Animal Ordinances in Arlington Heights, IL (2026)
7 verified animal ordinances for Arlington Heights, Illinois, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Arlington Heights, Illinois bans chickens, geese, ducks, and every farm animal, including pigs, cattle, horses, goats, and sheep, from any Residential District in the Village. Section 16-103 of the Municipal Code makes keeping or raising these animals unlawful outright, with no permit or hardship exception written into the ordinance.
Arlington Heights Bans Backyard Chickens
Heavy RestrictionsArlington Heights Municipal Code § 16-103
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or raise any of the following animals or fowl in any Residential District within the Village: Pigs, cattle, horses, goats, sheep, or any other farm animals, or similar animals, or any chickens, geese, or ducks or similar fowl.
Dog Leash Laws
Arlington Heights, Illinois, requires every dog to be "securely on a leash" whenever it is on a public street, alley, sidewalk, or other public place, under Municipal Code Section 16-210. The Village defines a leash as a cord, thong, or chain no more than eight feet long, and separately bars dogs, leashed or not, from Village parks.
Arlington Heights Dog Leash Law
Some RestrictionsArlington Heights Municipal Code § 16-210
It shall be unlawful for any owner of any dog to allow the dog to go upon any public street, alley or sidewalk or other public place unless the dog is securely on a leash.
Breed Restrictions
Arlington Heights, Illinois, does not restrict dog ownership by breed; instead, Municipal Code Section 16-501(b) imposes escalating court penalties on any animal's owner after it attacks and injures a person or another animal, running from a $25 to $750 fine on a first offense up to mandatory court proceedings and a possible destruction order after repeat attacks.
Arlington Heights Dangerous Animal Attack Penalties
Heavy RestrictionsArlington Heights Municipal Code § 16-501(b)
In all instances involving an attack by an animal upon another animal or person, or in which the other animal or person sustains a physical injury, the owner must be given a mandatory appearance request for court, not less than ten days, nor more than 45 days after the occurrence. Any person found guilty of violating this subsection (b) shall be fined not less than $25.00 nor more than $750.00 ...
Beekeeping
Arlington Heights permits beekeeping on residential property subject to conditions. The Village amended its ordinance to allow backyard beekeeping with restrictions on hive placement, number of colonies, and flyway barriers. Illinois does not prohibit residential beekeeping and the Illinois Department of Agriculture maintains a voluntary apiary registration program.
Arlington Heights Beekeeping Regulations
Some Restrictions510 ILCS 20 (Illinois Bees and Apiaries Act)
Every person keeping one or more colonies of bees shall register with the Department annually. (b) Every person keeping one or more colonies of bees may be required to post his or her registration number in a prominent place within each apiary under his or her control. (Source: P.A. 88-138.) (510 ILCS 20/2-1) Sec. 2-1. Nuisances. All bees, colonies, or items of bee equipment, where bee diseases...
Exotic Pets
Arlington Heights, Illinois does not ban dangerous or wild animals outright, but Section 16-105 of the Municipal Code requires a Police Chief permit and a $30.00 daily fee before anyone can exhibit or parade a 'dangerous animal,' defined as one inherently incapable of domestication under the legal standard of ferae naturae.
Arlington Heights Dangerous Animal Permit
Significant RestrictionsArlington Heights Municipal Code §§ 16-102, 16-105
Dangerous Animal. Any animal which is inherently incapable of being domesticated and is considered by the law to be inherently dangerous (ferae naturae). ... It shall be unlawful for any person to exhibit or parade any dangerous animal within the Village without first obtaining a permit from the Police Chief. This permit shall be issued upon proper showing that the demonstration will be entirel...
Pet Limits
Arlington Heights, Illinois limits any household to four animals over four months old under Section 16-104 of the Municipal Code. The cap counts dogs, cats, and other pets together rather than by species, and it does not apply to a licensed pet shop operator, kennel operator, or animal shelter.
Arlington Heights Caps Pets at Four
Some RestrictionsArlington Heights Municipal Code § 16-104
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep more than four animals over four months of age on his or her property. This Section shall not apply to persons who are licensed to engage in the business of pet shop operator, kennel operator or animal shelter.
Pet Store Rules
Pet shops in Arlington Heights may sell or offer for adoption dogs, cats and other common pets, but only under a Pet Shop Operator's license backed by a current Illinois Department of Agriculture license, per Municipal Code Section 12-1501. Section 12-1506 forces every dog and cat sale to come with a detailed written breeder-disclosure statement.
Arlington Heights Pet Shop License & Disclosure
Some RestrictionsArlington Heights Municipal Code Section 12-1502
Pet Shop Operator, when used in this Article, shall mean any person who sells, offers to sell, exchange, or offers for adoption with or without charge or donation dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, or other animals customarily obtained as pets in the Village. This does not include those individuals who sell only those animals that they have produced and raised nor veterinary hospitals or clinic...
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