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Palos Heights is a residential city in Cook County, Illinois, situated in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. While the city is predominantly owner-occupied, a meaningful share of residents rent single-family homes, condominiums, and multi-unit apartments — and every one of those renters is covered by Illinois state tenant protections.
Tenants in Palos Heights most frequently ask about security deposit rules, what notice a landlord must give before ending a tenancy, and what steps are required before an eviction. Because Palos Heights has not enacted any local rental ordinances beyond state law, the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710), the Illinois Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 710/0.01 et seq.), and general Illinois landlord-tenant common law govern all rental relationships in the city.
This page provides a plain-language summary of those protections. It is informational only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws can change and individual circumstances vary; consult a licensed Illinois attorney or a local legal aid organization if you need advice specific to your situation.
Palos Heights has no rent control, and Illinois state law expressly prohibits any Illinois municipality from enacting rent control. The Illinois Rent Control Preemption Act, codified at 765 ILCS 720/1 et seq., took effect in 1997 and bars every unit of local government in the state — including Cook County, Palos Heights, Chicago, and Evanston — from adopting or maintaining any ordinance, resolution, or policy that limits the amount a landlord may charge for rent or the amount by which rent may be increased.
In practical terms, this means your landlord in Palos Heights can raise your rent by any amount at the end of a lease term or with proper notice on a month-to-month tenancy, provided the increase is not retaliatory (see anti-retaliation protections below). There is no cap on rent increases, no required justification, and no local board to appeal to. The only protection a tenant has against a rent increase is the notice requirement and the prohibition on retaliatory rent hikes under 765 ILCS 720/1.
Illinois provides several important statewide protections for renters that apply fully in Palos Heights.
Habitability: Under long-established Illinois common law, every residential landlord has an implied warranty of habitability — the duty to maintain rental units in a condition fit for human habitation. This includes functional heating, plumbing, structural integrity, and freedom from serious pest infestations. If a landlord breaches this warranty, tenants may have remedies including rent withholding or repair-and-deduct, though these remedies carry procedural requirements and tenants should consult an attorney before exercising them.
Security Deposit Protections: The Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710/1) requires landlords who manage five or more units to return a tenant's security deposit — less any lawfully deducted amounts — within 30 days after the tenant vacates the unit. An itemized statement of deductions must accompany any withholding. The Illinois Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 710/0.01) requires landlords of 25 or more units to pay interest on deposits held for more than six months. See the Security Deposit section below for penalty details.
Notice to Terminate Tenancy: For month-to-month tenancies, Illinois common law requires at least 30 days written notice from either party to terminate the tenancy. Fixed-term leases expire by their terms; no additional notice is required unless the lease specifies otherwise.
Anti-Retaliation: The Illinois Rent Control Preemption Act (765 ILCS 720/1) and Illinois common law prohibit landlords from retaliating against tenants who complain to code enforcement, exercise legal rights, or organize with other tenants. Retaliatory rent increases, service reductions, or eviction filings within a protected period may be challenged in court.
Prohibition on Self-Help Eviction: Illinois law strictly prohibits landlords from removing a tenant without a court order. Changing locks, removing doors or windows, shutting off utilities, or removing the tenant's belongings without a court judgment is illegal and can expose the landlord to damages. The proper process requires a court eviction proceeding (see Eviction section below).
Security deposits for rentals in Palos Heights are governed by the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710/1) and the Illinois Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 710/0.01 et seq.).
Deposit Cap: Illinois state law does not cap the amount a landlord may collect as a security deposit. The deposit amount is set by the lease agreement.
Return Deadline: Landlords who own or manage five or more residential units must return the security deposit (or the balance after lawful deductions) within 30 days after the tenant surrenders possession of the unit. If the landlord intends to make deductions for damages beyond normal wear and tear, they must provide an itemized written statement of the deductions, along with receipts or invoices, within the same 30-day period (765 ILCS 710/1).
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: If a landlord covered by the Act fails to return the deposit or provide the required 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 (765 ILCS 710/1). This is a significant penalty designed to deter improper withholding.
Interest on Deposits: Landlords who own 25 or more units in a single building or complex must pay annual interest on security deposits held for more than six months, at a rate set by the Illinois Comptroller (765 ILCS 710/0.01). Most small landlords in Palos Heights — those owning fewer than 25 units — are not required to pay interest.
Normal Wear and Tear: Landlords may not deduct for ordinary wear and tear, such as minor scuffs on walls or carpet wear from normal use. Deductions are only lawful for damage beyond what is expected from reasonable occupancy.
In Palos Heights, a landlord must follow the Illinois court process to evict a tenant. Self-help eviction — including changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities — is illegal under Illinois law and can result in the landlord being held liable for damages.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve the tenant with a written notice. The type and length of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Filing in Court: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file an eviction complaint (formerly called a forcible entry and detainer action) in the Cook County Circuit Court under 735 ILCS 5/9-201 et seq. Palos Heights cases are handled in the Cook County court system.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both parties have the right to appear and present their case. If the court rules in the landlord's favor, it issues a judgment for possession. The court may also enter a monetary judgment for unpaid rent.
Step 4 — Order of Possession & Enforcement: After a judgment for possession is entered, the court issues an order of possession. Only a Cook County Sheriff's officer may physically remove the tenant; the landlord has no right to remove the tenant personally without this order.
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: A landlord who locks out a tenant, removes doors, windows, or belongings, or shuts off utilities to force a tenant to leave — without a court order — commits an illegal self-help eviction. Tenants subjected to such conduct may seek emergency relief in court and may be entitled to damages.
This page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information here is a general summary of Illinois tenant rights laws as understood in April 2026 and may not reflect recent changes, local ordinances, or the specific facts of your situation. Laws can change, and individual circumstances vary significantly. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed Illinois attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization in your area. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader.
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