Residential landlord-tenant matters throughout Massac County are governed by the Illinois Landlord Tenant Act (735 ILCS 5/9-201 et seq.) and the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710). Massac County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinance, and no municipality within the county has enacted an RLTO-style local ordinance. Eviction actions are filed in the Massac County Circuit Court in Metropolis. Located at the southern tip of Illinois where the Ohio River meets the state’s border with Kentucky, Massac County is home to one of Illinois’s most distinctive communities: Metropolis — the official hometown of Superman. The county’s economy combines the tourism draw of the Superman connection, Ohio River commerce, Shawnee National Forest proximity, and industrial employment from the Honeywell uranium hexafluoride plant, giving it a uniquely varied economic character for a county of its modest size.
5/10 — Superman capital; Honeywell industrial + Ohio River tourism
⚖️ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
5-Day Notice to Pay or Quit
Lease Violation Notice
10-Day Notice to Cure or Quit
Local RLTO Applies?
No — state law only
Court
Massac County Circuit Court, Metropolis
Avg Timeline
4–7 weeks
Governing Law
735 ILCS 5/9-201; 765 ILCS 710
Massac County Local Ordinances
Massac County has no county-wide landlord-tenant ordinance. Illinois state law governs throughout. No municipality in Massac County has enacted an RLTO-style local ordinance.
Category
Details
Rental Registration / Licensing
Massac County has no county-wide registration requirement. Metropolis may have local property maintenance code enforcement. No municipality has enacted an RLTO-style ordinance. Verify requirements with the City of Metropolis before renting.
Rent Control
None. Illinois state law (50 ILCS 825) prohibits local rent control.
Local Notice Requirements
None beyond Illinois state law. Nonpayment: 5-day notice. Lease violation: 10-day notice to cure. Month-to-month termination: 30 days written notice.
Security Deposit
Governed by 765 ILCS 710. Return within 30 days with itemized statement. Interest required for 25+ unit buildings. Wrongful withholding: twice the deposit plus attorney’s fees.
Late Fees
Capped at $20 or 20% of monthly rent, whichever is greater. Not imposable until rent is 5+ days past due.
Last verified: 2026-04-01
🏛️ Massac County Courthouse
Where landlords file eviction actions
🏛️ Courthouse Information and Locations for Illinois
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Tenant Can Cure?Yes - tenant can pay full rent demanded within 5 days to stop eviction
Days to Hearing7-21 days
Days to Writ7-14 days
Total Estimated Timeline30-60 days
Total Estimated Cost$200-$700
⚠️ Watch Out
Only FULL payment of rent demanded within 5 days cures - partial payment does NOT waive landlord right to evict (except in Chicago/Cook County where accepting any rent waives right). Chicago RLTO and Cook County RTLO add significant additional protections. Chicago Fair Notice Ordinance requires 60-120 day notice for non-renewals depending on tenancy length. Court may stay eviction 60-180 days if landlord previously gave extensions.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the Circuit Court - Forcible Entry and Detainer. Pay the filing fee (~$60-250).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Illinois eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Illinois attorney or local legal aid organization.
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Illinois landlords who screen tenants carefully before signing a lease significantly
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tenant screening in Illinois —
including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
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you identify red flags early and avoid problem tenancies altogether.
Ready to File?
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⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Underground Landlord
🏙️ Communities in Massac County
Notable cities, villages, and townships
Metropolis Brookport Joppa New Columbia
Massac County
Screen Before You Sign
Verify income at 3x rent, check court records, and use written leases on every tenancy — tourism and industrial markets both benefit from consistent practice.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Massac County, Illinois
Massac County sits at the very southern tip of Illinois where the Ohio River forms the state boundary with Kentucky — a geographic position that gives the county a frontier character and a connection to the broader Ohio River valley economy that most Illinois counties do not share. Metropolis, the county seat and only city of significant size, is internationally known as the official “Hometown of Superman” — a designation recognized by DC Comics and celebrated with a 15-foot bronze Superman statue on the downtown plaza, an annual Superman Celebration festival drawing visitors from across the country, and a Super Museum dedicated to Superman memorabilia. This pop culture identity is not merely a tourist curiosity; it gives Metropolis a brand recognition that no comparably sized Illinois city possesses and creates a modest but real tourism economy that sustains hospitality employment year-round.
The Honeywell Industrial Anchor
Beyond the Superman identity, Metropolis is home to the Honeywell Metropolis Works facility — one of the United States’ only uranium hexafluoride conversion plants, which processes uranium ore concentrate into uranium hexafluoride gas used in nuclear fuel production. The Honeywell plant is one of Massac County’s largest private employers and provides high-wage industrial employment that creates genuine rental demand from professional and technical workers well above the typical southern Illinois income level. This industrial employment anchor gives Metropolis a more resilient economic base than its small size and remote location would otherwise suggest.
Ohio River Character and Fort Massac
Fort Massac State Park — Illinois’s first state park, established in 1908 on the site of an 18th-century French and American fort on the Ohio River — anchors the southern edge of Metropolis and draws visitors to one of the region’s most scenic river overlooks. The Ohio River itself provides recreational boating, fishing, and scenic amenity. The county’s position between the Shawnee National Forest to the north and the Kentucky border to the south gives it outdoor recreation access that supplements the Superman tourism and Honeywell industrial base.
The Legal Framework
Massac County operates entirely under Illinois state law — no RLTO, no just cause ordinance. The Massac County Circuit Court in Metropolis processes eviction cases efficiently. Five-day notice for nonpayment, ten-day notice to cure for lease violations, then complaint and summons. Properly documented cases resolve within four to seven weeks. The county’s 5/10 rating — above average for its size — reflects the Honeywell industrial employment and Superman tourism creating more economic diversity than most comparably sized southern Illinois counties.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Massac County, Illinois and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the Massac County Circuit Court or a licensed Illinois attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: April 2026.
