Oak Lawn prohibits feeding of wildlife that creates nuisance conditions or attracts rodents. Intentionally feeding deer, raccoons, geese, and other wild animals is discouraged and may be a code violation if it results in property complaints or public health issues.
Oak Lawn's property maintenance and nuisance provisions prohibit conditions that attract rodents, stray animals, or nuisance wildlife. While casual bird feeding from properly maintained feeders is generally permitted, feeding practices that result in spilled seed, unsecured food, or accumulations that attract rats, raccoons, skunks, coyotes, or large flocks of pigeons and geese can trigger code violations. Feeding feral cats or deer is strongly discouraged. Bird feeders should be rodent-resistant, placed away from structures, and kept clean. During urban coyote activity, residents are asked by Illinois Department of Natural Resources guidelines to never feed coyotes, which habituates them to humans. Violations are handled through Oak Lawn Code Enforcement at (708) 499-7830.
Nuisance wildlife feeding that causes rodent infestations or neighbor complaints can result in citations under property maintenance code with fines of $50 to $500. Property owners may be ordered to remove feeders, stop feeding, or clean up accumulations. Repeated violations can escalate to administrative hearings.
Oak Lawn, IL
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