How long does an eviction take in Illinois?
For unpaid rent, expect about 6 weeks from the first notice to the lockout in Illinois, and anywhere from 3.5 to 14.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Illinois eviction timeline, step by step
- Notice to pay or leave 5 daysofficial source
5 days to pay or move (735 ILCS 5/9-209) source · secondary source - File the case and get a judgment about 14-60 days (typical 28)official 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
Timeline model: notice + filing-to-judgment window + judgment-to-lockout window; the high case adds 21 days for a contested hearing. Methodology.
Can the tenant pay and stay?
Can pay in full during the notice period. official source source
Eviction costs in Illinois
| 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: Cook County Sheriff service: $60 e-filed, $95 in person official source source |
| Sheriff/marshal lockout | $65-$95 | Cook County: Cook County Sheriff eviction filing: $65 e-filed, $95 in person official source source |
| Lawyer, uncontested | $500-$1,500 | National rough estimate, not state-specific estimate |
| Lawyer, contested | $2,000-$5,000+ | National rough estimate estimate |
| Median gross rent | $1,322/mo | Census ACS 2024 1-year (±$12) data file |
Tenant protections
| Statewide rent control | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Statewide just-cause rules | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Right to counsel for tenants | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Seasonal or weather limits | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Required mediation / pre-filing program | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
Eviction cost calculator for Illinois
| 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.
Tenant screening
Reserved for a tenant-screening partner (credit, eviction and background checks). No partner yet; nothing here is a recommendation.
Rent-guarantee insurance
Reserved for a rent-guarantee or landlord insurance partner that covers unpaid rent and eviction costs. No partner yet.
Landlord-friendliness score: 77/100
Timeline 33.3/50 · right to cure 14/20 · statewide protections 30/30. How the score works.
Illinois eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Illinois?
A nonpayment eviction in Illinois typically takes about 6 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 3.5 to 14.5 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an EvictionMath estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked 2026-10-17.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Illinois?
5 days to pay or move (735 ILCS 5/9-209).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Illinois by paying the rent?
Can pay in full during the notice period.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Illinois?
The filing fee we found is $287-$388 (Cook County). That is a local example, not a statewide fee, and other courts charge different amounts. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
Is Illinois landlord-friendly for evictions?
Illinois scores 77 out of 100 on the EvictionMath landlord-friendliness score (timeline 33.3/50, right to cure 14/20, statewide tenant protections 30/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
| Field | Source type | Link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice period | official source | www.ilga.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Notice period (backup) | secondary source | www.nolo.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Court deadlines | official source | ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net | 2026-10-17 |
| Judgment to lockout | official source | www.cookcountycourtil.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Appeal | 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 |
| Median rent | official source | census.gov (ACS B25064) | 2026-10-17 |
Not yet verified for Illinois: post judgment days. Fields we couldn't source are left blank, never guessed. Found an error? Laws change; tell us via the newsletter reply.
Compare similar states
Illinois (77, 6 wk) · Rhode Island (77, 4.5 wk) · Georgia (79, 4 wk) · Michigan (75, 4 wk) · Tennessee (79, 5.5 wk)