LaSalle County, Illinois: Small Claims for a Security Deposit
Limits: $10,000 (statewide). E-filing: Yes. Court: Circuit Court of LaSalle County - Small Claims.
Filing facts
| State small claims limits | $10,000 (statewide) |
|---|---|
| Statewide filing fee | Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website |
| E-filing | Yes |
| Time limit to sue in Illinois | 5 years. |
| State deposit return deadline |
|
| Penalty formula | If landlord willfully refuses to provide the required itemized statement, or provides it in bad faith, and fails/refuses to timely return the deposit balance due, a court may award the tenant an amount equal to TWICE the security deposit due, plus court costs and reasonable attorney's fees (765 ILCS 710/1-2). Separately, under the Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 715, applies only to buildings of 25+ units in the same municipality where deposit is held 6+ months), a landlord who willfully fails to pay required interest is liable for an amount equal to the full security deposit, plus court costs and attorney's fees. Bad faith required: Yes. |
| Deposit statute | 765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act); related: 765 ILCS 715/1 (Security Deposit Interest Act) |
Where to file
Circuit Court of LaSalle County - Small Claims
Courthouse city: Ottawa
Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.
Court page checked 2026-09-21
See how to file in Illinois for the state filing procedure.
Rent and deposits in LaSalle County
County median gross rent: $906 per month.
| Bedrooms | Monthly rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $486 |
| 1 bedroom | $637 |
| 2 bedrooms | $925 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,180 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,459 |
Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $925; two months is $1,850. This is an example computed from the county median, not a legal cap or a survey of deposits. The calculations below use the one-month deposit of $925.
State legal maximum deposit in Illinois: No statutory limit.
Total households in LaSalle County: 45,092.
Renter households: 11,764 (26.1% of all households).
Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 8%. A delayed deposit refund can leave these households with less money for their next rent payment.
County rent and household source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070. Accessed .
Will my deposit claim fit the limit?
Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for LaSalle County, $925 per month.
The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.
- Compared with $10,000 (statewide), the whole deposit range fits.
A claim above the applicable limit must either be reduced to that limit or go to a different court.
Towns this court serves
A deposit claim is usually filed where the property sits or where the landlord is.
- Cedar Point
- Dalzell
- Dana
- Earlville
- Grand Ridge
- Kangley
- LaSalle
- Leland
- Leonore
- Lostant
- Marseilles
- Mendota
- Millington
- Naplate
- North Utica
- Oglesby
- Ottawa
- Peru
- Ransom
- Rutland
- Seneca
- Sheridan
- Somonauk
- Streator
- Tonica
These towns and 2 more are in LaSalle County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file.
Courthouse details
Address: 119 West Madison St., Ottawa, IL 61350
Phone: (815) 434-8671
Address and phone checked against the court's own page on 2026-09-21
Free help in LaSalle County
- Prairie State Legal Services
free civil legal help for low-income people and those over 60 in 36 northern and central Illinois counties, including eviction help through the Eviction Help Illinois Helpline
Phone: (855) 631-0811
Statewide help
- Metropolitan Tenants Organization
bilingual tenants-rights hotline and organizing help for Chicago-area renters on repairs, deposits, and landlord problems
Phone: (773) 292-4988
- Spanish Coalition for Housing
HUD-approved rental counseling connecting Chicago households to resources to keep safe, sustainable, and affordable rental housing; south office (773) 933-7575
Phone: (773) 342-7575
- Access Living
HUD-listed rental housing counseling and legal help for people with disabilities in Chicago, including disability-related housing discrimination and fair-housing testing
Phone: (312) 640-2100
These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.
From letter to filing
- Send an Illinois security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records. Give the landlord your forwarding address in writing.
- Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 14 days after your letter.
- Time limit to sue in Illinois: 5 years.
- Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.
This template uses Illinois law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.
Free Illinois template, built from verified state data
I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under Illinois law (765 ILCS 710/1), a landlord must return the deposit or respond in writing within [45 days / 30 days, see the note above] after [the event listed in the note above].
FAQ
How much does it cost to file in LaSalle County?
Statewide filing fee: Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website
How long do I have to sue?
Time limit to sue in Illinois: 5 years.
Where do I file?
Circuit Court of LaSalle County - Small Claims. Courthouse city: Ottawa. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.