How long does an eviction take in Chicago?
For unpaid rent in Chicago (Cook County), expect about 6 weeks from notice to lockout under Illinois's deadlines, or 3.5 to 14.5 weeks if the case is contested. Local rules add costs and steps, listed below. Court: Circuit Court of Cook County (eviction), enforced by the Cook County Sheriff. Estimate your cost ↓
Chicago eviction timeline
These deadlines come from Illinois law, as on the Illinois page. We found no separate city notice period for nonpayment.
- Notice to pay or leave 5 daysofficial source
5 days to pay or move (735 ILCS 5/9-209) source · second source - File the case and get a judgment about 14-60 daysofficial source
Summons must be served at least 7 days before the court date; tenant appears on that date source - Judgment to lockout 5-14 days (national default)official source
Tenant must leave by the date in the eviction order; the sheriff enforces it source - If the tenant appeals 30-day windowofficial source
30 days to file a notice of appeal; the eviction is stayed only with a court-approved bond (Ill. S. Ct. Rule 305) source
Local rules that change the answer
- RLTO late fee cap: $10/month on the first $500 of rent plus 5% of rent above $500 (5-12-140(h)). official source source
- Fair Notice: ending or not renewing a lease, or raising rent, needs 30/60/120 days' notice depending on how long the tenant has lived there; this doesn't apply once a nonpayment eviction has begun (5-12-130(j)). official source source
- Only the Cook County Sheriff may carry out an eviction; evictions are scheduled in filing order, and the landlord or a representative must be on site. official source source
Can the tenant pay and stay?
Under Chicago's RLTO, the tenant has a one-time right to cure: paying all rent owed plus the landlord's filing and service costs (not attorney's fees) at any time before the order of possession gets the case dismissed. official source source · second source
Eviction costs in Chicago
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $287-$388 | Cook County: Cook County Circuit Court: eviction for possession only $287; joint action (possession + rent) $379-$388 depending on the amount claimed official source source |
| Serving the tenant | $60-$95 | Cook County Sheriff: Cook County Sheriff service: $60 e-filed, $95 in person official source source |
| Sheriff/marshal lockout | $65-$95 | Cook County Sheriff: Cook County Sheriff eviction filing: $65 e-filed, $95 in person at the Daley Center; the same fee applies again to reschedule official source source |
| Lawyer, uncontested | $500-$1,500 | National rough estimate; big-city rates often run higher estimate |
| Median gross rent | $1,486/mo | Census ACS 2024 1-year (B25064): city $1,486 (±$24); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro $1,469 (±$13); Cook County $1,475 (±$16) data |
Tenant protections in Chicago
| Just-cause eviction rules | No (city law) | None in the RLTO (Chicago Municipal Code ch. 5-12); a broader renter-protection ordinance was still pending in City Council in Sept 2026 official source source |
| Rent control / stabilization | No (city law) | None found in the city sources we checked unverified |
| Right to counsel for tenants | No (city law) | Not a legal right yet: Chicago runs a Right to Counsel program giving full representation to eligible tenants, building on Cook County's Early Resolution Program (free legal advice and mediation in eviction court) official source source |
| Seasonal / weather limits | Yes (city law) | The Sheriff cancels evictions in extreme weather by court order (Cook County Circuit Court General Order 13-07 cited on the Sheriff's page) official source source |
| Required mediation / pre-filing program | No (state law) | None statewide found in the sources we checked unverified |
| Relocation payments (no-fault evictions) | No (city law) | None found in the city and state sources we checked unverified |
Eviction cost calculator for Chicago
| What | Typical | Low to high |
|---|
Full timeline and sources · Total = rent × (months behind + months to evict + months to re-rent) + court fees + lawyer + turnover. How we calculate.
City score: 67/100
Timeline 33.3/50 · right to cure 7/20 · protections 27/30 (city and state rules together). The statewide Illinois score is 77. How the score works.
Chicago eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Chicago?
For unpaid rent, about 6 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 3.5 to 14.5 weeks, based on Illinois's notice and court deadlines. We found no official statistic on actual court wait times here, so this is a rule-based estimate.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Chicago?
The court filing fee is $287-$388 (Cook County). The sheriff or marshal lockout fee is $65-$95 (Cook County Sheriff). Serving the tenant costs $60-$95. Lawyer fees are extra (national rough estimate $500-$1,500 uncontested).
What tenant protections apply in Chicago?
City and state rules include seasonal / weather limits.
Can a tenant in Chicago stop the eviction by paying?
Under Chicago's RLTO, the tenant has a one-time right to cure: paying all rent owed plus the landlord's filing and service costs (not attorney's fees) at any time before the order of possession gets the case dismissed.
What local rule do landlords in Chicago often miss?
RLTO late fee cap: $10/month on the first $500 of rent plus 5% of rent above $500 (5-12-140(h)).
Sources and last-checked dates
| Field | Source type | Link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice period (state law) | official source | www.ilga.gov · second source | 2026-10-17 |
| Court deadlines (state law) | official source | ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net | 2026-10-17 |
| Judgment to lockout (state law) | official source | www.cookcountycourtil.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Appeal (state law) | official source | www.illinoiscourts.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Filing fee | official source | services.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org | 2026-10-17 |
| Service fee | official source | cookcountysheriffil.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Lockout fee | official source | cookcountysheriffil.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Right to cure | official source | codelibrary.amlegal.com · second source | 2026-10-17 |
| Court wait | unverified | none found | 2026-10-17 |
| Just-cause eviction rules | official source | codelibrary.amlegal.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Right to counsel for tenants | official source | www.chicago.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Seasonal / weather limits | official source | cookcountysheriffil.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Local rule | official source | codelibrary.amlegal.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Local rule | official source | www.chicago.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Local rule | official source | cookcountysheriffil.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Median rent | official source | census.gov (ACS B25064) | 2026-10-17 |
Not yet verified for Chicago: court wait, state post judgment days. Fields we couldn't source are left blank, never guessed.
Other big cities
New York City (11.5 wk) · Los Angeles (8.5 wk) · San Francisco (8.5 wk) · Washington, DC (16.5 wk)