Arlington Heights, IL Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Section 16-102 defines a 'Dangerous Animal' as 'any animal which is inherently incapable of being domesticated and is considered by the law to be inherently dangerous (ferae naturae),' the common-law category covering wild species by their nature rather than by breed or individual temperament. 00 fee for each day or part of a day the exhibition continues. Section 16-106 gives Village police officers authority to kill a dangerous animal, or any other animal, when necessary to protect the public, a person, or property, and separately bars anyone from poisoning a dog or other domestic animal except under written State Department of Agriculture permission tied to disease control and administered by a licensed veterinarian.

The dangerous-animal permit sits alongside the Village's Section 16-103 ban on keeping farm animals and fowl in Residential Districts and its Section 16-104 cap of four animals over four months old, so an owner of a dangerous, non-domesticated animal must clear the exhibition-permit process on top of any applicable zoning and animal-count restrictions that apply to the same property.