Illinois Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
Illinois rules on privacy, guests & animals for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No landlord-specific statute, but Illinois law expressly protects renters: it is a crime to knowingly video record or live-stream another person in that person's residence without consent — and 'residence' expressly includes a rental dwelling (but not stairwells, corridors, laundry… 720 ILCS 5/26-4(a-5), (a-6), (a-20), (d), (e); 720 ILCS 5/14-2
The rules in Illinois
| Cameras & privacy | No landlord-specific statute, but Illinois law expressly protects renters: it is a crime to knowingly video record or live-stream another person in that person's residence without consent — and 'residence' expressly includes a rental dwelling (but not stairwells, corridors, laundry facilities, or other areas open to the public). Placing such a device is a Class A misdemeanor; recording is a Class 4 felony. Audio recording of private conversations without the consent of all parties is eavesdropping. P.A. 104-750 amends § 26-4 effective January 1, 2027 (adds courthouse rules); the residence protections are unchanged. Common-area cameras in hallways or laundry rooms are outside the 'residence' definition. Eavesdropping statute: https://www.ilga.gov/Documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/072000050K14-2.htm |
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| Guests & occupants | No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy, and roommates statewide; landlords may make reasonable rules and regulations. Occupancy limits come from local codes and fair-housing law. Some cities (e.g., Chicago) have ordinances affecting guests and subletting. |
| Service & support animals (state law) | Illinois' Assistance Animal Integrity Act (eff. 2020) covers emotional support and service animals that qualify as a reasonable accommodation. A housing provider may require reliable documentation only if the disability or need is not readily apparent or known; documentation must be in writing, from someone with whom the person has a therapeutic relationship, and describe the disability-related need. Online certificate sellers that do no meaningful assessment do not qualify. Providers may offer a standard form but may not deny a request for not using it, may ask for documentation for each animal when more than one is requested, and may deny or rescind for undue burden, direct threat, substantial property damage, or uncontrolled behavior after an individualized assessment. Providers are immune from liability for injuries caused by a permitted assistance animal. The Act does not itself set a misrepresentation penalty or address pet fees; fee limits follow federal and state fair-housing law. Source: 310 ILCS 120/5, 120/10, 120/15 |
Related questions
- Can a landlord put cameras in or around a rental?
- Can a landlord limit overnight guests or roommates?
- Can a landlord deny a service or emotional support animal?
Illinois vs. neighboring states
| State | Cameras & privacy | Guests & occupants | Service & support animals (state law) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | No landlord-specific statute, but Illinois law expressly protects renters: it is a crime to knowingly video record or live-stream another person in that person's residence without consent — and 'residence' expressly includes a rental dwelling (but not stairwells, corridors, laundry facilities, or other areas open to the public). Placing such a device is a Class A misdemeanor; recording is a Class 4 felony. Audio recording of private conversations without the consent of all parties is eavesdropping. 720 ILCS 5/26-4(a-5), (a-6), (a-20), (d), (e); 720 ILCS 5/14-2 | No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy, and roommates statewide; landlords may make reasonable rules and regulations. Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws, p. 1 | Illinois' Assistance Animal Integrity Act (eff. 2020) covers emotional support and service animals that qualify as a reasonable accommodation. A housing provider may require reliable documentation only if the disability or need is not readily apparent or known; documentation must be in writing, from someone with whom the person has a therapeutic relationship, and describe the disability-related need. Online certificate sellers that do no meaningful assessment do not qualify. Providers may offer a standard form but may not deny a request for not using it, may ask for documentation for each animal when more than one is requested, and may deny or rescind for undue burden, direct threat, substantial property damage, or uncontrolled behavior after an individualized assessment. Providers are immune from liability for injuries caused by a permitted assistance animal. 310 ILCS 120/5, 120/10, 120/15 |
| Indiana | No landlord-specific statute. Peeping into an occupied dwelling of another person, or into an area where people are expected to disrobe (restrooms, baths, showers, dressing rooms), without consent is voyeurism — a Class B misdemeanor, raised to a Level 6 felony when committed by camera. Using a concealed camera to capture an intimate image counts as 'peeping.' A landlord must give reasonable notice before entry, enter only at reasonable times, and may not use entry to harass. IC 35-45-4-5; IC 32-31-5-6(e)–(g) | No guest statute — the lease governs guests and roommates. By statute, a landlord may refuse to rent based on a reasonable occupancy standard; a standard is presumed reasonable if it allows two people per bedroom, does not count infants under one year, and counts a den, library, finished basement, or loft that could reasonably be used for sleeping (unless codes prohibit). Kitchens, dining and living rooms, bathrooms, hallways, and closets need not be counted. IC 32-31-8-7 | Indiana has no statute specific to emotional support animals in rental housing (no state ESA documentation, fee, or misrepresentation rule identified). Indiana's fair housing law prohibits refusing reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services needed to give a person with a disability equal opportunity to use a dwelling, which covers assistance-animal requests. A separate chapter defines a service animal as a dog or miniature horse individually trained to work or perform tasks and protects access to public accommodations. IC 22-9.5-5-5; IC 16-32-3-1.5, -2 |
| Iowa | No landlord-specific statute. Knowingly viewing, photographing, or filming another person in full or partial nudity, without consent, where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, for sexual gratification, is invasion of privacy (an aggravated misdemeanor). Intercepting oral communications is unlawful unless the person is a party or one party consents. The landlord must give at least 24 hours' notice before entry (except emergencies or impracticability), enter at reasonable times, and not use access to harass. Iowa Code §§ 709.21; 808B.2; 562A.19 | No statute — the lease and reasonable landlord rules govern guests, occupancy, and roommates. Tenants may not knowingly permit anyone to damage the premises and must not disturb neighbors' peaceful enjoyment. Iowa Code § 562A.17(6), (7) | Iowa law lets a person with a disability request to keep an assistance or service animal as a reasonable accommodation; the landlord must respond within a reasonable time and in writing. If the disability or need is not readily apparent, the landlord may request supporting information, which may be a licensed provider's written finding stating, among other things, whether a provider-patient relationship (in person or telehealth) has existed for at least 30 days, the expiration date, license number, and whether a separate fee was paid for the finding. Online registrations, ID cards, patches, or certificates are not sufficient. Landlords may not request diagnosis, severity, or medical records; may require proof of licensure and vaccination; and may deny for undue hardship, fundamental alteration, direct threat, or substantial property damage. Tenants are liable for damage caused by the animal. Intentionally misrepresenting an animal as a service animal is a simple misdemeanor. Iowa Code §§ 216.8B; 216.8C; 216C.11(3) |
| Kentucky | No landlord-specific statute. Using a camera or other recording device (or entering or remaining unlawfully on another's premises) to view or record another person's sexual conduct, genitals, undergarments not publicly visible, or female nipple without consent, where the person reasonably expects not to be observed, is voyeurism (Class A misdemeanor). Using a device to overhear or record others' oral or wire communications without the consent of at least one party is eavesdropping (Class D felony). In URLTA areas, landlords must give at least two days' notice before entry (except emergencies or impracticability), enter at reasonable times, and not use access to harass. KRS 531.090; KRS 526.010, 526.020; KRS 383.615 | No statute — the lease and reasonable landlord rules govern guests, occupancy, and roommates. In URLTA areas, tenants must require people on the premises with their consent to not disturb neighbors, and landlord rules on use and occupancy are enforceable only if they meet the statute's conditions (for example, a purpose of promoting tenants' convenience, safety, or welfare or protecting the property). KRS 383.605(7); KRS 383.610 | Kentucky's assistance-animal law (statewide) covers service animals and emotional support animals. Unless the disability or need is readily apparent, a housing provider may ask for reliable documentation, including from a provider with whom the person has a therapeutic relationship — a Kentucky-licensed clinical social worker, professional counselor, APRN, psychologist, or physician with an active in-state practice (or an out-of-state provider for people moving in with an ongoing relationship); providers whose primary service is selling accommodation letters do not qualify. The provider may independently verify documents. No pet fee, pet deposit, or extra rent may be charged, but the tenant is responsible for physical damage if pet owners would be, and must follow rules that apply to all residents. Landlords are not liable for injuries caused by a permitted assistance animal. Knowingly misrepresenting a disability or need, providing false documents, or fitting a pet with an assistance-animal vest for housing is a violation with a fine up to $1,000. KRS 383.085 |
| Missouri | No landlord-specific statute. It is the crime of invasion of privacy to knowingly photograph, film or otherwise create an image of someone, without consent, while they are fully or partly nude in a place where they would reasonably expect privacy. It is also a crime to create images under or through someone's clothing. This is a class A misdemeanor, and a class E felony if the image is distributed, more than one person is captured, or it is a repeat offense. Recording conversations is lawful if the recorder is a party or one party consents (one-party consent). RSMo 565.252; RSMo 542.402.2 | No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy limits and roommates. Missouri's landlord-tenant chapters don't define guests versus tenants or give roommate rights. Separate expedited eviction procedures allow immediate removal of parties other than the tenant in certain cases involving criminal activity. RSMo ch. 441 and 535 (checked); RSMo 441.710-441.880 | It is a class C misdemeanor (class B for repeat offenses), with civil liability for actual damages, to knowingly misrepresent an animal as an assistance animal to get Fair Housing Act or Rehabilitation Act accommodations. This includes emotional support animals. Misrepresentation includes creating or providing false documents, fitting a vest or sign on an animal that isn't an assistance animal, or lying to a health care provider to get documentation. All assistance-animal documentation must come from a qualified professional as permitted under federal law. Separately, service dogs may not be subject to an extra charge in places like lodging, though the owner is liable for damage. State fair housing law bans disability discrimination. RSMo 209.204.3; RSMo 209.150.3; RSMo 213.040 |
| Wisconsin | No landlord-specific statute. It is a crime (Class A misdemeanor; felony if the victim is a minor) to knowingly install a surveillance device in a private place, or use one to observe there, with intent to observe a nude or partially nude person without consent; a 'private place' is anywhere a person may reasonably expect to be safe from being observed without knowledge and consent, and 'surveillance device' includes a peephole. It is also a crime to enter a common area of a multiunit dwelling and look into a unit for sexual gratification. Wisconsin is a one-party consent state for audio interception. Wis. Stat. 942.08; 968.31(2)(c) | No statute — ch. 704 and ATCP 134 set no statewide occupancy limit and do not define when a guest becomes a tenant; the rental agreement governs, subject to local occupancy codes and fair-housing law (family status is protected under Wis. Stat. 106.50). Wis. Stat. ch. 704; Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 134 (checked) | State fair housing law covers both trained assistance animals and emotional support animals (ESAs: animals that provide emotional support, comfort or companionship but are not trained to perform tasks). A landlord may not refuse to rent, evict, charge extra compensation, or harass because of a disability-related animal. For an ESA, the landlord may request reliable documentation of the disability and the disability-related need for the animal from a licensed health professional; for a trained animal it may request documentation as provided by statute. The tenant is liable for sanitation and damage caused by the animal. The animal may be refused if documentation is not provided, if it would impose an undue burden, or if the specific animal poses a direct threat or would cause substantial damage that cannot be reduced by another accommodation. Misrepresenting a disability or the need for an ESA to obtain housing carries a forfeiture of at least $500 (also for a health professional who misrepresents a patient's need). Wis. Stat. 106.50(1m)(im), (2r)(bg), (2r)(br) |
City rules that may add to state law
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Illinois Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules FAQ
Can a landlord put cameras in or around a rental in Illinois?
No landlord-specific statute, but Illinois law expressly protects renters: it is a crime to knowingly video record or live-stream another person in that person's residence without consent — and 'residence' expressly includes a rental dwelling (but not stairwells, corridors, laundry facilities, or other areas open to the public). Placing such a device is a Class A misdemeanor; recording is a Class 4 felony. Audio recording of private conversations without the consent of all parties is eavesdropping. (720 ILCS 5/26-4(a-5), (a-6), (a-20), (d), (e); 720 ILCS 5/14-2)
Can a landlord limit guests or roommates in Illinois?
No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy, and roommates statewide; landlords may make reasonable rules and regulations. (Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws, p. 1)
Can a landlord deny a service or emotional support animal in Illinois?
Illinois' Assistance Animal Integrity Act (eff. 2020) covers emotional support and service animals that qualify as a reasonable accommodation. A housing provider may require reliable documentation only if the disability or need is not readily apparent or known; documentation must be in writing, from someone with whom the person has a therapeutic relationship, and describe the disability-related need. Online certificate sellers that do no meaningful assessment do not qualify. Providers may offer a standard form but may not deny a request for not using it, may ask for documentation for each animal when more than one is requested, and may deny or rescind for undue burden, direct threat, substantial property damage, or uncontrolled behavior after an individualized assessment. Providers are immune from liability for injuries caused by a permitted assistance animal. (310 ILCS 120/5, 120/10, 120/15)
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.