Skokie, IL Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- House/building limit
- 3 dogs, 4 cats (Sec 18-39)
- Apartment/condo limit
- 2 dogs, 2 cats
- Licensing
- Cap applies whether licensed or not
- Exempt
- Vet hospitals, pet shops, pounds
- Last amended
- Ord. 23-04-C-4641, April 3, 2023
- Fine
- Up to $750 per day
Summary
Skokie Village Code Section 18-39 caps household pets at 3 dogs and 4 cats in a single-family home, building or lot, and at 2 dogs and 2 cats in a single-family apartment or condominium, whether or not the animals are licensed. Veterinary hospitals, pet shops and pounds are exempt from the cap.
No person shall allow or permit more than 3 dogs and more than 4 cats, whether licensed or not, to be or remain in or about any single-family residence, building or lot, or more than 2 dogs and more than 2 cats in any single-family apartment or condominium, within the Village under such person's control, at any 1 time, except in veterinary hospitals, pet shops and pounds.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 205 | Zoning: Supplement 89).
Full Breakdown
Section 18-39 states that no person shall allow or permit more than 3 dogs and more than 4 cats, whether licensed or not, to be or remain in or about any single-family residence, building or lot, or more than 2 dogs and more than 2 cats in any single-family apartment or condominium, within the Village under that person's control at any one time, except in veterinary hospitals, pet shops and pounds. The cap applies per household regardless of how many of the animals carry a current Village license under Section 18-31, so an owner cannot avoid the limit by licensing every animal.
The Village amended the numeric caps twice, by Ordinance No. 06-11-C-3474 on November 20, 2006 and by Ordinance No. 23-04-C-4641 on April 3, 2023, the same ordinance that most recently updated the wildlife-feeder limits in Section 18-11. A resident who repeatedly exceeds the cap, or who separately racks up violations of the tethering, dangerous-animal or vicious-animal provisions, risks being declared a Problem Pet Owner under Section 18-40, which triggers a 24-month bar on licensing or owning any animal in the Village and mandatory surrender of the excess animals.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than the Section 18-39 limit is punished under the Chapter 18 penalty in Section 18-3, applying the Section 1-6 fine of up to $750.00 for each day the excess animals remain in the household. The Village must first serve a violation notice under Section 18-4 offering an administrative hearing or court appearance, and the Village Manager or designee may accept a stipulated settlement under Section 18-5 once the owner shows the household is back within the 3-dog/4-cat or 2-dog/2-cat limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs and cats can I keep in a Skokie house?
Is the pet limit lower in an apartment or condo?
Can licensing all my animals get around the limit?
What happens if I keep too many pets?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Skokie
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle pet limits.