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

Section 4-41 requires every pet owner to keep dogs and cats restrained within the property line, whether by leash, a fence of sufficient height, or an electronic 'invisible' fence; letting an animal cross the property line unleashed, even briefly, violates the section. A loose dog or cat is declared a public nuisance and can be apprehended and impounded by any Waukegan police officer or animal control officer. 00, each charged before the animal is released back to its owner. Sec. 4-41(c) adds the mandatory-fix trigger: once a dog or cat is caught at large a second time or more, the owner must have it spayed or neutered within 30 days of reclaiming it from animal control unless it is already sterilized.

Failure to complete the procedure within that window results in the animal being impounded again. Because Sec. 4-19(d) limits mandatory court appearances to Sec. 4-3, 4-4, 4-10, 4-12, 4-21, 4-23 and 4-101 violations, an at-large citation under Sec. 4-41 is handled as a civil citation with a payable fine rather than a required court date, though repeat offenders still face the sterilization mandate and escalating fees regardless.