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Kankakee is a city of roughly 25,000 residents in Kankakee County, about 60 miles south of Chicago. The city has a significant renter population, and many tenants seek information about their rights when facing rent increases, security deposit disputes, or eviction proceedings. Illinois state law governs all landlord-tenant relationships in Kankakee, as the city has not enacted any local tenant protections beyond what the state requires.
The most common concerns Kankakee renters face involve the return of security deposits, landlord obligations to maintain habitable conditions, and understanding the steps a landlord must follow before an eviction can take place. Illinois law provides meaningful protections on all of these fronts, and tenants who know their rights are better positioned to resolve disputes without unnecessary displacement.
This page summarizes the tenant rights that apply to renters in Kankakee, Illinois as of April 2026. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws can change and individual circumstances vary — consult a licensed attorney or contact a local legal aid organization if you need guidance specific to your situation.
Kankakee has no rent control ordinance, and Illinois state law explicitly prohibits municipalities from enacting one. Under the Illinois Rent Control Preemption Act (765 ILCS 720/1 et seq.), no unit of local government in Illinois — including Kankakee — may enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution that would control or stabilize rents. This preemption is absolute and applies to every city, village, and county in the state, with no exceptions.
In practical terms, this means a landlord in Kankakee may raise your rent by any amount at the end of a lease term or upon proper notice for a month-to-month tenancy. There is no cap on how much rents can increase, and no requirement that a landlord justify a rent increase. The only protection tenants have against mid-lease increases is the lease itself — a landlord cannot raise your rent during an active fixed-term lease unless the lease expressly allows it.
If you receive a rent increase notice, verify that it complies with the required notice period (at least 30 days for month-to-month tenancies) and that your current lease has actually expired. If you believe a rent increase is being used to retaliate against you for complaining about housing conditions, Illinois anti-retaliation law (765 ILCS 720/1) may offer some protection — see the state protections section below.
Illinois law provides a baseline of tenant protections that apply to every rental unit in Kankakee. The key protections are summarized below.
Implied Warranty of Habitability: Illinois courts recognize an implied warranty of habitability in all residential leases. Landlords must maintain rental units in a condition fit for human habitation, including functioning heat, plumbing, electrical systems, and freedom from significant pest infestations or structural hazards. If a landlord fails to make necessary repairs after receiving reasonable notice, tenants may have remedies including rent withholding or repair-and-deduct, though these remedies carry legal risk and tenants should consult an attorney before using them.
Security Deposit Protections (765 ILCS 710 & 765 ILCS 720): The Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710) requires landlords to return a tenant's security deposit within 30 days of the tenant vacating the unit. If the landlord intends to make deductions, they must provide an itemized written statement of damages within 30 days. Failure to comply can result in the landlord forfeiting the right to retain any portion of the deposit. The Illinois Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 710/0.01) requires landlords who own 25 or more units to pay interest on deposits held for more than six months.
Notice Requirements: For month-to-month tenancies, Illinois law requires at least 30 days written notice from either party to terminate the tenancy. For fixed-term leases, no additional notice is required if the lease has a specific end date, unless the lease requires it. A landlord seeking to terminate a tenancy for non-payment of rent must first serve a written 5-Day Notice to Pay or Quit under 735 ILCS 5/9-209.
Anti-Retaliation (765 ILCS 720/1): A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for reporting code violations, contacting a government agency about housing conditions, or exercising any right protected by law. Retaliatory acts include eviction, rent increases, reduction in services, and harassment. If a landlord takes adverse action within a short period after a tenant exercises a protected right, Illinois courts may presume the action was retaliatory.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition: Illinois law prohibits self-help evictions. A landlord cannot change the locks, remove doors or windows, or shut off utilities (including heat, water, or electricity) to force a tenant out. Such actions are illegal regardless of whether the tenant owes rent. The tenant may seek an emergency court order to restore access and may also be entitled to damages.
Illinois does not set a statewide cap on the amount a landlord may charge for a security deposit, so Kankakee landlords may charge any amount they and the tenant agree to in the lease.
Return Deadline: Under the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710/0.01), a landlord must return the full security deposit — or the remaining balance after lawful deductions — within 30 days after the tenant vacates the rental unit. If the landlord intends to withhold any portion for damages, they must provide the tenant with an itemized written statement of the damages and the estimated or actual cost of repair within that same 30-day window.
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: If a landlord fails to return the deposit or provide the required itemized statement within 30 days, they forfeit the right to retain any portion of the deposit. The tenant may sue to recover the full deposit amount. Courts may also award the tenant court costs and, depending on the circumstances, additional damages. Tenants should document the condition of the unit at move-in and move-out with photographs and written records to support any claim.
Interest on Deposits (765 ILCS 710/0.01): Landlords who own 25 or more units in Illinois are required to pay interest on security deposits held for more than six months. The interest rate is set annually by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. This provision is less commonly applicable in Kankakee's smaller rental market but is worth noting for tenants in larger apartment complexes.
Always get a receipt for your security deposit and keep a copy of your lease. Send any move-out communication in writing so you have a record of the date you vacated.
A landlord in Kankakee must follow a strict legal process to evict a tenant. Self-help eviction — changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities without a court order — is illegal in Illinois regardless of the circumstances.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing an eviction lawsuit, the landlord must serve the tenant with written notice. The type and length of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Filing an Eviction Complaint: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file an eviction (forcible entry and detainer) complaint in the Kankakee County Circuit Court (21st Judicial Circuit). The tenant will be served with a summons and given a hearing date.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both the landlord and tenant appear before a judge. Tenants have the right to present a defense, including disputing the amount owed, asserting that the notice was defective, or raising habitability issues. Tenants are strongly encouraged to appear — a default judgment will be entered against any tenant who fails to show up.
Step 4 — Court Order and Enforcement: If the court rules in the landlord's favor, a court order for possession is issued. If the tenant does not vacate voluntarily, the landlord may obtain a writ of possession and the Kankakee County Sheriff will carry out the physical eviction. The landlord may not remove the tenant without this court-ordered writ.
No Just Cause Requirement: Kankakee has no just cause eviction ordinance. Landlords are not required to state a reason for declining to renew a lease at the end of a fixed term, as long as proper notice is given. However, evictions that are retaliatory in nature may be challenged under 765 ILCS 720/1.
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: Under 735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq. and Illinois common law, landlords who attempt to evict tenants without a court order — by changing locks, removing the tenant's belongings, or cutting off utilities — may face civil liability and damages. If this happens to you, contact Prairie State Legal Services or Illinois Legal Aid Online immediately.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws are subject to change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. RentCheckMe makes no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, or currency of this information. If you have a specific legal problem or question about your rights as a tenant in Kankakee, Illinois, you should consult a licensed attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization such as Prairie State Legal Services or Illinois Legal Aid Online. Do not rely solely on this page when making decisions about your housing situation.
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