Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
La Grange is a village in Cook County, Illinois, situated approximately 15 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. Like many Cook County suburbs, La Grange has a mix of single-family rentals, multi-unit apartment buildings, and condominiums. Renters in La Grange most commonly search for information about security deposit rules, their landlord's obligations to maintain habitable conditions, and how the eviction process works in Illinois.
Because La Grange is not the City of Chicago, the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) does not apply here. Instead, La Grange renters are governed exclusively by Illinois state law, most notably the Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710), the Rent Control Preemption Act (765 ILCS 720), and general Illinois common law regarding landlord-tenant relationships. There are no additional local ordinances in La Grange that expand on these state protections.
This article is intended as a general informational resource to help La Grange renters understand their legal rights and is not a substitute for legal advice. Laws can change, and individual circumstances vary — consult a licensed Illinois attorney or a legal aid organization if you have a specific concern.
La Grange has no rent control, and Illinois state law makes it illegal for any municipality — including La Grange — to enact rent control ordinances. The Illinois Rent Control Preemption Act, codified at 765 ILCS 720, expressly prohibits any unit of local government from enacting, maintaining, or enforcing any ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property.
In practice, this means your landlord in La Grange may raise your rent by any amount, at any time, provided they give you proper advance written notice and the increase does not take effect during a fixed-term lease. For month-to-month tenants, at least 30 days written notice is required before a rent increase can take effect. For fixed-term leases, the rent is set for the duration of the lease period and can only change upon renewal. There is no government agency in La Grange or Illinois that reviews or limits the size of rent increases.
Although La Grange has no local tenant ordinances, Illinois state law provides several important baseline protections for all renters in the village.
Security Deposit Rules (765 ILCS 710 & 765 ILCS 711): Illinois law governs how landlords must handle security deposits. Landlords must return the deposit — along with an itemized written statement of any deductions — within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant vacates. If the landlord fails to comply, the tenant may be entitled to the return of the full deposit plus damages. See the Security Deposit section below for full details.
Habitability: Under Illinois common law, landlords have an implied duty to maintain rental units in a habitable condition. This means the unit must have adequate heat, running water, functioning plumbing and electrical systems, and must be free from conditions that threaten health or safety. If a landlord fails to maintain habitability, tenants may have remedies including rent withholding or repair-and-deduct, though these remedies carry legal risks and should be pursued carefully — consult a legal aid provider before acting.
Notice to Terminate (735 ILCS 5/9-207): For month-to-month tenancies, either the landlord or the tenant must provide at least 30 days written notice before terminating the tenancy. For week-to-week tenancies, 7 days written notice is required. These notice periods are a floor — a lease may require longer notice.
Anti-Retaliation (765 ILCS 720/1): Illinois law prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who report code violations, complain to a government agency, or exercise any legal right. Retaliation can include raising the rent, refusing to renew a lease, or attempting to evict in response to a protected action. A tenant facing retaliatory conduct may raise retaliation as a defense in eviction proceedings.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition: Illinois law strictly prohibits self-help eviction. A landlord may not lock a tenant out, remove doors or windows, or shut off utilities — including heat, water, or electricity — as a means of forcing a tenant to leave. Such conduct is illegal regardless of whether the tenant owes rent. The only lawful way to remove a tenant is through the court eviction process.
Security deposit rules for La Grange renters are governed by the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710) and the Illinois Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 710/0.01 et seq.).
No Statutory Cap: Illinois state law does not cap the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit. The amount is subject to negotiation between the landlord and tenant and should be clearly stated in the written lease.
Return Deadline: The landlord must return the security deposit — or the portion not used for allowable deductions — within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant vacates the unit. If the landlord intends to make deductions for damages beyond normal wear and tear, they must provide the tenant with an itemized written statement of those deductions within the same 30-day period, along with paid receipts or a reasonable estimate for each repair.
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding (765 ILCS 710/1): If a landlord wrongfully withholds all or part of the security deposit — or fails to provide the required itemized statement within 30 days — the tenant is entitled to recover the entire deposit plus damages. Under 765 ILCS 710/1, a court may award the tenant twice the amount of the deposit wrongfully withheld, plus court costs and reasonable attorney fees.
Interest on Deposits (765 ILCS 710/0.01): For buildings with 25 or more units, landlords are required to pay interest on security deposits held for more than six months, at a rate set annually by the state. Landlords in smaller buildings are not required to pay interest under state law.
Practical Tip: Document the condition of your unit with dated photographs at move-in and move-out. Send your forwarding address to your landlord in writing so the deposit return is sent to the correct location.
In La Grange, a landlord must follow Illinois state eviction law — codified primarily in the Illinois Eviction Act (735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq.) — to remove a tenant. Self-help evictions are illegal under any circumstances.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve a written notice on the tenant. 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 complaint in the Circuit Court of Cook County. The court will issue a summons requiring the tenant to appear for a hearing. La Grange cases are typically handled in the Fifth Municipal District of Cook County Circuit Court, located in Bridgeview, Illinois.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both the landlord and tenant have the right to appear and present their case. Tenants may raise defenses such as improper notice, retaliation, or uninhabitable conditions. If the court enters a judgment for the landlord, it will issue an order for possession.
Step 4 — Order of Possession and Enforcement: After obtaining a court order, the landlord may request that a Cook County Sheriff's officer enforce the eviction if the tenant does not leave voluntarily. Only the Sheriff may physically remove a tenant — the landlord cannot do so themselves.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: A landlord may never change the locks, remove the tenant's belongings, shut off utilities, or otherwise attempt to force a tenant out without going through the court process. Any such action exposes the landlord to civil liability and potential criminal penalties under Illinois law.
No Just Cause Requirement: Illinois state law does not require landlords to have a specific reason (just cause) to decline to renew a lease or to terminate a month-to-month tenancy, as long as proper written notice is provided. However, a non-renewal that is retaliatory in nature may be challenged under 765 ILCS 720/1.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws in Illinois can change, and local circumstances — including lease terms, property type, and individual facts — can significantly affect your legal situation. Renters in La Grange who have specific concerns about their tenancy, a pending eviction, a security deposit dispute, or any other landlord-tenant matter should consult a licensed Illinois attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization such as Illinois Legal Aid Online, Lawyers Committee for Better Housing, or Prairie State Legal Services. RentCheckMe makes no representation that the information on this page is current, complete, or applicable to your specific situation.
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.