Cicero, IL Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Base limit
- 3 dogs/cats per unit
- Larger-unit limit
- 5 if unit has 1,000+ sq ft
- Exempt uses
- Pet shops, animal hospitals, groomers
- Age threshold
- Applies at 3 months old
- Penalty basis
- Fined under Section 1-12
Summary
The Town of Cicero caps most homes at three licensed dogs or cats over three months old. A residence or business with at least 1,000 square feet of floor space, including the basement, may keep up to five. Pet shops, animal hospitals and grooming or training establishments are exempt from the cap entirely.
No more than three licensed animals of the age of three months or older shall be housed or maintained in any business, residence or apartment within the town and any violation of such prohibition shall, upon conviction, be fined as provided in section 1-12. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, no more than five licensed animals of the age of three months or older shall be housed or maintained in any business, residence or apartment within the town if such a business, residence or apartment has at least one thousand square feet of floor space, including any basement... This section shall not apply to duly licensed pet shops, animal hospitals or animal grooming and training establishments.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 121).
Full Breakdown
Section 18-40, titled "Maximum number," limits how many licensed dogs and cats may be kept in any business, residence or apartment in town. The baseline rule: "No more than three licensed animals of the age of three months or older shall be housed or maintained in any business, residence or apartment within the town," with violations fined "as provided in section 1-12," the town's general penalty schedule. " The higher cap applies automatically once the floor-space threshold is met; no separate permit application is required.
Animals under three months old, such as a litter of kittens or puppies, do not count toward either cap. The section carves out three categories entirely: "duly licensed pet shops, animal hospitals or animal grooming and training establishments," which can house more animals than a private household because they operate under separate town business licenses. The current version of Section 18-40 traces to Ordinance No. 69-16, adopted September 13, 2016, which amended the floor-space threshold language; the underlying three-animal cap dates to Ordinance No. 16-74 from 1974.
Because the cap counts "licensed" animals, every dog or cat kept toward the maximum must also separately satisfy the Section 18-37 registration and tagging requirement.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than three licensed dogs or cats, or more than five in at least 1,000 square feet of floor space, violates Section 18-40 and is fined under the town's general penalty provision, Section 1-12, applied per animal over the limit. The animal control warden can count unregistered animals toward enforcement once discovered during an inspection or complaint response.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pets can I legally have in Cicero?
Do puppies and kittens count toward Cicero's pet limit?
Are any Cicero properties exempt from the pet limit?
What happens if I exceed Cicero's pet limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cicero
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle pet limits.