Illinois law requires owners to keep dogs under restraint or control off their property and imposes strict liability for bites by unrestrained animals statewide.
The Illinois Animal Control Act (510 ILCS 5) governs dog-at-large incidents and bite liability uniformly across the state. Under Section 16, owners are strictly liable when a dog without provocation attacks or injures a person peaceably conducting themselves on public or private property. Section 9 authorizes county animal control to impound dogs running at large. Municipalities may add leash length limits, but the strict liability framework, rabies vaccination requirements, and dangerous dog procedures (Sections 15, 8, 15.1) apply uniformly. State-level rabies vaccination is mandatory for dogs over four months old.
Petty offense fines up to $500 per incident; impoundment fees; civil liability for injuries.
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