DuPage County has no breed-specific dog ban. The Illinois Animal Control Act, 510 ILCS 5/15, expressly states that "vicious dogs shall not be classified in a manner that is specific as to breed," and the DuPage County Code Ch. 5 follows this behavior-based framework. Dangerous- and vicious-dog determinations in DuPage are made on the individual animal's conduct, not its breed.
Dog regulation in DuPage County follows Illinois's statewide behavior-based framework rather than a breed-based one. Section 15 of the Illinois Animal Control Act (510 ILCS 5/15) governs vicious-dog findings and explicitly provides that "vicious dogs shall not be classified in a manner that is specific as to breed." DuPage County Code Ch. 5 (Animals) implements this state Act at the county level and contains no breed-specific prohibition, ban, or extra restriction on pit bulls, Rottweilers, Doberman pinschers, or any other breed.
Under 510 ILCS 5/2.05a a "dangerous dog" is any dog (other than on the owner's property and properly secured) that, without justification, behaves in a manner that a reasonable person would believe poses a serious and unjustified imminent threat of serious physical injury or death. A "vicious dog" under Β§15 is one that has, without justification, attacked, attempted to attack, or caused serious injury, or has been previously found dangerous on three separate occasions. The Animal Control Administrator (the DuPage County Animal Services Director) makes a written determination, and the owner has 14 days to file an appeal to the Circuit Court. A vicious finding requires a $100 public-safety fine deposited to the county animal-control fund, mandatory spay/neuter within 10 days, microchipping, and confinement in an approved enclosure at all times.
Any DuPage County or municipal ordinance attempting to ban a breed would be void as inconsistent with 510 ILCS 5/15. For individual dangerous/vicious-dog findings, violations of the post-finding conditions (failure to confine, spay/neuter, microchip) can lead to criminal charges, additional fines, and seizure of the animal under 510 ILCS 5/15 and 5/15.1.
DuPage County, IL
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in DuPage County.
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