Article IX. Eviction · Part 1. In General · Last amended 2018 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceSection 9-117 puts a 120-day clock on enforcing an eviction order, requiring the plaintiff to seek a court-approved extension, with statutory notice to the defendant, before the sheriff can act on an order any later than that.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/9-117
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No eviction order obtained in an action brought under this Article may be enforced more than 120 days after the order is entered, unless upon motion by the plaintiff the court grants an extension of the period of enforcement of the order. Plaintiff's notice of motion shall contain the following notice directed to the defendant:
"The plaintiff in this case, (insert name), obtained an eviction judgment against you on (insert date), but the sheriff did not evict you within the 120 days that the plaintiff has to evict after a judgment in court. On the date stated in this notice, the plaintiff will be asking the court to allow the sheriff to evict you based on that judgment. You must attend the court hearing if you want the court to stop the plaintiff from having you evicted. To prevent the eviction, you must be able to prove that (1) the plaintiff and you made an agreement after the judgment (for instance, to pay up back rent or to comply with the lease) and you have lived up to the agreement; or (2) the reason the plaintiff brought the original eviction case has been resolved or forgiven, and the eviction the plaintiff now wants the court to grant is based on a new or different reason; or (3) that you have another legal or equitable reason why the court should not grant the plaintiff's request for your eviction." The court shall grant the motion for the extension of the eviction order unless the defendant establishes that the tenancy has been reinstated, that the breach upon which the order was issued has been cured or waived, that the plaintiff and defendant entered into a post-judgment agreement whose terms the defendant has performed, or that other legal or equitable grounds exist that bar enforcement of the order. This Section does not apply to any action based upon a breach of a contract entered into on or after July 1, 1962, for the purchase of premises in which the court has entered a stay under Section 9- 110; nor shall this Section apply to any action to which the provisions of Section 9-111 apply; nor shall this Section affect the rights of Boards of Managers under Section 9-104.2.
Plain-English Summary
No eviction order can be enforced more than 120 days after entry, unless the plaintiff moves for, and the court grants, an extension. The notice of that motion must include specific statutory language telling the defendant about the 120-day rule and that a hearing is coming.
The statutory notice text spells out three possible defenses to the extension: a post-judgment agreement -- such as a repayment plan -- that the defendant has honored, the original reason for the eviction having been resolved or forgiven so the plaintiff's renewed attempt rests on a new or different reason, or another legal or equitable reason the court shouldn't grant the extension. Absent one of those showings, the court "shall" grant the extension.
Some cases fall outside this section entirely: it doesn't apply to actions based on a post-1962 contract-of-purchase breach where the court entered a stay under Section 9-110, doesn't apply to condominium assessment actions under Section 9-111, and doesn't affect a board of managers' rights under Section 9-104.2.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a landlord have to enforce an Illinois eviction order once it's entered?
120 days, unless the plaintiff gets a court-approved extension.
What if the sheriff doesn't carry out the eviction within 120 days?
The plaintiff must move for an extension, and the notice of that motion has to include specific statutory language explaining the situation to the defendant.
Can a tenant fight an extension motion under this section?
Yes -- the court must grant the extension unless the defendant shows the tenancy was reinstated, the breach was cured or waived, a post-judgment agreement was performed, or another legal or equitable ground bars enforcement.
Does this 120-day rule apply to a condo assessment eviction?
No, it expressly doesn't apply to actions under Section 9-111.
Does this section apply to land-contract eviction cases with a stay under Section 9-110?
No, it carves out actions based on a post-1962 purchase-contract breach where the court entered a Section 9-110 stay.
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Compiled Statutes, published by the
Illinois Compiled Statutes, Illinois General Assembly / Legislative Reference Bureau. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
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