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Illinois business laws for 2026–2027: rental fees, driver's-license job posts and all-in pricing
Quick answer
Three Illinois laws change paperwork for small businesses. Landlords: every non-optional fee must be on page 1 of the lease or the tenant does not owe it, and a list of fees is banned outright (765 ILCS 705/35, from January 1, 2027 under HB 5234). Employers with 15+ employees and staffing agencies: from January 1, 2027, a job post may only require a driver's license if driving is an essential function and a business necessity, and the post must say why (820 ILCS 75/17). Anyone advertising prices: from January 1, 2027, advertised prices must include all mandatory fees (815 ILCS 505/2MMMM).
Last verified October 11, 2026 against the official text on ilga.gov. Not legal advice.
Key dates
- January 1, 2027: rental fee transparency and junk-fee ban in force for new residential leases (Public Act 104-0479; start date moved from July 1, 2026 by Public Act 104-0514 (HB 5234)).
- January 1, 2027: driver's-license job-posting limit in force (HB 4758 enrolled, Section 99).
- January 1, 2027: all-in pricing (hidden fee) law in force (Public Act 104-0472, 815 ILCS 505/2MMMM).
1. Rental fee transparency (765 ILCS 705/35)
Who: Illinois residential landlords and property managers, for leases entered into after January 1, 2027. Exempt: units in owner-occupied buildings with 6 units or fewer. A landlord may not rename a fee to avoid the law.
- Page 1 of the lease. Put every non-optional fee, one-time or recurring, explicitly on the first page. A fee that is not there cannot be collected.
- Listings. Disclose non-optional fees clearly and conspicuously in the listing or in a linked page at the time of listing.
- Utilities. Say in the lease disclosure or listing whether utilities are included in rent.
- Banned fees. Stop charging the fees in the table below.
| Banned fee or fine | Subsection |
|---|---|
| Application or background-check fee over $50 (exception: actual third-party check cost over $50, paid upfront by the landlord, billed with receipts within 14 days) | (c)(1) |
| Fees ancillary to the application that duplicate screening costs or cover unrelated costs | (c)(2) |
| Lease modification or renewal fee | (c)(3) |
| Eviction notice or filing fee before an eviction order (court costs can still be recovered) | (c)(4) |
| After-hours maintenance request fee | (c)(5) |
| Fee for contacting the owner or manager about maintenance or the tenancy | (c)(6) |
| Maintenance or repair travel fee | (c)(7) |
| Maintenance hotline fee | (c)(8) |
| Routine maintenance and upkeep fee | (c)(9) |
| Pest abatement fee where the tenant did not contribute | (c)(10) |
| Move-in or move-out walk-through fee | (c)(11) |
Penalties: anyone alleging a violation can bring a civil action; the court may order injunctive relief, monetary relief, attorney's fees and costs (subsection (f)). Local governments may regulate fees more strictly, but not less.
2. Driver's license requirements in job posts (820 ILCS 75/17)
Who: employers with 15 or more employees in the current or preceding calendar year (and their agents), and employment agencies, under the Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act.
- Audit every posting that says a valid driver's license is required.
- Keep the requirement only if driving is an essential function of the job and a business necessity.
- Explain why in the posting with a brief description (for example, the job involves driving a company vehicle to customer sites daily).
- Remove it from postings where driving is not essential.
Penalties (820 ILCS 75/20): first violation, written warning and 30 days to remedy; second violation (or not fixed within 30 days), up to $500; third (or not fixed within 60 days), up to $1,500 more; after that, up to $1,500 for every 30 days without compliance. Enforced by the Illinois Department of Labor.
Landlord paperwork? The Illinois rental fee transparency kit ($49) has the page-1 Fee Summary box, banned-fee audit, listing, utilities and screening-fee wording, and an Excel fee tracker.
3. All-in pricing (815 ILCS 505/2MMMM)
From January 1, 2027, advertised prices must include all mandatory fees and surcharges; government taxes and actual shipping may be added, and restaurants, bars and hotels can keep a clearly disclosed automatic gratuity. A violation is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud Act (civil penalties up to $50,000, or $50,000 per violation with intent to defraud, under 815 ILCS 505/7).
Need the pricing paperwork? The Illinois hidden fees and all-in price kit ($49) has a mandatory-fee worksheet, menu, price and gratuity wording, quote wording and a spreadsheet that works out all-in prices.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Illinois rental fee transparency 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.
Which fees must be on the first page of an Illinois lease?
All non-optional fees, whether one-time or recurring. If a fee is not explicitly on the first page, the tenant is not liable for it (765 ILCS 705/35(b)). Non-optional fees must also be disclosed clearly in the listing or an accompanying web link, and the lease or listing must say whether utilities are included in rent.
What rental fees are banned in Illinois?
Application and screening fees over $50 (with a narrow exception for actual third-party background check costs billed with receipts within 14 days), duplicate screening fees, lease renewal or modification fees, fees for eviction notices or filings before an eviction order, after-hours maintenance fees, fees for contacting the landlord, maintenance travel fees, maintenance hotline fees, routine maintenance fees, pest abatement fees where the tenant did not contribute, and move-in or move-out walk-through fees (765 ILCS 705/35(c)).
Who is exempt from the Illinois rental fee law?
Leases for units in owner-occupied buildings with 6 units or fewer (765 ILCS 705/35(e)).
What is the penalty for charging illegal rental fees in Illinois?
Any person alleging a violation can sue. The court may order an injunction, money damages, attorney's fees and costs (765 ILCS 705/35(f)). There is no fixed dollar fine in the statute.
Can an Illinois job posting require a driver's license in 2027?
Only if driving is one of the essential functions of the job and is a business necessity, and the posting then has to include a brief description of why a license is required (820 ILCS 75/17, added by HB 4758, effective January 1, 2027). It applies to employers with 15 or more employees and to employment agencies.
What is the fine for an Illinois driver's-license job posting violation?
Under 820 ILCS 75/20 the Illinois Department of Labor issues a written warning with 30 days to fix a first violation; then up to $500 for a second violation, up to $1,500 more for a third, and up to $1,500 more for every 30 days of continued non-compliance.
Is this legal advice?
No. This guide is general information based on the enacted text. It is not legal advice and does not tell you how the law applies to your business. For that, ask a licensed Illinois attorney.
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, HB 4758 (enrolled) and 820 ILCS 75/20 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.