Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
DeKalb is a mid-sized city in DeKalb County, home to Northern Illinois University (NIU), which means a significant share of its roughly 44,000 residents are renters — including thousands of students and university staff. The rental market here is driven largely by the university housing cycle, making tenant rights knowledge especially valuable for new renters who may be signing their first lease.
Illinois state law governs all landlord-tenant relationships in DeKalb. There is no local tenant rights ordinance in place beyond what the state provides, so renters rely on statutes such as the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710), the Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 710/0.01 et seq.), and general Illinois common law habitability standards. Statewide anti-retaliation protections (765 ILCS 720/1) also apply to every DeKalb renter.
This article summarizes the key protections available to DeKalb renters under Illinois law. It is intended as educational information only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific legal problem, contact an attorney or a legal aid organization in your area.
DeKalb has no rent control, and Illinois state law expressly prohibits municipalities from enacting it. The Illinois Rent Control Preemption Act (765 ILCS 720) bars any unit of local government — including cities, counties, and home-rule municipalities — from enacting, maintaining, or enforcing any ordinance or resolution that would control or stabilize rents. This preemption has been in effect since 1997 and applies statewide without exception, including in DeKalb.
In practical terms, this means your landlord in DeKalb can raise your rent by any amount at any time, as long as proper written notice is given before the increase takes effect. For month-to-month tenants, at least 30 days written notice is required before a rent increase can take effect. For tenants with a fixed-term lease, the rent is set for the duration of that lease and cannot be raised until the lease term ends or renews. There is no cap on how much rent can increase, no requirement that increases be tied to inflation or any index, and no local board or agency to challenge a rent increase.
Renters concerned about affordability should carefully review lease renewal terms and factor in the possibility of rent increases when budgeting.
Illinois state law provides several meaningful protections to all renters in DeKalb, regardless of the absence of a local ordinance.
Security Deposits (765 ILCS 710 & 765 ILCS 710/0.01): The Illinois Security Deposit Return Act requires landlords to return a tenant's security deposit — along with an itemized statement of any deductions — within 30 days after the tenant vacates the unit. If the landlord withholds any portion of the deposit, the written itemization must be provided. Failure to comply entitles the tenant to recover twice the amount of the deposit wrongfully withheld. The Security Deposit Interest Act separately requires landlords who manage 25 or more units and hold a deposit for more than six months to pay interest on the deposit.
Habitability: Under Illinois common law, landlords have an implied warranty of habitability, meaning they must maintain rental units in a condition fit for human occupancy. This includes functioning plumbing, heat, structural integrity, and freedom from pest infestations. If a landlord fails to make required repairs after reasonable notice, tenants may have the right to repair-and-deduct or to withhold rent in certain circumstances, though tenants should seek legal advice before taking either step.
Notice Requirements: For month-to-month tenancies, either party must give at least 30 days written notice to terminate the tenancy under Illinois common law. For fixed-term leases, the lease terms govern. For non-payment of rent, a landlord must serve a written 5-Day Notice to Pay or Quit before filing an eviction case (735 ILCS 5/9-209).
Anti-Retaliation (765 ILCS 720/1): A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for reporting housing code violations, contacting a government agency about conditions, or exercising any legal right under a lease or state law. Retaliatory acts include raising rent, decreasing services, or attempting to evict. A tenant facing retaliation may raise it as a defense in eviction proceedings.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition: Illinois law prohibits landlords from engaging in self-help eviction. A landlord cannot change the locks, remove doors or windows, or shut off utilities such as heat, electricity, or water in order to force a tenant out. Such actions are illegal regardless of whether the tenant owes rent. The only lawful method of eviction in Illinois is through the court system (735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq.).
Illinois's Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710) sets the rules for how DeKalb landlords must handle security deposits. There is no statewide statutory cap on the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit, so the amount is set by the lease agreement.
Return deadline: A landlord must return the security deposit — or the balance after lawful deductions — within 30 days after the tenant vacates the rental unit. If the landlord intends to make deductions for damages beyond normal wear and tear, the landlord must provide the tenant with an itemized written statement of the deductions along with paid receipts or a written estimate from a contractor. This itemization must also be delivered within 30 days.
Penalty for wrongful withholding: If a landlord fails to return the deposit (or the itemized statement) within 30 days, the tenant is entitled to recover twice the amount of the security deposit wrongfully withheld, plus court costs and reasonable attorney fees, under 765 ILCS 710/1. This is a significant penalty designed to deter landlords from improperly holding deposits.
Interest on deposits (765 ILCS 710/0.01 et seq.): Landlords who own or manage 25 or more units in Illinois and hold a security deposit for more than six months are required to pay interest on that deposit at a rate set annually by the state. Landlords of smaller properties are not required to pay interest.
Tenants should always obtain a receipt for their deposit, document the unit's condition with photos upon move-in and move-out, and keep copies of all written communications with their landlord.
In DeKalb, a landlord must follow the formal court process to evict a tenant. Self-help eviction — including changing the locks, removing the tenant's belongings, or shutting off utilities — is illegal under Illinois law (735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq.) and may expose the landlord to legal liability.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve the tenant with a written notice. The type of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Court Filing: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file an eviction complaint in DeKalb County Circuit Court. The tenant will be served with a summons and given a court date.
Step 3 — Hearing: Both parties may present their case at the hearing. Tenants have the right to appear and raise defenses, including improper notice, retaliation (765 ILCS 720/1), habitability issues, or that rent was actually paid. It is strongly advisable to attend the hearing; a default judgment will be entered if the tenant does not appear.
Step 4 — Judgment and Order of Possession: If the court rules in the landlord's favor, an Order of Possession is issued. The tenant will be given a date by which to vacate. If the tenant does not leave, the landlord can request enforcement by the DeKalb County Sheriff.
No Just Cause Requirement: DeKalb has no just cause eviction ordinance. At the end of a lease term or for month-to-month tenancies with proper notice, a landlord does not need a specific reason to decline to renew or terminate a tenancy, as long as the decision is not retaliatory or discriminatory.
The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws can change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and no attorney-client relationship is created by reading this article. If you have a specific legal problem or question, please consult a licensed Illinois attorney or contact a legal aid organization such as Prairie State Legal Services or Illinois Legal Aid Online. Always verify current statutes and local ordinances independently, as laws may have changed since this page was last updated in April 2026.
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
Use the Address Checker →We'll email you if the rent cap, coverage rules, or tenant protections change — no spam, unsubscribe any time.