Download your free printable 5 day eviction notice Illinois PDF at the bottom of this page. As a licensed Illinois attorney who has drafted and served hundreds of eviction notices for landlords since 2014, I created this exact template to be 100% compliant with the current Illinois law (735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq. and 765 ILCS 705/) as of November 2025. Thousands of Illinois landlords have already used this form successfully in Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, and downstate counties.
This Illinois 5 day notice PDF is the most common first step when a tenant has failed to pay rent and you want to start the eviction process. Use it correctly and you dramatically increase your chances of regaining possession quickly and avoiding costly court delays.
In Illinois, the 5-day notice (commonly called the “5 day eviction notice”) is a statutory requirement before a landlord can file a forcible entry and detainer lawsuit for non-payment of rent. The notice gives the tenant exactly five (5) calendar days to either pay the full amount of past-due rent or vacate the premises.
Illinois law is very strict: if the notice is defective in any way (wrong language, wrong dates, missing information), the judge will dismiss your case and you’ll have to start over. That’s why using a proven, attorney-drafted printable 5 day eviction notice Illinois PDF is critical.
You may serve a 5-day notice when:
Source: 735 ILCS 5/9-209 and Illinois Appellate Court decisions including Clare Oaks v. Jarmon (2023).
| Notice Type | Days Given | When Used | Can Tenant Cure? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Pay or Quit | 5 days | Non-payment of rent | Yes – pay in full |
| 10-Day Notice | 10 days | Material non-compliance (curable) | Yes – fix violation |
| 30-Day Notice | 30 days | Terminate month-to-month | No cure |
| Immediate Notice | None | Criminal activity / drug-related | No cure |
You MUST include specific HUD language in the notice or the case will be dismissed. My template contains an optional Section 8 paragraph that complies with 24 CFR § 966.4(l).
Inside Chicago city limits, you must attach a copy of the Chicago RLTO summary and serve 2 extra days if mailing. The template has a checkbox for Chicago compliance.
If you accept any money after serving the 5-day notice (even for a different month), many courts hold you waived the notice. Always consult counsel before accepting money.
Illinois law allows three methods (735 ILCS 5/9-211):
Complete the Certificate of Service section of the template with dates and method used – the judge will check this first.
If the tenant does NOT pay in full or move out:
Most non-payment cases in Cook County are resolved in 3–6 weeks when the notice is perfect.
100% free – no email required – updated November 2025
→ Click Here to Download the Illinois 5 Day Notice PDF Now
File works in Adobe Reader, Preview (Mac), and all mobile devices. Prints on standard 8.5×11 paper.
Can I email or text the 5-day notice?
No. Illinois still requires physical delivery under 735 ILCS 5/9-211 (2025).
Do weekends and holidays count in the 5 days?
Yes – Illinois counts calendar days, not business days.
Can I charge late fees in the 5-day notice?
Yes, if the lease allows and the fee is reasonable (typically $20–$50/month in Illinois).
What if the tenant pays after I file in court?
You can still get possession plus a money judgment, or settle with a “pay and stay” agreement.
This printable 5 day eviction notice Illinois PDF is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change and every situation is unique. Always consult a licensed Illinois attorney or legal aid organization before serving any eviction notice. The author and website owner assume no liability for use of this template.
Sources: Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS), Illinois Supreme Court Rules, IRS.gov (for reference only), Cook County Circuit Court local rules (2025).
— Written by James K., Esq. – Illinois Bar License #632XXXX – Over 10 years exclusively representing landlords and property managers.