10-day notice of lease violation (Chicago landlord)
Legal advice recommended before use.
When a tenant in an RLTO-covered unit violates a lease term other than failing to pay rent — an unauthorized occupant, a lease-violating pet, property damage, or another material breach — the RLTO generally requires a landlord to give written notice of the violation and an opportunity to cure before terminating the tenancy, commonly described as 10 days under Municipal Code of Chicago § 5-12-130. This is a different notice from the statewide 5-day nonpayment-of-rent demand under 735 ILCS 5/9-209 (see our 5-day notice template) — using the wrong one for the situation can create problems if the case is ever contested in court. Confirm the current exact notice period and cure procedure under MCC § 5-12-130 before relying on this template, since RLTO notice mechanics are exactly the kind of detail worth verifying.
Fill it in
/ fields completedType your details on the left and watch the document fill in on the right — then download a completed PDF. Nothing is saved; it all stays in your browser.
This document uses aligned columns, so it always prints in typewriter spacing to keep them lined up.
Changes both the preview and the downloaded PDF.
This is a template, not legal advice, and has not yet been reviewed by a licensed Illinois attorney. Confirm the current notice period and cure procedure under MCC § 5-12-130, and confirm the unit is RLTO-covered, before serving. Many landlords have an attorney handle eviction-related filings.
Preview opens the real PDF in a new tab, with your details and font already applied — nothing is saved until you download or send it.
Or send it for e-signature — free with an account
Log in or create a free account to send this document for e-signature and keep a record in "My documents."
Email this PDF to me
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from the 5-day notice?
The 5-day notice under 735 ILCS 5/9-209 is specifically for unpaid rent, and is a statewide statute. This 10-day notice addresses a different kind of problem — a lease violation other than nonpayment — under the RLTO specifically (for RLTO-covered units). Using the wrong notice for the situation can create problems if the case is contested.
Does the tenant get a chance to fix the problem?
For many lease violations, yes — the RLTO's notice-and-cure structure commonly gives the tenant the notice period to remedy the violation before the landlord can proceed further. Confirm current requirements, since not every violation may be treated as curable in the same way.
Does this apply to every Chicago rental?
Only to RLTO-covered units. Owner-occupied buildings with 6 units or fewer are generally exempt from most of the RLTO, including this notice requirement (MCC § 5-12-020(a)) — see our RLTO coverage guide to confirm.
What happens if the tenant doesn't cure the violation in 10 days?
The landlord may then proceed with further legal action, including filing an eviction case, to recover possession. This notice by itself doesn't evict anyone — only a court order can do that.
Sign your Chicago lease online — free
Create a compliant Chicago lease and send it to your tenant to sign. Free for landlords.
Join the waitlist