Tazewell County, IL Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)

Tazewell County has no blanket ordinance forcing every dog or cat owner to sterilize a pet; the mandate is triggered by conduct. 02(C), once a dog or cat is found running at large in the unincorporated county "contrary to the provisions of this chapter a second or subsequent time," the owner must have it spayed or neutered within 30 days after reclaiming it from the shelter, unless it is already fixed. Failure to comply is itself a violation: the Administrator or Deputy Administrator orders the dog impounded again, and the owner owes a $50 fine deposited into the Animal Control Fund.

If the animal lands back in the shelter a second time still unsterilized, it must be sterilized at the owner's expense before it can be released at all. 23: an altered dog or cat costs $16 a year (or $42 for three years) to register, while an intact one costs $33 a year (or $75 for three years), on top of late fees of $5 (30-59 days overdue) or $10 (60-plus days overdue). 23(G), because those programs already require sterilization as a condition of the license.