Macon County, IL Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Pet limit
- 7 dogs/cats per property before license required
- License required
- Multiple-pet license from Macon County Animal Control
- Registration fee
- $15 if altered, $50 if not (§ 96.17)
- Penalty
- $75-$500 per offense, per day (§ 96.99)
- Governing section
- Macon County Code § 96.14
Summary
In unincorporated Macon County, owning more than seven dogs, cats, or a combination on one property or dwelling requires a multiple-pet license from Macon County Animal Control under Code § 96.14. Below that threshold, no special license is needed beyond the standard annual dog and cat registration Animal Control's authorized veterinary agents already handle.
No person shall own or allow more than seven dogs, cats or a combination thereof on any one property or dwelling unit without obtaining a multiple-pet license from Macon County Animal Control.
Full Breakdown
Macon County caps household pet ownership at seven dogs, cats, or a mix of the two before triggering a licensing requirement. 14. The requirement is measured per property or dwelling unit, not per household member, so shared residences and rental properties are counted the same way. 17: every dog and cat kept in the county must be registered through Animal Control's authorized veterinary agents within 30 days of rabies vaccination, with a $15 fee for spayed or neutered animals and $50 for animals that are not altered, doubling if paid after the 30-day window.
15, and no puppies or kittens may be advertised, sold, or given away without a permit number attached. 19. Trained public safety agency dogs used full-time by officers are exempt from the registration fee if certified by the agency head. 99.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than seven dogs or cats without a multiple-pet license from Macon County Animal Control violates § 96.14. Under § 96.99, conviction carries a fine of not less than $75 nor more than $500 per offense, and each day the violation continues is a separate offense. Animal Control may also issue a citation giving owners 30 days to resolve payment before a court complaint can be filed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs or cats can I own in unincorporated Macon County?
Does the pet limit apply per person or per property?
What happens if I don't register or license my pets?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Macon County
Compare Macon County to another location·View the Illinois animal ordinances overview
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