Peoria, IL Rental Property Rules: Just Cause Eviction (2026)

Illinois does not generally require landlords to have 'good cause' to end a tenancy outside of localities that have enacted their own just-cause ordinances (Chicago through the Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance and Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance, and unincorporated Cook County through its Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance). Peoria has not enacted any equivalent measure. Termination of a Peoria tenancy is governed by the Illinois Eviction Act in the Code of Civil Procedure, Article IX, codified at 735 ILCS 5/9-101 through 5/9-321. Key notice rules: (1) 735 ILCS 5/9-207 requires 30 days' written notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy, given at any time without a stated reason; (2) 735 ILCS 5/9-209 requires a 5-day written demand for nonpayment of rent before suit may be filed; (3) 735 ILCS 5/9-210 requires a 10-day written notice to cure for material breach of the lease (such as unauthorized occupant, property damage, or other violation); (4) week-to-week tenancies require 7 days' notice under 735 ILCS 5/9-207; (5) fixed-term leases generally end automatically on the expiration date without notice unless the lease or local law requires renewal notice. A landlord may not engage in self-help (lock changes, utility shutoffs, removal of belongings) and must obtain a judgment in the circuit court before the sheriff can physically remove the tenant; the Forcible Entry and Detainer / Eviction Act prohibits private removal. Retaliatory eviction (eviction triggered by a tenant's code complaint) is independently prohibited under the Illinois Retaliatory Eviction Act, 765 ILCS 720/. Source-of-income (Section 8) discrimination, prohibited statewide since 2023 under the Illinois Human Rights Act, prevents Peoria landlords from refusing to renew solely because the tenant uses a voucher. Eviction sealing under 735 ILCS 5/9-121 allows tenants to petition for case sealing in certain circumstances.