Eviction Laws in Aurora, Illinois
Aurora is the second-largest city in Illinois with roughly 200,000 residents, straddling the Fox River about 40 miles west of downtown Chicago. The city spans four counties — Kane, DuPage, Will, and Kendall — which creates a jurisdictional reality that every Aurora landlord must understand before filing an eviction. Aurora’s renter population makes up about a third of all households, and the tenant base is exceptionally diverse: young families attracted by relatively affordable rents compared to the rest of the Chicago metro, manufacturing and warehouse workers tied to the I-88 corridor, and commuters riding the Metra BNSF line into the city. Nonpayment and unauthorized occupants are the most common reasons landlords file in Aurora, and the Fox Valley’s large immigrant population means landlords should be prepared to serve notices in both English and Spanish to avoid service challenges.
Illinois eviction law — the Forcible Entry and Detainer Act (735 ILCS 5/9) — requires landlords to serve a written notice before filing suit. For nonpayment, a 5-day notice to pay or quit is mandatory. For lease violations, a 10-day notice to cure or quit applies. Month-to-month tenancies require 30 days’ notice to terminate. After the notice period expires without compliance, the landlord files a Forcible Entry and Detainer complaint with the Circuit Court. Because Aurora sits in multiple counties, the correct courthouse depends on the property’s physical address — most Aurora properties are in Kane County (16th Judicial Circuit), but landlords with units on the east side of the city may need to file in DuPage County (18th Judicial Circuit) or Will County (12th Judicial Circuit). Filing in the wrong county means your case gets dismissed and you start over, so verify the county before you file.
Aurora & Kane County — Local Rules That Affect Landlords
No rent control. The Illinois Rent Control Preemption Act (50 ILCS 825) prohibits any municipality from enacting rent control or rent stabilization ordinances.
Multi-County Jurisdiction. Aurora is the largest city in Illinois to span four counties. Kane County handles the majority of Aurora eviction filings, but if your rental unit has a DuPage, Will, or Kendall County address, you must file in that county’s circuit court. The Kane County Clerk’s office will reject filings for properties outside its jurisdiction — always check the county before filing.
City of Aurora Rental Registration. Aurora requires landlords to register rental properties and pass periodic inspections. Properties that fail inspection may face code violations, and tenants sometimes raise housing code defenses during eviction proceedings. Keep inspection certificates current and document all repairs.
Eviction Mediation Program. Kane County offers a free eviction mediation program through the 16th Judicial Circuit. Participation is voluntary, but judges sometimes encourage mediation before proceeding to trial — landlords should be prepared for this step and understand that it can add one to two weeks to the timeline.
Security Deposit Interest. Under 765 ILCS 715, landlords holding deposits for properties with 25 or more units must pay annual interest. Aurora also has its own local deposit ordinance that mirrors state requirements. Failure to return deposits within the statutory window or to provide required disclosures can result in penalties of up to two times the deposit amount.
Kane County Judicial Center — Where Most Aurora Landlords File
Most Aurora landlords file Forcible Entry and Detainer actions at the Kane County Judicial Center, located at 37W777 Route 38, St. Charles, IL 60175, phone (630) 232-3413, open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. File a Complaint for Forcible Entry and Detainer using Illinois Supreme Court-approved forms available from the Circuit Clerk’s office or online through the Illinois Courts website. The filing fee for a possession-only action is approximately $201, plus service fees. The Kane County Sheriff serves the summons on the tenant. After service, a court date is typically set within two to four weeks. Kane County also offers an eviction mediation program — if both parties agree to mediate, the hearing may be continued to allow for that process. If the landlord prevails at trial, the court issues an Order for Possession. The Kane County Sheriff’s Office then enforces the eviction, which typically takes an additional one to three weeks. For Aurora properties in DuPage County, file at the DuPage County Courthouse at 505 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187. For Will County addresses, file at the Will County Courthouse at 14 W. Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL 60432. Self-help eviction — changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities — is illegal under Illinois law (735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq.) and can expose landlords to significant liability.
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