Lake County, IL Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Lake County Code § 172.15 sets the pet-limit rule for unincorporated areas: no more than four dogs and four cats over six months old per individual residence, counting each dwelling unit separately in multi-unit buildings. The cap applies regardless of ownership structure, though landlords, condo boards, and other property authorities may impose tighter limits of their own. If an owner has been cited under § 172.13(A) for improper care or treatment of an animal, the age exemption disappears: every dog and cat on the property, including those six months or younger, counts toward the four-and-four cap, and the fee schedule adopted under § 178.01 applies per animal.

Owners who need more room can apply to the Health Officer for a Multiple Pet Permit, but only if the property exceeds one and one-half acres and zoning allows it. The permit lets a household keep five or more dogs and five or more cats over six months old. Applicants must show a minimum 150-foot buffer between pet structures such as kennels, dog runs, barns and lean-tos and any neighboring dwelling, list each animal by name and description, and provide proof of current rabies vaccination for every dog and cat four months or older. The Health Officer inspects the property annually to verify the pet count, sanitation, ventilation, nutrition and vaccination records. Permits run on a calendar year, expiring December 31.

The Health Officer can revoke, refuse, or decline to renew a permit for a false application, exceeding the permitted count, aiding another person's violation, letting someone else use the permit, or refusing the required inspection. A revocation notice triggers a right to a hearing before the Board of Health Hearings Committee under §§ 176.15 through 176.17 if the holder requests one within ten days. Operations already licensed under the Illinois Animal Welfare Act are exempt from the residential cap entirely.