DuPage County, IL Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum area per horse
- 10,000 sq ft
- Stable setback from front line
- 150 feet
- Stable setback from side/rear
- 30 feet
- Confinement required
- Pasture, corral, or paddock
Summary
Horses are allowed on unincorporated DuPage County residential lots only inside a fenced pasture, corral, or paddock, with a minimum 10,000-square-foot area required for each horse kept.
Horses: Where horses are permitted the following shall apply: Horses shall be confined to a pasture, corral or paddock area... Each horse on a zoning lot shall have a contiguous designated area of at least ten thousand (10,000) square feet per horse, exclusive of all other areas on the property used for principal and accessory buildings, structures and/or uses including septic area and well areas.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 14 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
DuPage County's zoning ordinance treats horses as the regulated livestock use in residence districts. Where horses are permitted, they must stay confined to a pasture, corral, or paddock, and each horse needs its own contiguous 10,000-square-foot area, separate from septic fields, wells, and building footprints. Stables must sit behind the front wall of the house, at least 150 feet from the front lot line and 30 feet from side and rear lines, and manure storage areas need fencing, masonry, or landscape screening. There's no comparable county-level allowance for cattle, swine, sheep, or goats in these residence districts.
Violations & Fines
Zoning enforcement can issue a stop-work or compliance order for horses kept outside the required pasture/corral/paddock area, undersized enclosures, or stables/manure areas that don't meet the setback and screening standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep cattle, goats, or pigs on a DuPage County residential lot?
How much land does one horse need under county zoning?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in DuPage County
How DuPage County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare DuPage County to another location·View the Illinois animal ordinances overview
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