Peoria County, IL Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Chapter 5, Division 3 of the Peoria County Code governs dangerous and vicious dogs rather than any specific breed. Section 5-33(a) requires the animal control administrator, deputy administrator, or a law enforcement officer to notify the owner, investigate thoroughly, interview witnesses, gather medical and veterinary evidence, and issue a written report before a vicious-dog finding can even be sought. Under § 5-33(b), the administrator, state's attorney, director, or any Peoria County citizen may file a circuit court petition to have a dog deemed vicious, and the petitioner must prove it by clear and convincing evidence; expert behaviorist testimony is admissible.

Section 5-33(c) lets a court refuse to declare a dog vicious if it was defending against a crime, trespass or provocation, or was protecting itself, its owner or its offspring, and § 5-33(d) exempts professionally trained law-enforcement or guard dogs performing their duties. Critically, § 5-33(e) bars breed-specific classification outright: a dog cannot be labeled vicious because of its breed. If the court does find a dog vicious, § 5-33(g) orders a $100 public safety fee to the Pet Population Control Fund, a fine up to $1,000, mandatory microchipping and spaying or neutering within 10 days at the owner's expense, and confinement to an enclosure.

Section 5-34 then controls daily life for a declared vicious dog: it must stay in its enclosure at all times except for veterinary care, an emergency, or a court order, and even then must be muzzled and leashed at six feet or less under the owner's direct control. An owner who misses the fifteen-working-day appeal window after impoundment risks the dog being humanely euthanized under § 5-34(c).