Illinois rental fee law (765 ILCS 705/35): page-1 fee disclosure kit
Is every required fee on page 1 of your lease? If not, your tenant doesn’t owe it.
Quick answer
From January 1, 2027, Illinois residential leases must list every non-optional fee on the first page, or the tenant is not liable for it (765 ILCS 705/35, Public Act 104-0479). Eleven fees are banned, including application fees over $50 and renewal fees. Tenants can sue for damages and attorney’s fees. Owner-occupied buildings with 6 units or fewer are exempt.
Last verified October 11, 2026 against the official text. Not legal advice.
Free guide: Illinois rental fee law: first-page fee disclosure and 11 banned fees (765 ILCS 705/35)
The law applies to residential leases entered into after January 1, 2027, when it takes effect under HB 5234 (Public Act 104-0514). A landlord may not rename a fee to get around it, and Chicago and other local rules can be stricter.
This kit lays the law out in plain words, with wording you can paste into your lease template and listings, and a spreadsheet that flags every fee as banned, needing to go on page 1, or OK. It is for Illinois landlords, property managers and leasing offices.
- ✓Plain-English checklist with the law quoted word for word
- ✓11-item banned-fee audit, each tied to its subsection
- ✓Ready-to-edit Page-1 Fee Summary box for your lease
- ✓Listing fee lines (full and short), utilities statement and a $50 screening-fee notice
- ✓Staff and vendor fee-removal memo
- ✓Excel fee inventory that flags each fee, a lease coverage check and a change log
Blank templates from the public law. Not legal advice and not a lease. It does not decide whether a particular fee is “non-optional” or cover security-deposit, RLTO or other local rules. English only.
- ✓Instant download after payment
- ✓Official sources listed in the kit
- ✓12-month re-download access
- ✓Secure checkout by Stripe
Frequently asked questions
When does the Illinois rental fee law take effect?
January 1, 2027. HB 5234 (Public Act 104-0514), signed and effective June 26, 2026, moved the start date of Public Act 104-0479 (HB 3564) from July 1, 2026 to January 1, 2027. The law applies to residential leases entered into after that date.
Who is exempt?
Leases for units in owner-occupied buildings with 6 units or fewer (765 ILCS 705/35(e)).
What happens if a fee is not on page 1 of the lease?
The tenant is not liable for it. Every non-optional fee, one-time or recurring, must be explicitly on the first page of the lease (765 ILCS 705/35(b)).
Can I charge more than $50 for a rental application or screening?
Only for an actual third-party background check that costs more than $50, if you pay it upfront and bill the applicant within 14 days with the provider’s receipts; otherwise it is waived (765 ILCS 705/35(c)(1)).
Which fees are banned?
Application fees over $50, duplicate screening fees, renewal or modification fees, eviction notice or filing fees before an eviction order, after-hours maintenance fees, fees for contacting the landlord, maintenance travel fees, hotline fees, routine maintenance fees, pest abatement fees where the tenant did not contribute, and walk-through fees (765 ILCS 705/35(c)(1)–(11)).
What are the penalties?
Anyone alleging a violation can sue. The court may order injunctive relief, monetary relief, attorney’s fees and costs (765 ILCS 705/35(f)). There is no fixed fine in the statute.
Does Chicago’s RLTO still apply?
Yes. Local governments may regulate tenant fees more strictly, but not less strictly, than this section (765 ILCS 705/35(d)).
Is this legal advice?
No. This page and the kit are general information and blank templates built from the public law. They are not legal advice, are not tailored to your leases, and buying a kit does not create a lawyer-client relationship. For your own situation, ask a licensed Illinois attorney.
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Official sources
Who wrote this and how it was checked
Written and maintained by Astor Ventures. We publish template kits built from public law; we are not a law firm, and no attorney has reviewed this page.
- Last verified: , against Public Act 104-0479 on ilga.gov.
- Next scheduled check: before January 1, 2027, or sooner if the law changes.
- Found an error? Email [email protected] and we will correct the page and the kit.