765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 752 § 10
Definitions. As used in this Act: "Domestic violence" means "abuse" as defined in Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 by a "family or household member" as defined in Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. "Landlord" means the owner of the building or the owner's agent for matters concerning the landlord's leasing of a dwelling. "Sexual violence" means any act of sexual assault, sexual abuse, or stalking of an adult or minor child. This includes, but is not limited to, non-consensual sexual conduct or non-consensual sexual penetration as defined in the Civil No Contact Order Act and the offense of stalking, aggravated stalking, criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, criminal sexual abuse, and aggravated criminal sexual abuse as those offenses are described in the Criminal Code of 2012. "Tenant" means a person who has entered into a written lease with a landlord in which the person is the lessee under the lease
Operative Text
Definitions. As used in this Act: "Domestic violence" means "abuse" as defined in Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 by a "family or household member" as defined in Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. "Landlord" means the owner of the building or the owner's agent for matters concerning the landlord's leasing of a dwelling. "Sexual violence" means any act of sexual assault, sexual abuse, or stalking of an adult or minor child. This includes, but is not limited to, non-consensual sexual conduct or non-consensual sexual penetration as defined in the Civil No Contact Order Act and the offense of stalking, aggravated stalking, criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, criminal sexual abuse, and aggravated criminal sexual abuse as those offenses are described in the Criminal Code of 2012. "Tenant" means a person who has entered into a written lease with a landlord in which the person is the lessee under the lease.
Section 10 of 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 752 establishes the foundational definitions that govern the entire Act. It sets out what counts as domestic violence by cross-referencing the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, and it defines sexual violence broadly to cover assault, abuse, and stalking—including specific offenses listed in the Criminal Code of 2012. The definitions of 'landlord' and 'tenant' clarify which parties are covered, with 'tenant' limited to individuals who hold a written lease as the named lessee.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 752 § 10, property owners and their agents fall within the Act's definition of 'landlord,' meaning the Act's obligations and restrictions apply to them directly. Compliant operators familiarize themselves with how the Act defines domestic violence and sexual violence, since those definitions determine when tenants may invoke protections elsewhere in the statute. Because 'tenant' is defined as a person holding a written lease as the lessee, operators generally ensure lease documentation clearly identifies all lessees to avoid ambiguity about who qualifies for coverage.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 10 of 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 752 defines who is protected under the Act and what types of harm trigger its protections. Individuals who have experienced domestic violence—as defined by the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986—or sexual violence, including stalking and various forms of assault listed in the Criminal Code of 2012, may qualify for the Act's protections if they hold a written lease as the named lessee. Tenants who believe they meet these definitions and have experienced qualifying harm may wish to review the broader Act, consult a tenant-rights organization, or contact a legal aid provider to understand what options may be available to them.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 2, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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