Chicago's Fair Notice Ordinance: How Much Notice You're Owed Before a No-Fault Move-Out

Before 2020, a Chicago landlord who wanted to end a month-to-month tenancy without a specific cause, or decline to renew a lease, generally only had to give 30 days' notice — no matter whether the tenant had lived there for two months or twenty years. The Fair Notice Ordinance changed that by tying the required notice to how long the tenant has actually lived there.

This is educational information, not legal advice.

What the Fair Notice Ordinance is

Approved by the Chicago City Council in July 2020, the Fair Notice Ordinance amended the RLTO (Municipal Code of Chicago § 5-12-130) to create a tiered notice system for a landlord ending a tenancy without cause, or raising the rent, based on how long the tenancy has run. It applies whether the tenancy is under a written lease or an informal month-to-month arrangement.

The three tiers

• Under 6 months of tenancy: at least 30 days' notice.
• 6 months up to 3 years of tenancy: at least 60 days' notice.
• 3 years or more of tenancy: at least 120 days' notice.

Confirm the current exact thresholds and effective dates before relying on a specific number for a borderline case (for example, a tenancy right around the 6-month or 3-year mark) — this is exactly the kind of boundary detail worth checking against the current ordinance text or a housing attorney.

What this notice period is for

The Fair Notice Ordinance's tiers apply to no-fault terminations — a landlord deciding not to renew, ending a periodic tenancy, or raising the rent — not to a termination based on the tenant's own lease violation or nonpayment of rent, which follow their own separate notice rules (see our guides on the 5-day and 10-day notices). A rent increase is treated like a change to the terms of tenancy and generally requires the same tiered notice as ending the tenancy would.

What happens if a landlord doesn't give enough notice

If a landlord fails to provide the required notice period, tenants generally have the right to either remain in the unit for the full notice period that should have been given, or to have the rent stay at the prior amount until proper notice is actually given (for a rent-increase scenario). Confirm the current exact remedy language and any additional penalties under MCC § 5-12-130 before relying on a specific outcome, since enforcement mechanics are worth verifying directly.

Does this apply to your unit?

Like most of the RLTO, the Fair Notice Ordinance's tiers generally don't apply to a unit that falls under the RLTO's owner-occupied, 6-units-or-fewer exemption (MCC § 5-12-020(a)) — see our RLTO coverage guide to check whether your building qualifies. For an exempt unit, Illinois' general landlord-tenant notice rules apply instead, which don't include this tiered structure.

How to count your tenancy length

The clock generally runs from when you first moved in and started paying rent for that unit, not from the start date of your current lease term if you've renewed multiple times while living in the same place continuously — confirm how the ordinance treats renewals and any gaps in tenancy for your specific situation, since this affects which of the three tiers applies to you.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Fair Notice Ordinance apply to an eviction for nonpayment or a lease violation?

No — it applies to no-fault terminations (ending a tenancy without a specific cause, declining to renew, or raising rent). Nonpayment of rent follows the separate statewide 5-day notice under 735 ILCS 5/9-209, and lease violations generally follow the RLTO's own 10-day notice under MCC § 5-12-130.

How long have I had to live somewhere to get the 120-day notice period?

Generally, a tenancy of 3 years or more triggers the longest tier (120 days). Confirm current exact thresholds and how continuous tenancy is measured (including through lease renewals) before relying on this for a borderline case.

Does a rent increase require the same notice as ending my tenancy?

Generally, yes — a rent increase functions as a change to the terms of tenancy and follows the same tiered notice logic. Confirm current ordinance language for exactly how this applies to your situation.

What if my landlord only gives me 30 days and I've lived here 2 years?

That would fall short of the required 60-day tier for a tenancy between 6 months and 3 years. Tenants generally have a remedy — commonly described as the right to stay for the full required notice period — but confirm the current exact remedy under MCC § 5-12-130 and consider consulting a housing attorney or tenant-rights organization if this happens to you.

Does this apply to my building if my landlord lives there?

Only if your building doesn't fall under the RLTO's owner-occupied, 6-units-or-fewer exemption. If it does, the Fair Notice Ordinance's tiers generally don't apply, and Illinois' general notice rules govern instead.