Article IX. Eviction · Part 2. Recovery of Rent; · Last amended 2013 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceLandlords ending a year-to-year farmland tenancy, whether rented for a crop share, livestock share, or cash rent, must give written notice at least four months before the lease year ends, and a verbal lease cannot waive that requirement.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/9-206
Text size
Subject to the provisions of Section 16 of the Landlord and Tenant Act, in order to terminate tenancies from year to year of farm lands, occupied on a crop share, livestock share, cash rent or other rental basis, the notice to quit shall be given in writing not less than 4 months prior to the end of the year of letting. Such notice may not be waived in a verbal lease. The notice to quit may be substantially in the following form:
To A.B.: You are hereby notified that I have elected to terminate your lease of the farm premises now occupied by you, being (here describe the premises) and you are hereby further notified to quit and deliver up possession of the same to me at the end of the lease year, the last day of such year being (here insert the last day of the lease year).
Plain-English Summary
Section 9-206 carves farmland out of the ordinary sixty-day notice rule in the section before it. It covers year-to-year farm tenancies occupied on a crop share, livestock share, cash rent, or other rental basis, and requires the notice to quit to be in writing and given at least four months before the end of the lease year.
The statute is explicit that this requirement cannot be waived in a verbal lease, closing off an easy way to strip a tenant farmer of the longer notice period through an informal oral arrangement.
The section also sets out sample language a landlord may use for the notice to quit, describing the leased premises and stating the date the lease year ends. It operates subject to Section 16 of the Landlord and Tenant Act.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much notice must a landlord give to end a farmland tenancy?
At least four months before the end of the lease year, given in writing.
Why does farmland get a longer notice period than Section 9-205's default rule?
The statute singles out farm tenancies for the four-month period, longer than the sixty days that apply to ordinary year-to-year tenancies.
Can a verbal lease waive the four-month notice requirement?
No. The statute states the requirement may not be waived in a verbal lease.
Does the statute provide a model notice form?
Yes. It sets out suggested language a landlord may use to give the notice to quit.
What other law does Section 9-206 reference?
Section 16 of the Landlord and Tenant Act, to which this section is made subject.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 97-913, eff. 1-1-13.)
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
Also known as:farm lease termination notice illinois4 month notice farmland illinoiscrop share lease noticeending a farm tenancy illinoiscash rent farmland notice to quit