Illinois' Dangerous Animals Act (720 ILCS 585) bars private residents in McHenry County from keeping big cats, bears, wolves, coyotes and life-threatening reptiles such as crocodilians and large constricting snakes. Only zoos, licensed exhibitors and similar facilities may keep them in escape-proof enclosures.
Under the Illinois Dangerous Animals Act, a "dangerous animal" means a lion, tiger, leopard, ocelot, jaguar, cheetah, margay, mountain lion, lynx, bobcat, jaguarundi, bear, hyena, wolf or coyote, or any poisonous or life-threatening reptile — including crocodilians and constricting snakes six feet or longer such as boas, pythons and anacondas. No private individual may keep such an animal; the only exceptions are properly maintained zoological parks, federally licensed exhibits, circuses, research or educational institutions, veterinary hospitals and animal refuges with escape-proof enclosures. It is no defense that the owner tried to domesticate the animal. McHenry County Animal Control enforces alongside state authorities.
Keeping a prohibited dangerous animal is a criminal offense under 720 ILCS 585; the animal is seized and the keeper is subject to prosecution and fines.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Crystal Lake collects yard waste and food-scrap compost weekly at the curb from April 1 through November 30. Leaves and grass must go in biodegradable paper ...
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Crystal Lake and McHenry County have no ordinance specifically banning or approving residential artificial turf. Installations must still meet Unified Develo...
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Illinois' Homeowners' Native Landscaping Act bars community associations from banning native-species plantings that are kept free of weeds and don't encroach...
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Neither Crystal Lake nor McHenry County prohibits residential rain barrels or rainwater collection, and Illinois has no statewide ban. The McHenry County Sto...
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Crystal Lake uses a color-coded water-conservation system. During a declared 'Yellow' condition, odd-numbered addresses water on odd dates and even addresses...
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Crystal Lake Chapter 526 lists noxious weeds - burdock, ragweed, thistle, poison ivy, wild mustard and others - plus any unmanaged vegetation as nuisance gre...
See how McHenry County's exotic pets rules stack up against other locations.
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