Chicago, IL Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Rescue Permits (2026)
CDFW and city permits required to rehabilitate injured wildlife, including the Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit program and approved holding facilities.
Research in progress
We are currently verifying Chicago's specific local ordinance for wildlife rescue permits. In the meantime,Illinois state law generally applies, and below you'll find guidance for finding the official rules and links to related Chicago ordinances we've already verified.
Illinois State Law Context
Illinois state law provides the baseline framework for wildlife rescue permits across all municipalities in the state. Individual cities like Chicago may adopt additional local rules on top of state requirements, which is what makes checking your specific city ordinance important. For Chicago residents, the safest approach is to follow state law as a baseline and contact City Hall for any additional local requirements.
You can browse all Illinois animal ordinances to see how cities across the state regulate this topic.
How to find official Chicago Wildlife Rescue Permits rules
- Search for "Chicago IL municipal code" to find your city's online code portal (Municode, eCode360, or American Legal Publishing are the most common).
- Look for chapters covering animal ordinances, zoning, nuisance, or property maintenance — that's where most wildlife rescue permits rules live.
- Contact Chicago City Hall's code enforcement, planning, or community development department for clarification.
- Check with your HOA if applicable — many HOAs have stricter rules than the city itself.
Other animal ordinances verified for Chicago
We've verified the following animal ordinances for Chicago: