Quick answer: In a building with five or more units, an Illinois landlord that wants to keep part of a security deposit for damage must send an itemized statement within 30 days after the tenant vacated, with paid receipts. If it does not, it must return the whole deposit within 45 days.
This Illinois security deposit return deadline calculator applies the Security Deposit Return Act, 765 ILCS 710/1. Enter the date the tenant vacated and the size of the building: it shows the 30-day statement deadline, the 45-day full-return deadline, whether a statement was on time and when paid receipts are due. It does not decide whether a deduction is allowed.
Illinois security deposit return rules at a glance
| Rule | What Illinois says |
|---|---|
| Who it covers | A lessor of residential property with five or more units (765 ILCS 710/1(a)) |
| Statement | Within 30 days after the tenant vacated: an itemized statement of the damage and the estimated or actual cost, with paid receipts (710/1(a)) |
| Estimates | If estimated costs are given, paid receipts within 30 days after the statement (710/1(a)) |
| No statement | The whole deposit goes back within 45 days after the tenant vacated (710/1(a)) |
| Lease amounts | A written lease may fix the cost of cleaning or repair for damage beyond normal wear and tear (710/1(a)) |
| Penalty | Twice the deposit plus costs and attorney’s fees if the lessor refused or acted in bad faith (710/1(c)) |
| Delivery | Personally, by postmarked mail or by e-mail to a verified address (710/1(a)) |
| Counting | A last day that is a Saturday, Sunday or holiday is excluded (5 ILCS 70/1.11) |
How does the Illinois deposit return deadline work?
- The 30 and 45 days. See how long a landlord has to return a security deposit in Illinois.
- What can be kept, and the receipts. See Illinois security deposit deductions.
- Addresses, interest and local rules. See the Illinois forwarding address, interest and local ordinance rules for deposits.
What does this deposit deadline calculator check?
The calculator adds 30 and 45 calendar days to the date the tenant vacated and moves a last day that falls on a Saturday, Sunday or state holiday to the next business day under 5 ILCS 70/1.11, using the holidays in 10 ILCS 5/1-6. It applies only to buildings with five or more units; for smaller buildings it says so. It does not know when anything was mailed or whether Chicago or another local ordinance gives the tenant more. The cap on what a landlord may collect is a separate question: see the Illinois security deposit limit calculator.
Related Illinois landlord-tenant calculators
These four calculators cover the same tenancy from different angles. From here you can go to the Illinois security deposit limit calculator for the most a landlord may ask for as a deposit, the Illinois eviction notice calculator for the notice period before a lease can end and the Illinois eviction timeline calculator for the earliest legal dates once an eviction case starts. Each one cites its own Illinois statutes and shows only what the law says.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an Illinois landlord have to return a security deposit?
In a building with five or more units, the landlord has 30 days after the tenant vacated to send an itemized statement of damage with receipts, and must return the whole deposit within 45 days if it does not.
What must the statement include?
An itemized statement of the damage and the estimated or actual cost of repairing or replacing each item, with paid receipts or copies.
What if the landlord only has estimates?
It must send the paid receipts within 30 days after the statement that gave the estimates.
What can a tenant recover if the landlord refuses?
On a finding that the landlord refused to supply the statement or supplied it in bad faith and did not return the deposit, twice the deposit plus costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.
Does the Act cover small buildings?
The statewide Act covers lessors of residential property with five or more units.
Can the lease set repair costs?
A written lease may specify the cost for cleaning, repair or replacement, for damage beyond normal wear and tear, and the statement must reference it.