Chicago's Companion Animal and Consumer Protection Ordinance, MCC 4-384, bars pet stores from selling dogs, cats, or rabbits unless they come from a government shelter, humane society, or registered nonprofit rescue. Adoption-only retailers must keep records and post source disclosures on every kennel.
Adopted in 2014 and strengthened over time, MCC 4-384-015 prohibits any pet shop license holder from offering a dog, cat, or rabbit for sale unless the animal was obtained from a city, state, or federal shelter; an Illinois-registered humane society or animal-control facility; or a 501(c)(3) rescue group. Stores must post the animal's source on each enclosure (MCC 4-384-017) and keep three years of acquisition records open to Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) inspectors. Illinois later passed PA 102-0524 making the rescue-only standard statewide for new stores. Existing pet shop licenses fall under MCC 4-384 with annual fees, sanitation, and humane-care standards. Sales of birds, fish, reptiles, and small mammals remain allowed under separate caging and care rules.
Each prohibited dog, cat, or rabbit sold is a separate offense under MCC 4-384-160 with fines from $500 to $1,000, license suspension after repeats, and possible revocation. False source disclosures add 815 ILCS 505 consumer-fraud exposure.
Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL
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See how Chicago's pet store rules rules stack up against other locations.
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