In unincorporated St. Clair County a dog off its owner's property must be under control by leash or other recognized method. A dog loose on public ways or others' land is a stray and may be impounded. Belleville, O'Fallon and other cities set their own leash rules.
St. Clair County Animal Services Code 3-4-3 makes a dog a 'stray' whenever it is not on its owner's premises and not under control by leash or other recognized control methods, and lacks a current rabies tag. Such dogs 'shall be apprehended and impounded.' In residential-subdivided unincorporated areas (3-4-3(B)), letting a dog run at large is unlawful and owners must remove their dogs' waste from public places and others' property. The Code mirrors the Illinois Animal Control Act (510 ILCS 5/9). Inside incorporated cities and villages the municipality's own leash ordinance governs, and may be stricter.
Running-at-large penalty of $10 on redemption plus board at $5/day; a separate public-safety fine of not less than $25 ($20 to the Pet Population Fund). Second impoundment requires microchipping ($15); a third requires spay/neuter within 30 days.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
St. Clair County, IL
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