Evanston, IL Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Effective date
- April 27, 2020
- Banned sales
- Cats, dogs, rabbits
- Fine range
- $500–$1,500 per offense
- Rabbit rule
- Must be spayed/neutered before sale
Summary
Pet stores in Evanston cannot sell, barter, or give away cats, dogs, or rabbits: they can only host adoption events for licensed rescues, with no ownership stake or fee for the space.
No pet store shall sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction give away, or otherwise transfer or dispose of cats, dogs or rabbits. Nothing in this section shall prohibit pet stores from collaborating with animal care facilities or animal rescue organizations to offer space for such entities to showcase adoptable dogs, cats and rabbits provided that the pet store shall not have any ownership interest in these animals offered for adoption and shall not receive a fee for providing space for the adoption of any of these animals.(B)Any rabbit that is adopted or sold in the City of Evanston must be spayed or neutered unless a veterinarian determines that neutering or spaying the animal would endanger the health of the animal. Such a determination must be made in writing and by a veterinarian licensed to practice in the State of Illinois. (Ord. No. 32-O-20, § 2, 4-27-2020)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 21).
Full Breakdown
Evanston's 2020 puppy-mill ordinance (Chapter 33, Title 3) bars any pet shop from selling, delivering, bartering, auctioning, or otherwise transferring cats, dogs, or rabbits to the public. Pet stores can still partner with animal care facilities or nonprofit rescue organizations to showcase adoptable animals on-site, but only if the store holds no ownership interest in those animals and collects no fee for the space. Any rabbit adopted or sold in the city must be spayed or neutered unless a licensed Illinois veterinarian certifies in writing that doing so would endanger the animal's health. The Animal Control Warden, the Chief of Police, ex officio, enforces the chapter with the Evanston Police Department.
Violations & Fines
Violations bring a $500-$1,500 fine per offense, with every day a violation continues counted as a separate offense; the Animal Control Warden and Evanston police enforce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a pet store in Evanston sell puppies?
Can Evanston pet stores host adoption events?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Evanston
Compare Evanston to another location·View the Illinois animal ordinances overview
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Pet Store Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle pet store rules.