Cal. Civ. Code § 9-206
Notice to terminate tenancy of farm land. 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)
Operative Text
Notice to terminate tenancy of farm land. 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).
Under 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5 § 9-206, a year-to-year farm tenancy in Illinois — whether structured as a crop share, livestock share, cash rent, or other arrangement — cannot be ended without a written notice to quit delivered at least four months before the lease year ends. The four-month written notice requirement cannot be set aside by a verbal agreement between the parties. The statute provides a model notice form that landlords may use, though the actual language need not follow it word for word as long as it is substantially similar.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators who lease farm ground on a year-to-year basis in Illinois must ensure that any notice to terminate is delivered in writing and reaches the tenant no fewer than four months before the end of the current lease year, as required by 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5 § 9-206. Because the statute explicitly bars waiver of this notice requirement through a verbal lease, a compliant operator does not rely on oral conversations or informal understandings as a substitute for the written notice. Keeping dated copies of the notice and documentation of delivery is a common practice among operators who want a clear record that the statutory timeline was met.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5 § 9-206, a farm tenant holding a year-to-year lease has the right to receive a written termination notice at least four months before the lease year ends, and that right cannot be stripped away by a verbal lease or oral agreement. If a landlord attempts to end the tenancy without providing timely written notice, a tenant may be able to raise the landlord's failure to comply with this statute as a defense in any eviction or possession proceeding. Tenants who believe this notice requirement has not been followed may benefit from reviewing their situation with a tenant-rights organization or a licensed Illinois attorney familiar with agricultural lease law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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