Illinois Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
Illinois rules on lockouts, utility shutoffs & retaliation for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: Illinois landlords must file a lawsuit to evict. The Illinois Attorney General states that a landlord may not evict a tenant by locking the tenant out, changing the locks, or removing the tenant's belongings, and that only a sheriff can physically remove a tenant after a court order. Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws (fact sheet, 01/24), pp. 2-3
The rules in Illinois
| Lockouts and illegal eviction | Illinois landlords must file a lawsuit to evict. The Illinois Attorney General states that a landlord may not evict a tenant by locking the tenant out, changing the locks, or removing the tenant's belongings, and that only a sheriff can physically remove a tenant after a court order. Local ordinances (such as Chicago's) may add penalties. |
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| Landlord shutting off utilities | According to the Illinois Attorney General, a landlord must go to court to evict a tenant and cannot make a tenant move by turning off the utilities. Under the Illinois Rental Property Utility Service Act, if the landlord fails to pay a utility bill the landlord is legally responsible for, the tenant may pay the bill and deduct the payment from the rent. The fact sheet also lists, as an eviction defense, withholding a reasonable portion of rent when the landlord failed to maintain utilities it was responsible for. Chicago and some other cities have their own ordinances. |
| Landlord retaliation | Landlord may not knowingly terminate, raise rent, decrease services, sue or threaten to sue for possession, or refuse to renew because the tenant in good faith complained of code violations to government or a community organization, requested repairs, joined/organized a tenants' union, testified about conditions, or exercised any legal right. Rebuttable presumption of retaliation if protected activity occurred within one year before the landlord's act. Remedies: defense to eviction, termination, recovery of possession, and the greater of 2 months' rent or 2 times damages, plus attorney's fees. New act eff. 1-1-25 (P.A. 103-831) replaced and repealed the Retaliatory Eviction Act (765 ILCS 720); § 20 amended by P.A. 104-417 (eff. 8-15-25). Not retaliatory if landlord proves a legitimate basis or began the action first. |
Related questions
Illinois vs. neighboring states
| State | Lockouts and illegal eviction | Landlord shutting off utilities | Landlord retaliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | Illinois landlords must file a lawsuit to evict. The Illinois Attorney General states that a landlord may not evict a tenant by locking the tenant out, changing the locks, or removing the tenant's belongings, and that only a sheriff can physically remove a tenant after a court order. Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws (fact sheet, 01/24), pp. 2-3 | According to the Illinois Attorney General, a landlord must go to court to evict a tenant and cannot make a tenant move by turning off the utilities. Under the Illinois Rental Property Utility Service Act, if the landlord fails to pay a utility bill the landlord is legally responsible for, the tenant may pay the bill and deduct the payment from the rent. Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws (fact sheet, 01/24), p. 2 | Landlord may not knowingly terminate, raise rent, decrease services, sue or threaten to sue for possession, or refuse to renew because the tenant in good faith complained of code violations to government or a community organization, requested repairs, joined/organized a tenants' union, testified about conditions, or exercised any legal right. Rebuttable presumption of retaliation if protected activity occurred within one year before the landlord's act. Remedies: defense to eviction, termination, recovery of possession, and the greater of 2 months' rent or 2 times damages, plus attorney's fees. 765 ILCS 721/5-20 (Landlord Retaliation Act) |
| Indiana | According to the Indiana courts' Small Claims Manual, a landlord may not lock a tenant out unless the tenant has abandoned the home, and an illegal lockout can lead to punitive damages. A tenant locked out by changed locks can file a small claims case for emergency possessory relief. A landlord also may not hold a tenant's belongings as security for unpaid rent unless a court allows it, and removing a tenant with the sheriff requires a court order. Indiana Office of Court Services, Small Claims Manual (2026, updated 12/23/2025), pp. 31-32, 36-38 | According to the Indiana courts' Small Claims Manual, a landlord generally may shut off utilities only when the tenant has abandoned the home and the utilities are in the landlord's name. An illegal utility shutoff can lead to a judgment for punitive damages against the landlord. A tenant whose landlord interrupts or shuts off utilities or other essential services can file a small claims case for emergency possessory relief. Indiana Office of Court Services, Small Claims Manual (2026, updated 12/23/2025), pp. 36, 38 | Landlord may not raise rent, decrease/interfere with services, or bring or threaten an eviction/possession action in response to a tenant complaining to a code-enforcement agency about health/safety violations, complaining in writing to the landlord about IC 32-31-5-6 or 32-31-8-5 violations, suing under IC 32-31-6 or 32-31-8, joining a tenant organization, or testifying against the landlord. No statutory presumption period. Exceptions include non-renewal at end of term, market-rate rent increases, and evictions for unpaid rent or health/safety lease violations. IC 32-31-8.5-2 through 32-31-8.5-6 |
| Iowa | A landlord may not recover or take possession except after abandonment or surrender or as the landlord-tenant law permits (such as a court eviction). If the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease, and in either case recover actual damages, punitive damages of up to twice the monthly rent, and reasonable attorney fees. If the lease ends, the landlord must return all prepaid rent and the security deposit. Iowa Code §§ 562A.26, 562A.33 | A landlord may not take possession by willfully interrupting electric, gas, water or other essential service, except after abandonment, surrender or as the law allows. If the landlord willfully cuts essential services, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease, and in either case recover actual damages, punitive damages of up to twice the monthly rent, and reasonable attorney fees. Separately, if the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to supply heat, running water, hot water or essential services, the tenant may give written notice and buy them and deduct the cost from rent, or recover reduced rental value. Iowa Code §§ 562A.33, 562A.26, 562A.23 | Landlord may not raise rent, decrease services, or bring or threaten an action for possession after the tenant complains to a code-enforcement agency about a health/safety violation, complains to the landlord about a § 562A.15 violation, or organizes or joins a tenants' union. A good-faith complaint within one year before the alleged retaliation creates a presumption of retaliation. Tenant may recover actual damages and attorney fees and has a defense to eviction. Iowa Code § 562A.36 |
| Kentucky | In areas that have adopted Kentucky's landlord-tenant act, a landlord who unlawfully removes or shuts out a tenant (for example by changing the locks) faces the tenant's choice to recover possession or end the lease, plus up to three months' periodic rent and a reasonable attorney's fee; if the lease ends, all prepaid rent must be returned (KRS 383.655). KRS 383.655 | In areas that have adopted Kentucky's landlord-tenant act, if a landlord willfully cuts off or interrupts heat, running water, hot water, electricity, gas or another essential service, the tenant may get back possession or end the lease, and in either case recover up to three months' rent plus reasonable attorney's fees; if the lease ends, the landlord must return all prepaid rent (KRS 383.655). Separately, if the landlord willfully fails to supply those services, after written notice the tenant may buy the service and deduct the cost from rent, recover damages for the reduced rental value, or move to substitute housing and pay no rent for that time (KRS 383.640). KRS 383.655; KRS 383.640 | URLTA areas: landlord may not raise rent, decrease services, or bring or threaten eviction after a tenant complains to a code agency, complains to the landlord about KRS 383.595 maintenance duties, or joins/organizes a tenants' union. A complaint within one year before the act creates a presumption of retaliation. Remedies: those in KRS 383.655 (up to 3 months' rent plus attorney fees) and a defense to eviction. Non-URLTA areas: no statute. KRS 383.705 |
| Missouri | A landlord or agent who removes or shuts out a tenant or the tenant's belongings without court process and a court order, or removes the doors or locks, is deemed guilty of 'forcible entry and detainer' under RSMo chapter 534 (except as allowed by RSMo 441.065). After an eviction judgment, if the officer does not deliver possession within seven days of receiving the writ, the landlord may, within 60 days of the judgment and in the presence of a law enforcement officer, break and remove locks and take possession without breach of the peace. RSMo 441.233.1; RSMo 441.060.5 | A landlord or its agent who willfully cuts services to a tenant by interrupting or causing the interruption of essential services - including electric, gas, water or sewer service - to the tenant or the premises is deemed guilty of 'forcible entry and detainer' under RSMo chapter 534, unless the landlord did so for health or safety reasons. RSMo 441.233.2 | No general statewide anti-retaliation statute for residential tenants. RSMo Chs. 441, 534 and 535 (no section on retaliation) |
| Wisconsin | No landlord may exclude, forcibly evict or constructively evict a tenant except through the eviction procedure in Wis. Stat. chapter 799 (a court eviction). A landlord also may not seize or hold a tenant's belongings unless a statute or a separate signed agreement allows it. Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.09(4), (7) | A landlord may not exclude a tenant or forcibly or constructively evict a tenant except through the court eviction procedure. The state rental practices rule specifically lists cutting off or substantially reducing heat, water or electricity as a forbidden way to constructively evict a tenant in retaliation for reporting code violations, joining a tenant union or asserting tenant rights. Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.09(5), (7) | Landlord may not raise rent, decrease services, bring an eviction, refuse to renew, or threaten any of these because the tenant: complained in good faith about a defect to a public official or local code-enforcement agency, complained to the landlord about a § 704.07 or housing-code violation, or exercised a legal tenant right. ATCP 134.09(5) also protects joining or organizing a tenants' union, and a lease allowing retaliation for calling police, health, or safety services is void. Wis. Stat. § 704.45; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.09(5); Wis. Stat. § 704.44(1m) |
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Illinois Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation FAQ
Can a landlord change the locks without a court order in Illinois?
Illinois landlords must file a lawsuit to evict. The Illinois Attorney General states that a landlord may not evict a tenant by locking the tenant out, changing the locks, or removing the tenant's belongings, and that only a sheriff can physically remove a tenant after a court order. (Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws (fact sheet, 01/24), pp. 2-3)
Can a landlord shut off utilities in Illinois?
According to the Illinois Attorney General, a landlord must go to court to evict a tenant and cannot make a tenant move by turning off the utilities. Under the Illinois Rental Property Utility Service Act, if the landlord fails to pay a utility bill the landlord is legally responsible for, the tenant may pay the bill and deduct the payment from the rent. (Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws (fact sheet, 01/24), p. 2)
Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Illinois?
Landlord may not knowingly terminate, raise rent, decrease services, sue or threaten to sue for possession, or refuse to renew because the tenant in good faith complained of code violations to government or a community organization, requested repairs, joined/organized a tenants' union, testified about conditions, or exercised any legal right. Rebuttable presumption of retaliation if protected activity occurred within one year before the landlord's act. Remedies: defense to eviction, termination, recovery of possession, and the greater of 2 months' rent or 2 times damages, plus attorney's fees. (765 ILCS 721/5-20 (Landlord Retaliation Act))
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.