Skokie, IL Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Banned animals
- Cattle, goats, horses, swine, poultry (Sec 18-8(1))
- Lot-size exception
- None; applies Village-wide
- Chickens
- Covered by the poultry ban
- Permitted alternative
- Only residential Beekeeping (Art. IV)
- Retitled
- Ord. No. 14-1-C-4032, Jan. 21, 2014
- Fine
- Up to $750 per day (Sec 1-6)
Summary
Village of Skokie ordinance bans keeping cattle, goats, horses, swine, poultry, meaning backyard chickens too, or any other livestock anywhere within Village limits. Skokie Village Code Section 18-8(1) draws no residential-lot-size exception, so the prohibition applies equally to every zoning district, while a separate permit track allows only residential beekeeping under Article IV.
(1)No person shall keep, or suffer to be kept, any cattle, goats, horses, swine, poultry or other livestock in the Village.
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 18-8(1) states flatly that no person shall keep, or suffer to be kept, any cattle, goats, horses, swine, poultry or other livestock in the Village, a blanket ban that sits apart from the species-endangerment prohibition in the very next subsection, Section 18-8(2). Before a 2014 amendment, Section 18-8 was titled 'Keeping livestock'; Ordinance No. 14-1-C-4032, adopted January 21, 2014, retitled it 'Prohibited species' and folded in the dangerous-animal language, but left the livestock list itself, cattle, goats, horses, swine and poultry, unchanged. Because poultry is named specifically, backyard chicken coops are barred the same as cattle or swine; the Village does not offer a small-flock or hobby-keeping exception.
00 initial fee. Enforcement of the livestock ban runs through the Director of Public Health, serving as ex officio Animal Control Officer under Section 18-6, who may act on a complaint or on inspection.
Violations & Fines
A Section 18-8(1) violation is punished under the Chapter 18 penalty provision, Section 18-3, which applies the Village-wide Section 1-6 fine schedule of up to $750.00 for each day the livestock remains on the property. Section 18-4 requires the Village to first serve a violation notice offering a court appearance or administrative hearing, and Section 18-5 allows the Village Manager or designee to accept a stipulated settlement once the owner shows the animals have been removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep backyard chickens in Skokie?
Does a large residential lot let me keep livestock?
Is any animal-keeping besides dogs and cats allowed?
What's the penalty for keeping banned livestock?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Skokie
How Skokie compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Skokie to another location·View the Illinois animal ordinances overview
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