Animal Ordinances in Chicago, IL (2026)

Chicago Municipal Code § 7-12-300

No person shall own, keep or otherwise possess for their own food purposes, or slaughter, any animal; provided, however, that this prohibition shall not apply to edible byproducts, such as eggs or milk, produced by an animal. Nothing in this ordinance shall be construed to prohibit any properly licensed establishment from slaughtering for food purposes any animals which are specifically raised ...

Municipal Code of Chicago § 7-12-030

It shall be unlawful for any owner to allow his or her animal to cross outside the property line of its owner to any extent, including reaching through, over or under a fence, or to keep or allow his or her animal to be outdoors on an unfenced portion of the owner's property, unless the animal is leashed and under the control of its owner or another responsible person; provided that any animal ...

Municipal Code of Chicago § 7-12-045

"Dangerous animal" means an animal meeting any one of the following criteria: (1) any animal which bites, inflicts injury on, kills or otherwise attacks a human being or domestic animal without provocation on any public or private property; or ... (4) Any dog that is used as a guard dog; or (5) Any animal which has been found to be a vicious dog under state law.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 17-17-0270.7

Apiary. Keeping or propagation of honeybee colonies for collection of honey or other bee products. Up to five (5) colonies may be kept as an accessory use to the primary activity on the site.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 7-12-360

Each person who shall possess, keep or maintain any wild, or nondomesticated animal, including any wild animal native to the State of Illinois, shall upon demand by the Executive Director or his authorized representative, furnish proof of compliance with such restrictions and/or permit requirements as may be imposed by statutes of the State of Illinois and/or federal law. The Executive Director...

Municipal Code of Chicago § 7-12-030

Each owner shall keep and maintain his animal under restraint... It shall be unlawful for any owner to allow his or her animal to cross outside the property line of its owner to any extent, including reaching through, over or under a fence, or to keep or allow his or her animal to be outdoors on an unfenced portion of the owner's property, unless the animal is leashed and under the control of i...

Municipal Code of Chicago § 7-12-065(a), (b)

Except as provided elsewhere in this section, any dog or cat impounded under Sections 7-12-040(a), 7-12-080, or 7-12-290 shall, prior to the animal's return to its owner: (1) have a microchip implanted if it does not already have one; (2) have a confirmed current rabies vaccination; and (3) if the dog or cat is capable of reproduction, be sterilized. An owner may receive the animal without comp...

MCC § 7-12-065(a)

any dog or cat impounded under Sections 7-12-040(a), 7-12-080, or 7-12-290 shall, prior to the animal's return to its owner: (1) have a microchip implanted if it does not already have one; (2) have a confirmed current rabies vaccination; and (3) if the dog or cat is capable of reproduction, be sterilized.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 7-12-365

The executive director shall establish and maintain a coyote management program and response guide based on research and best practices, using public education, followed by humane hazing, as primary management methods. The executive director shall professionally assess the pertinent geography to determine how humane hazing can be applied in specific instances. The executive director shall use l...

Municipal Code of Chicago § 4-384-015

(b) Restrictions on the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits. (1) A pet shop may not offer for sale dogs, cats, or rabbits. (2) A pet shop may provide space to an animal shelter or rescue organization to house and display for adoption dogs, cats, or rabbits. The pet shop shall not have any ownership or monetary interest in the animals displayed for adoption. The animals may only be transferre...

Municipal Code of Chicago §§ 4-384-020, 4-384-090

No person shall engage in the business of a grooming facility, guard dog service, pet shop, animal care facility, humane society, veterinary hospital or permanent animal exhibition without having first obtained an animal care license under this chapter... Every person licensed under this chapter that provides grooming for animals shall: (a) have grooming areas that are physically separated from...

Chicago Zoning Ordinance §§ 17-3-0207 (Use Table), 17-17-0104-B

Use Category B1 B2 B3 C1 C2 C3 Standard Parking Standard ... Q. Animal Services ... 3. Veterinary - - P P P P §17-10-0207-K ... P= permitted by-right ... - = Not allowed ... [17-17-0104-B] 3. Veterinary. Typical uses include pet clinics, dog and cat hospitals, and animal hospitals.

Chicago Municipal Code § 8-24-050

Any person licensed to hunt under the provisions of The Illinois Wildlife Code, as amended, may hunt or kill game birds in the open season as provided by the laws of the state, within the following prescribed districts and portions of the city: upon Wolf Lake and along the shores thereof; upon Lake Calumet and along the shores thereof; and upon the Calumet River and along the banks thereof.    ...