Key answer: No statewide cap — courts review fees for reasonableness. None (current law).
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fee cap | No statewide cap — courts review fees for reasonableness |
| Grace period | None (current law) |
| Must be in lease? | Best practice — state the fee in the lease |
| Source | IL SB1964 (pending — not law) |
With monthly rent $1500, there is no current statutory maximum. If SB1964 becomes law, no fee could be charged within the first 7 days and no fee could exceed $25.
What is the maximum late fee a landlord can charge in Illinois?
No statewide cap — courts review fees for reasonableness.
When can a landlord charge a late fee in Illinois?
In Illinois, a fee can be charged as soon as rent is late, if the lease allows it.
Does the late fee have to be in the lease in Illinois?
Best practice — state the fee in the lease.
Can a landlord charge a daily late fee in Illinois?
Only if the lease allows it and the total charge stays reasonable — courts may treat very high daily charges as penalties.
What happens if a landlord charges an excessive late fee in Illinois?
A fee a court finds unreasonable is at risk. The pending SB1964, if enacted, would impose a 7-day grace and a $25 cap — it is not yet law.
Illinois: we have not confirmed a uniform statewide notice requirement — Chicago and some municipalities have their own ordinances. Check your lease and local rules.
State guides: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming · Washington D.C.
Not legal advice. Verify against your lease and local rules.
Calculate your Illinois late fee