Skokie, IL Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- License trigger
- Cat over 4 months old (Sec 18-31(a))
- Apply within
- 30 days of acquisition
- Expires
- Every August 31 (Sec 18-31(d))
- Rabies proof
- Required to issue/renew (Sec 18-31(e))
- Breeder license
- $250.00 fee
- Fine
- Up to $750 per day
Summary
Every cat housed in the Village of Skokie past four months old must carry a Village license, renewed annually, under Skokie Village Code Section 18-31. Owners apply within 30 days of acquiring the cat or the cat turning four months, pay the fee set in Section 46-37, and must show proof of current rabies inoculation before the Village issues the license.
(a)Generally. ... Every dog or cat that is housed within the Village of Skokie and that is more than four months of age shall be licensed by the Village, pursuant to this Chapter, not more than 30 days subsequent to the acquisition of the dog or cat or when the dog or cat reaches four months of age. Said license must be maintained annually commencing with the next annual license renewal period as long as the dog or cat is alive or until the dog or cat is no longer residing in the corporate limits of the Village. ( ... d)Term. ... It shall be unlawful for any person to own a dog or cat within the Village unless such person shall procure a license therefor. All licenses issued under this section shall expire on August 31.(e)Rabies inoculation. Rabies inoculations are mandated for all dogs and cats. No Village license shall be issued for any dog or cat without proof of current rabies inoculation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 205 | Zoning: Supplement 89).
Full Breakdown
Section 18-31(a) requires every cat, like every dog, housed in the Village and older than four months to be licensed within 30 days of acquisition or of reaching four months of age, and requires the license to be renewed each year for as long as the cat lives in the Village. 00 fee, and no license issues to anyone already designated a Problem Pet Owner under Section 18-40. Subsection (c) requires the tag to stay attached to a collar or harness whenever the cat is off the owner's premises, and bars anyone but the owner, the owner's agent, or Department of Public Health staff from removing it.
Subsection (d) sets every license to expire on August 31 regardless of issue date, and subsection (e) makes rabies inoculation mandatory, so the Village will not issue or renew a cat license without current proof of vaccination. Section 18-32 exempts a nonresident's cat that is only temporarily in the Village and already licensed elsewhere. An unlicensed cat found in the Village is subject to impoundment under Section 18-33, and a cat running at large is separately declared a public nuisance under Section 18-34.
Violations & Fines
Owning an unlicensed cat past the 30-day window, or letting the license lapse past August 31, is a violation carrying the Chapter 18 penalty in Section 18-3, the Section 1-6 fine of up to $750.00 per day the violation continues. Under Section 18-33, an unlicensed cat found within the Village must be impounded, and under Section 18-35 an owner may redeem a licensed cat by paying the Section 46-37 impound fee plus boarding costs; an unredeemed cat may be disposed of by the Animal Control Officer after 7 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age does my cat need a Skokie license?
When does a Skokie cat license expire?
Do I need proof of rabies shots to license my cat?
What happens if my cat is found without a license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Skokie
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