St. Clair County, IL Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)

St. Clair County Animal Services Code 3-4-17 provides that 'it shall be unlawful for anyone to place or distribute any animal feed on public property, public easements and accesses to public property,' and equally unlawful 'to place or distribute animal feed on vacant lots or in unoccupied structures in the County.' The provision curbs feeding that attracts stray dogs, cats and wildlife and creates nuisance or rabies-exposure conditions. It does not ban ordinary backyard bird feeders on your own occupied property, but leaving pet food or bait on public land or vacant parcels is prohibited. Illinois wildlife is otherwise protected and regulated statewide by the Department of Natural Resources under the Wildlife Code (520 ILCS 5).