Oak Lawn, IL Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Annual license fee
- $5.00 per cat
- Report deadline
- within 30 days of Jan. 1
- Licensing age
- 7 months or adult teeth
- Untagged-cat fine
- $10 to $750
- First-offense fine range
- $50 to $5,000
Summary
Oak Lawn requires every cat of licensing age to be registered annually for $5, tagged, and rabies-vaccinated, and separately bars cats from running at large or roaming unsupervised off their owner's property.
Every owner of, and every person who harbors or keeps a dog or cat of licensing age within the limits of the village shall report to the administrative services department annually within thirty (30) days after January 1 in each year, his name and address, and the name, breed, color, sex and age of each and every dog or cat owned or kept by such person, and obtain a license and a tag for such dog or cat. Such person shall pay the department of administrative services the sum of five dollars ($5.00) for each dog or cat.
B. The owner of any newly acquired dog or cat of licensing age or of any dog or cat which attains licensing age, shall make application for license and tag for such dog or cat within ten (10) days after such acquisition or age attainment.
C. Dogs used as guides for blind persons and commonly known as "seeing eye" dogs, shall be registered as other dogs, except that the owner or keeper of such dog shall not be required to pay any fee therefor.
D. Every owner of a dog or cat within the village shall cause such dog or cat to be inoculated by, or under the supervision of, a licensed veterinarian, with a prophylactic vaccine, approved by the U.S. department of agriculture or the Illinois department of agriculture, to prevent rabies. This inoculation shall be obtained annually, or at such other interval that is suggested by the drug manufacturer, provided the drug has been approved for use by the U.S.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-15: Code current through: Ord. 26-09-22, passed April 28, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Village Code § 10-3B-3 requires owners to report and license every dog or cat of licensing age (7 months, or with adult teeth) with the administrative services department each year within 30 days of January 1, pay a $5.00 fee, and show proof of rabies inoculation. Cats must wear a collar or tag (§ 10-3B-4) and may not run at large anywhere off the owner's premises (§ 10-3B-5). A dedicated cats article, § 10-3C-1, additionally requires owners to provide food, water and shelter, guard against nuisance, keep cats from roaming unsupervised, and never abandon a cat.
Violations & Fines
Untagged cats: fine of $10 to $750 (§ 10-3B-4). General article violations, including unlicensed or at-large cats: $50-$5,000 for a first offense, $200-$7,500 for a second, $500-$10,000 for a third or subsequent offense (§ 10-3B-15), adjudicated administratively under Title 11, Chapter 12.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to license my cat in Oak Lawn?
Can I let my cat roam outside unsupervised?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oak Lawn
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Cat Rules in Nearby Cities
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