Berwyn, IL Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Berwyn Code of Ordinances § 616.04(A) bars any person from owning, controlling or keeping a dangerous animal on real property in the city. The only carve-out covers zoos and business enterprises legally operated in areas properly zoned for that use, and even there adequate caging or safeguards must protect the general public. Division (C) repeats the ban from the possession side: it is unlawful to have, keep, maintain or possess a dangerous animal, as defined in § 616.01, anywhere within the corporate limits.

Section 616.01 defines a dangerous animal as one that, by reason of its species, is by nature ferocious or has a dangerous propensity, such as but not limited to lions, tigers, bears, elephants and wolves. The list is illustrative, not closed. The same definition also sweeps in any animal, including domestic dogs, that bites or attacks a person or domestic animal without provocation, has been declared aggressive and chases or approaches people in an attitude of attack, is kept for animal fighting, is a commercially used guard dog, or has been found vicious under state law.

Division (B) covers shows: nobody can conduct an exhibition or parade of wild animals without first obtaining a permit from Council. That makes the City Council of Berwyn, not a staff office, the permit authority.

Enforcement runs through the Police Department. Under § 616.07(A)(4), an impounded animal determined to be dangerous cannot be redeemed unless the owner shows it will not be kept or housed in the city and gives the exact location where it will be kept, so the city can warn the receiving authorities. A related livestock rule in § 616.08(A) separately bars keeping horses, mules, asses, oxen, cows, goats, pigs (miniature potbellied pigs excepted), roosters, turkeys, ducks and geese, and declares possession of those animals a nuisance.