Illinois 5-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit (735 ILCS 5/9-209)

Under 735 ILCS 5/9-209, a valid Illinois 5-day notice must state:

• Tenant's name
• Property address (unit number included)
• Amount of rent due
• Demand that the tenant pay within 5 days or surrender possession
• Landlord or agent's name and address

The dollar amount must be exact. Including charges other than rent (management fees, etc.) that aren't authorized in the lease may invalidate the notice.

Illinois counts calendar days. The day of service is not counted as Day 1.

• Served Monday: Day 1 = Tuesday, Day 5 = Saturday
• If Day 5 is a Sunday or court holiday, deadline extends to next business day

Mail service: If served by mail, add 3 days to the notice period. Most Illinois landlords use personal service or door posting to avoid the mail extension.

Properties in Chicago subject to the RLTO require additional steps:

• The notice must state the specific amount of rent owed per month
• Chicago courts have held that a 5-day notice must be strictly compliant with the RLTO — missing any element voids the notice
• Some Chicago judges expect the notice period to be 14 days for covered properties

NoticeGen detects Chicago addresses and applies RLTO requirements automatically.

1. Personal delivery to the tenant
2. Leaving with a person 13+ at the premises plus mailing a copy
3. Posting on the door if no one is home

Document your service method. Illinois courts are strict about service documentation — the proof of service affidavit in your NoticeGen package covers this.