Clinton County, Illinois Eviction Risk: Low

Clinton County, Illinois eviction laws earns an average eviction-risk score of 3.1/10 (Low), placing it at rank 76 of 102 Illinois eviction laws counties, meaning 75 counties carry more risk and only 26 are more landlord-friendly. For investors scanning the southern Illinois market, that context matters: this county sits comfortably in the lower-risk third of the state, with a modest average rent of $913, a rent-burden rate of 23.2%, and a poverty rate of just 7.4%, all of which point to a relatively stable tenant base compared to higher-stress urban markets.

Risk across the county's 14 cities is not uniform, however. Scores span from a low of 2.6 to a high of 3.9, a range wide enough that a landlord operating in the wrong pocket of the county faces a meaningfully different operating environment than one positioned in the quieter corners. Understanding that spread is the first analytical step before committing capital here.

The cities inside Clinton County

New Baden leads the county's risk list at 3.9/10, the only city to reach that level, and with a population of 3,463 it is not a fringe hamlet. Carlyle, the county seat with 2,980 residents, follows at 3.2/10, and Keyesport registers at 3.1/10. Those three cities account for the upper tier of local eviction pressure and deserve closer due diligence on vacancy trends and tenant-mix before a purchase.

On the opposite end, Germantown scores 2.6/10, the lowest in the county, and Breese, the largest city at 4,301 residents, comes in at 2.9/10. Trenton, Aviston, Albers, and Beckemeyer all sit at 3.0/10. The pattern confirms what experienced investors already know: risk in a rural county like this is hyper-local, often driven by employment anchors, school-district quality, or a single large employer rather than broad demographic trends. A block-by-block or subdivision-by-subdivision read is worth more than the county average alone.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord in Clinton County operates under Illinois state law, specifically 735 ILCS 5/9 (Forcible Entry and Detainer). The notice structure is tiered by cause: nonpayment of rent requires a 5-day notice under 735 ILCS 5/9-209, a material lease violation requires 10 days under 735 ILCS 5/9-210, and a month-to-month holdover requires 30 days under 735 ILCS 5/9-207. A fixed-term lease that simply expires requires no statutory notice period. Illinois does not require just cause for eviction and, critically, state law preempts any local rent-control ordinance, so no Clinton County municipality can cap rents independent of state policy. For a full walkthrough of what comes next once a notice expires, see the Illinois eviction process guide.

Court filing fees run $200 to $400, sheriff lockout fees add another $60 to $200, and attorney fees typically range from $750 to $3,500, varying by complexity and whether the tenant contests. An uncontested case resolves in roughly 30 to 60 days; a contested matter can stretch to 60 to 150 days. Those timelines and cost floors should be factored into any underwriting model. Landlords new to the state should also review Illinois eviction costs so those numbers are baked into pro forma assumptions from day one.

With a renter share of 24.8% across the county, the landlord pool here is relatively small, which can mean less competition for quality tenants but also a thinner resale market for rental properties. Review the city grid above to compare individual community scores before targeting a specific submarket.