Chicago, IL Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- MCC § 7-12-030
- Base fine
- $300
- Severe-injury fine
- $1,000-$10,000
- Exempt animals
- Rescue/law enforcement dogs
- Standard
- Strict liability
Summary
Chicago requires every pet owner to keep an animal under restraint at all times, leashed whenever it is off the owner's own fenced property, with strict-liability fines up to $10,000 for attacks causing severe injury or death.
It shall be unlawful for any owner to allow his or her animal to cross outside the property line of its owner to any extent, including reaching through, over or under a fence, or to keep or allow his or her animal to be outdoors on an unfenced portion of the owner's property, unless the animal is leashed and under the control of its owner or another responsible person; provided that any animal not secured by a leash or lead and that is outdoors on a fenced portion of the owner's property or outdoors on the premises of another person with consent of that person shall not be considered under restraint unless the fence is of sufficient height appropriate to the size of the animal to prevent the animal from jumping or reaching over the fence. In addition, it shall be an unlawful failure to restrain for an animal to attack, bite, threaten, or jump on any person without that person's consent, outside the property of the animal's owner. The provisions of this section shall be a positive duty of the owner and the offenses described herein shall be strict liability offenses. Any owner who violates any provision of this section shall be subject to a fine of $300.00, if the violation does not result in severe injury or death to any person or damage to another person's property. If the violation results in severe injury or death to any person, the owner shall be subject to a fine of not less than $1,000.00 and not more than $10,000.00. In addition to a fine,
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-74: Current through Council Journal of June 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Municipal Code of Chicago § 7-12-030 makes it a positive, strict-liability duty for owners to keep animals under restraint. An animal may not cross outside its owner's property line at all, and any animal outdoors on unfenced property must be leashed and under a responsible person's control. Even on fenced property, an animal without a leash counts as unrestrained unless the fence is tall enough to stop it jumping or reaching over. The duty does not apply to dogs used for rescue or law enforcement work.
Violations & Fines
Base fine $300 for a restraint violation. If the animal causes severe injury or death, the fine rises to $1,000-$10,000, plus possible restitution, up to 6 months jail, or up to 100 hours community service. Property-damage violations run $300-$1,000 plus restitution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my dog be off-leash in my own fenced yard in Chicago?
What's the fine if my unleashed dog bites someone in Chicago?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chicago
Compare Chicago to another location·View the Illinois animal ordinances overview
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Dog Leash Laws in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle dog leash laws.