest requirements, habitability rights, anti-retaliation rules, lease renewal notices, and remedies for lockouts. It applies to most Chicago rentals except owner-occupied buildings of 6 units or fewer.
At least 30 days written notice for month-to-month tenancies. For fixed-term leases, rent generally cannot be raised mid-lease unless your lease specifically allows it.
Under the RLTO, your landlord must return your security deposit within 30 days of your lease end and provide written itemized deductions for anything withheld. If they fail to do this, you can sue for twice the deposit amount plus court costs and attorney fees. Contact the Metropolitan Tenants Organization or Illinois Legal Aid Online for help.
Chicago landlords must follow proper legal eviction procedures — they cannot change locks, shut off utilities, or remove your belongings. Before filing for eviction, they must serve you proper written notice (5 days for non-payment, 10 days for most lease violations). You have the right to appear in eviction court. Free legal help is available through CARPLS and Illinois Legal Aid Online.
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