Animal Ordinances in Oak Lawn, IL (2026)
8 verified animal ordinances for Oak Lawn, Illinois, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Oak Lawn bans keeping livestock village-wide and makes it unlawful to raise poultry, including backyard chickens, for home use anywhere in the village.
Oak Lawn Bans Backyard Chickens, Livestock
Heavy RestrictionsOak Lawn Village Code § 10-3A-5 (livestock ban at § 10-3A-4(A))
It shall be unlawful to keep, sell, or offer for sale, barter, or give away live baby chicks, ducklings, goslings, pigeons, fowl or other poultry, domestic or otherwise in the village except in stores or other commercial establishments engaged in the business of selling baby chicks, ducklings, goslings, pigeons, fowl or other poultry for commercial purposes, and not less than six (6) of each of...
Dog Leash Laws
Oak Lawn dogs off their owner's property must be on a leash, tether, chain, or rope no more than five feet long and held by a person able to control them.
Oak Lawn Dog Leash and Restraint Law
Some RestrictionsOak Lawn Village Code § 10-3B-5
A dog or cat shall be deemed to be running at large when off the premises of its owner, or of the person keeping or harboring such dog or cat, if the dog is not on a leash, tether, chain, rope, or the like... A. Length And Type Of Leash: When being walked on public property, all dogs must be bound by a leash of no more than five feet (5') in length. Reel type extender leashes may not be extende...
Breed Restrictions
Oak Lawn's vicious and dangerous dog ordinance classifies dogs by behavior, not breed: the Village Code expressly bars declaring a dog vicious based on its breed, so no breed-specific bans like pit bull restrictions exist here.
Oak Lawn Bars Breed-Specific Dog Classification
Few RestrictionsOak Lawn Village Code § 10-3B-14
VICIOUS DOG: 1. Any individual dog that when unprovoked inflicts bites or attacks a human being or other animal either on public or private property... No dog shall be deemed "vicious" if it bites, attacks or menaces a trespasser on the property of its owner... Vicious dogs shall not be classified in a manner that is specific as to breed.
Beekeeping
No specific Oak Lawn beekeeping ordinance identified. Illinois Bees and Apiaries Act (510 ILCS 20) requires state apiarist registration. Contact Oak Lawn Community Development for current zoning guidance.
Oak Lawn Beekeeping Regulations
Some Restrictions510 ILCS 20 (Illinois Bees and Apiaries Act)
"Bee diseases" means any infectious or contagious diseases of bees as specified by the Department, including but not limited to American foulbrood. "Bee equipment" means hives, supers, frames, or any other devices used in beekeeping. "Bee parasites" means any parasite of bees as specified by the Department. "Beekeeper" means a person who keeps bees. "Beekeeping" means the raising or producing o...
Exotic Pets
Oak Lawn bans keeping wild, poisonous, or dangerous animals in the village, from constrictor snakes to lions, tigers, and primates.
Oak Lawn Wild and Dangerous Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsOak Lawn Village Code § 10-3A-4(A)
It shall be unlawful to keep any dangerous or wild animals including, but not limited to: live swine, pigs, horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, cows, calves, sheep, lambs or goats in the village. It shall further be unlawful for any person to have...any poisonous reptile or serpent, or any other dangerous or carnivorous wild animal or reptile...baboons, chimpanzees, gorillas, bears, cheetahs, coyot...
Pet Limits
Oak Lawn limits most residences to three four-legged animals age three months or older, exempting licensed pet shops, animal hospitals, and grooming businesses, with a grandfather clause for owners who already exceeded the cap before January 13, 2012.
Oak Lawn Caps Homes at Three Pets
Some RestrictionsOak Lawn Village Code § 10-3A-11
A. As of January 13, 2012, no more than three (3) 4-legged animals of three (3) months of age or older shall be housed or maintained at any residence within the village. This restriction shall not apply to duly licensed pet shops, animal hospitals or grooming establishments.
Cat Rules
Oak Lawn requires every cat of licensing age to be registered annually for $5, tagged, and rabies-vaccinated, and separately bars cats from running at large or roaming unsupervised off their owner's property.
Oak Lawn Cat Licensing and At-Large Rules
Some RestrictionsOak Lawn Village Code § 10-3B-3
Every owner of, and every person who harbors or keeps a dog or cat of licensing age within the limits of the village shall report to the administrative services department annually within thirty (30) days after January 1 in each year, his name and address, and the name, breed, color, sex and age of each and every dog or cat owned or kept by such person, and obtain a license and a tag for such d...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Oak Lawn allows animal hospitals and clinics as a permitted use in the C-2 general service district, but only if they run without open kennels or runways.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning in Oak Lawn
Some RestrictionsOak Lawn Village Code § 4-6B-3
A building or premises shall be used only for the following purposes: ... Hospitals and clinics for animals, but without open kennels and runways. ... (C-2 General Service District use regulations)
Looking for Cook County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Oak Lawn city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Cook County →