Question 1

What is the maximum late fee a Chicago landlord can charge?

Accepted Answer

Under the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO §5-12-140), the maximum late fee is $10 per month for the first $500 of monthly rent, plus 5% per month of any rent above $500. A lease can set a lower fee, but not higher, and the fee is only enforceable if it is written into the lease.

Question 2

Does the Chicago late fee cap apply everywhere in Illinois?

Accepted Answer

No. The $10-plus-5% cap comes from the Chicago Municipal Code, not Illinois state law. Rentals outside the City of Chicago are not automatically bound by this cap — check the local municipal ordinance for the jurisdiction the unit sits in.

Question 3

Can I add late fees to a 5-day nonpayment notice in Chicago?

Accepted Answer

No. A 5-day nonpayment notice in Chicago should demand rent only. Combining rent and late fees on the same notice can render the notice defective and sink the eviction — regardless of whether the fee itself was within the RLTO cap.

Question 4

When can a Chicago landlord start charging a late fee?

Accepted Answer

The fee applies only after the tenant is late under the lease's own terms and only if the lease specifies a late fee. There is no automatic late fee in Chicago; if the lease is silent, no fee applies.

Chicago Late Fee Cap Calculator ($10 + 5%)