Mount Prospect, IL Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Mount Prospect Village Code § 20.207(A)(4)
- Banned animals
- Swine, pigs, pigeons, bees, chickens, geese, ducks, fowl, poultry, horses, cattle
- Only exception
- Veterinary or animal hospital services in compliance with village regulations
- First-offense fine
- Not less than $100.00 (Appendix A, division III)
- Repeat fines
- Not less than $200.00, $500.00, then $1,000.00
- Enforcer
- Animal control official: chief of police or designated agent
Summary
The Village of Mount Prospect bans keeping chickens, geese, ducks, poultry, pigeons, bees, swine, horses and cattle anywhere within its corporate limits. The only carve-out is a veterinary or animal hospital business that operates in compliance with village regulations. A backyard hen flock is not allowed on a residential lot in Mount Prospect, Illinois.
20.207: SALE OR POSSESSION OF CERTAIN ANIMALS OR NUMBER OF ANIMALS PROHIBITED: ... A. No person shall: ... ... 2. Display, sell, offer for sale, barter or give away any chicks, ducklings or goslings as pets, except to persons who provide reasonable proof of proper brooder facilities. ... ... 4. Keep, maintain and/or harbor any live swine, pigs, pigeons, bees, chickens, geese, ducks, fowl, poultry, horses or cattle within the corporate limits of the village, unless such keeping, maintenance and/or harboring is done pursuant to the business of providing veterinary or animal hospital services that are in compliance with village regulations.
Full Breakdown
Section 20.207 of the Mount Prospect Village Code, in Chapter 20 (Animals), is a flat prohibition, not a permit system. Subsection A.4 says no person shall keep, maintain and/or harbor any live swine, pigs, pigeons, bees, chickens, geese, ducks, fowl, poultry, horses or cattle within the corporate limits of the village. The three verbs matter: the Village Board reaches keeping, maintaining and harboring, so a flock kept for eggs, a single pet duck and a rooftop beehive all fall inside the text. The one printed exception covers keeping done pursuant to the business of providing veterinary or animal hospital services that are in compliance with village regulations.
The same section also polices the sale side. Subsection A.1 bars bringing in or selling baby chicks, ducklings, goslings or other fowl that have been dyed or otherwise treated to give them an artificial color. Subsection A.2 bars displaying, selling, offering or giving away chicks, ducklings or goslings as pets, except to persons who provide reasonable proof of proper brooder facilities. Subsection A.3 bars giving those birds away as novelties or prizes. Subsection C exempts properly zoned, licensed and constructed zoos, animal shelters, veterinary hospitals, pounds, federally licensed scientific or research laboratories and educational or other licensed institutions.
The animal control official is the chief of police and any agent the chief designates, under the definitions in section 20.101. That official can order an animal impounded under section 20.301 and the Village holds an impounded animal at an animal control center for five days under section 20.304. Appendix A, division II sets the stray-impound charge at $150.00 for a horse and $25.00 for any species other than a dog, cat or horse.
Violations & Fines
Section 20.603 sets fines by the schedule in appendix A, division III: first offense not less than $100.00, second offense not less than $200.00, third offense not less than $500.00, and any subsequent offense not less than $1,000.00. A continuing violation counts as a separate offense for each day. Section 20.601 lets the Village issue citations and, beyond fines, impound the animal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep backyard hens in the Village of Mount Prospect?
Are bees and pigeons covered by the same rule?
Can a store sell chicks in Mount Prospect?
What happens if the Village finds chickens on my property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mount Prospect
How Mount Prospect compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Mount Prospect to another location·View the Illinois animal ordinances overview
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