Bill
SB 1669
Illinois SB 1669 caps pet charges: landlords may charge either a one-time $500 pet fee or monthly pet rent ($25 small / $50 large per pet), not both; assistance animals exempt.
Status (as provided)
- Bill number: SB 1669
- Introduced: February 5, 2025 (Illinois Senate) — Sponsor: Sen. Christopher Belt (primary). Companion: HB 4135. Referred to Assignments; First Reading occurred 2/5/2025. (Note: the materials provided also included unrelated text from a different bill concerning SNAP eligibility in Arizona; this summary focuses on the Illinois landlord–tenant provisions regarding pet fees.)
Purpose
- To add a new Section 35 to the Illinois Landlord and Tenant Act (765 ILCS 705) establishing standardized definitions and limits for landlord charges related to pets — specifically a one‑time nonrefundable "pet fee" or recurring nonrefundable "pet rent" — and to exempt assistance animals from these charges.
Key provisions
- New statutory definitions:
- "Pet fee": any one‑time nonrefundable fee paid at the beginning of a tenancy to allow a pet to remain at the property for the duration of the tenancy.
- "Pet rent": any recurring nonrefundable fee paid alongside rent to allow a pet to remain at the property for the duration of the tenancy.
- "Small animal": pet weighing 25 pounds or less.
- "Large animal": pet weighing more than 25 pounds.
- A landlord may charge a tenant either a one‑time pet fee or recurring pet rent — but not both.
- Dollar caps:
- Pet fee (one‑time): maximum $500 (per tenancy).
- Pet rent (recurring): maximum $25 per small animal and $50 per large animal (per pet). The bill text describes pet rent as paid alongside rent (recurring), but does not explicitly state an interval; the natural reading is monthly.
- Exemption for assistance animals: landlords may not charge a pet fee or pet rent for an assistance animal consistent with the Assistance Animal Integrity Act.
- Nothing in the section requires a landlord to charge either a pet fee or pet rent.
Who is affected
- Landlords and tenants in Illinois residential tenancies: sets limits on what landlords may charge for pets and clarifies that assistance animals cannot be charged for under these provisions.
- Renters with pets: could face lower or capped pet-related charges compared with uncapped local practices.
- Landlords may need to adjust lease terms and accounting to comply with the one‑option (fee OR rent) limitation and the caps.
Procedural / next steps
- After committee referral (Assignments), the bill would typically be considered in committee, possibly amended, then voted by the full Senate. If passed, it would proceed to the House (or if originating in Senate, to the House) for consideration. If both chambers pass identical language, it would go to the Governor for signature to become law.
Potential impacts (summary)
- Consumer protection: caps limit large one‑time charges and recurring pet rent, reducing potential financial barriers for tenants with pets.
- Landlord revenue/management: landlords lose the option to charge both a fee and ongoing pet rent; they may adjust other charges (e.g., security deposits, rent levels) or adopt pet policies to manage risk.
- Assistance animals: preserves existing protections by prohibiting pet fees/rent for qualifying assistance animals.
If you want, I can:
- Draft sample statutory language consistent with the bill summary.
- Compare this proposal to current Illinois practice or similar laws in other states.
- Track the bill’s progress and provide alerts on amendments or votes.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
