How to send a late rent notice in Illinois

In Illinois, a late rent notice may be delivered by hand delivery, substituted service, certified mail with electronic return receipt; certified mail is permitted. The notice period is 5 days.

Last reviewed September 21, 2026 · Business research, not legal advice.

Requirement	Illinois late rent notice
Delivery method	Hand delivery, substituted service, certified mail with electronic return receipt — Cortul also sends a First-Class copy.
Notice period	5 days (counted as the statute directs)
Deemed received	When the recipient signs for it
Notice must include	A written demand for the rent due (rent only, not late fees or other charges), terminating the lease unless paid within a time stated in the notice, not less than 5 days after service (735 ILCS 5/9-209) Prominently: only FULL PAYMENT of the rent demanded waives the landlord's right to terminate, unless the landlord agrees in writing to continue the lease for partial payment (9-209) Served by delivery, by leaving it with a person 13 or older on the premises, or by certified or registered mail with a returned receipt from the addressee (9-211)
If refused or unclaimed	keep the certified record.
Statutes	735 ILCS 5/9-209 (P.A. 100-173); 5/9-211

Step by step

Write the notice with every required element (the Illinois template in Cortul already has them).
Verify the recipient's mailing address with USPS.
Send it by a method the law allows, and keep a mailed copy.
Keep the mailing and tracking records, and your own record of any service you did yourself.
Calendar the deadline from the mailing date.