Evanston, IL Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Hens allowed per property
- 2 to 6 hens
- Roosters
- prohibited, except school programs
- Coop space required
- 4 sq ft per hen
- Fine range
- $50-$750 per offense
Summary
Evanston bans horses, swine, sheep, goats, cattle and poultry generally, but allows a licensed coop of 2 to 6 hens, with roosters barred outside school agricultural programs.
It shall be unlawful, and is hereby declared a nuisance for any person to keep or allow to be kept any animal of the species of horse, mule, swine, sheep, goat, cattle, poultry (with the exception of hens as herein provided), skunks, or poisonous reptiles within the corporation limits of the City of Evanston.(B)Hens shall mean the female of the species Gallus Gallus Domesticas.(C)It shall be unlawful to keep roosters within City limits, except that educational institutions for students over the age of thirteen (13) years, with agricultural programs, may keep a maximum of one (1) rooster within City limits. For purposes of this Section an "educational institution" is defined as any non-home-based school that is in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and attendance at which satisfies the requirements of 105 ILCS 5/26-1. The "rooster for educational institutions" shall mean a male chicken of the species Gallus Gallus Domesticus. The rooster must be confined at all times to an enclosure that meets the definition of an accessory structure in the City's Code. The rooster shall not be allowed to run freely or be unconfined. The rooster must remain seventy (70) feet away from residential areas, classes and offices.1.The number of hens allowed shall be no less than two (2), and no more than six (6).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 21).
Full Breakdown
Evanston City Code Section 9-4-5 makes it unlawful, and a declared nuisance, to keep horses, mules, swine, sheep, goats, cattle, poultry, skunks, or poisonous reptiles within city limits, with a specific carve-out for hens. A household may keep no fewer than 2 and no more than 6 hens, housed in an accessory structure meeting the 4-square-feet-per-hen coop standard, cleaned regularly, and predator-proofed. Roosters are prohibited citywide except one per qualifying educational institution with an agricultural program. Keeping hens requires a coop license from the Public Health Director, proof of notice to adjacent landowners, required building permits, and Illinois Department of Agriculture livestock premises registration; apartment or condo residents cannot get a coop license, and the city capped total active coop licenses at 20 in the ordinance's first year.
Violations & Fines
Violations carry a fine of $50 to $750 per offense, and a third violation triggers revocation of the coop license; each noncompliant day counts as a separate offense. Enforcement runs through the City of Evanston Public Health Director.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Evanston apartment residents keep chickens?
Is slaughtering hens at home allowed in Evanston?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Evanston
How Evanston compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Evanston to another location·View the Illinois animal ordinances overview
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