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Eviction in St. Clair County (Belleville / East St. Louis), Illinois

Where eviction cases are filed in St. Clair County (Belleville / East St. Louis), what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.

Quick facts: eviction in St. Clair County (Belleville / East St. Louis)

Eviction court
20th Judicial Circuit Court (St. Clair County) — Circuit Court (Illinois) Court page
Filing fee
Eviction: $266 filing; possession only: $91. Residential cases add a $100 mediation fee (residential: $366; residential possession only: $191). Defendant appearance: $189 ($109 possession only). St. Clair County Circuit Clerk Fee Book, 20th Judicial Circuit (revised October 1, 2025)
Notice before filing (state law)
Written demand giving not less than 5 days after service to pay; if unpaid, landlord may end the lease and file for eviction. To keep partial payments from invalidating the notice, it must state that only FULL PAYMENT waives the right to terminate. Illinois rules
HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-bedroom (FY2026)
$1,218/month HUD
Renter households
31,823 (32% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024

Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-23

Where eviction cases are filed in St. Clair County (Belleville / East St. Louis)

Eviction cases in St. Clair County (Belleville / East St. Louis) are heard by the 20th Judicial Circuit Court (St. Clair County) (Circuit Court (Illinois)).

Court eviction page · E-filing · Search court records · Self-help center

Circuit Clerk (618) 277-6600, Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9, e-filing is required in civil cases for attorneys and self-represented litigants unless an exemption applies. Eviction (EV) cases are handled on the courthouse's 3rd floor (civil).

How much it costs to file an eviction in St. Clair County (Belleville / East St. Louis)

Eviction: $266 filing; possession only: $91. Residential cases add a $100 mediation fee (residential: $366; residential possession only: $191). Defendant appearance: $189 ($109 possession only).

From the court's official fee book PDF; the residential totals add the listed $100 mediation fee to the base fee. Fee waiver: Application for Waiver of Court Fees. Sheriff service fees are extra.

Source: St. Clair County Circuit Clerk Fee Book, 20th Judicial Circuit (revised October 1, 2025)

How eviction cases work locally

Residential eviction mediation feeThe fee book adds a $100 mediation fee to residential eviction filings, which indicates a court eviction mediation program; ask the Clerk how mediation is scheduled.
Source: Official source

The Illinois eviction process

Illinois state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including St. Clair County (Belleville / East St. Louis):

  1. Serve written notice: 5-day demand for rent, 10-day notice for lease violation, or 30-day (month-to-month) / 7-day (week-to-week) / 60-day (year-to-year) termination notice
  2. File an eviction complaint; the clerk issues a summons (residential eviction summons must include the Court-Based Rental Assistance notice in English and Spanish)
  3. Hearing/trial on the return date; tenant may have a jury trial and present defenses
  4. Eviction order (judgment for possession and any rent)
  5. Order is filed with the sheriff for enforcement; it expires if not enforced within 120 days unless extended
  6. Sheriff carries out the eviction (only the sheriff may physically remove the tenant)

Full Illinois eviction rules with sources →

Rent in St. Clair County (Belleville / East St. Louis)

HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the St. Louis, MO-IL HUD Metro FMR Area (the rent levels used for Section 8 vouchers):

Studio$955
1 bedroom$995
2 bedrooms$1,218
3 bedrooms$1,568
4 bedrooms$1,812

Source: HUD Fair Market Rent documentation

Median gross rent in St. Clair County (Belleville / East St. Louis): $1,090/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).

Metro-wide FMRs shown. HUD designates this area for Small Area FMRs (ZIP-code-level) for Housing Choice Voucher programs; ZIP-level values are on the county summary page.

County tenant ordinance

No county-level landlord-tenant ordinance identified; city rules (if any) live on city pages.

Eviction help in St. Clair County (Belleville / East St. Louis)

Free legal help

Rental assistance

Other Illinois counties

Related

Frequently asked questions

Where do I file an eviction in St. Clair County (Belleville / East St. Louis)?
Eviction cases in St. Clair County (Belleville / East St. Louis) are filed with the 20th Judicial Circuit Court (St. Clair County).
How much does it cost to file an eviction in St. Clair County (Belleville / East St. Louis)?
Eviction: $266 filing; possession only: $91. Residential cases add a $100 mediation fee (residential: $366; residential possession only: $191). Defendant appearance: $189 ($109 possession only).
Where can I get help with an eviction in St. Clair County (Belleville / East St. Louis)?
Land of Lincoln Legal Aid (Central Regional Office); Illinois Legal Aid Online; Illinois Court-Based Rental Assistance Program (IHDA).
What is the fair market rent in St. Clair County (Belleville / East St. Louis)?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit is $1,218 per month (1-bedroom: $995).

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.