Animal Ordinances in Kankakee County, IL (2026)
8 rules for unincorporated Kankakee County, Illinois.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In unincorporated Kankakee County, raising farm animals and poultry is part of everyday agriculture in the A1 and A2 districts, but the zoning code bars any new livestock feed lot from being established or enlarged within 1,000 feet of a residence district boundary line.
Livestock Feedlot Setback Rule, Kankakee County
Some RestrictionsKankakee County Code § 121-99(b)(1)
(1)The minimum lot area shall be five acres. A single-family dwelling is permitted on a lot not less than 20 acres in area. However, after the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived, the following uses, either as a dominant or accessory use in the pursuit of agriculture, shall not be established or enlarged:a.Livestock feed lots located nearer than 1,000 feet from a ...
Dog Leash Laws
Kankakee County requires every dog to stay on its owner's or custodian's property, or on a leash or other restraint if off it. Section 10-11(b)(1) treats any dog found off-property without a leash as "running at large" in unincorporated Kankakee County, with an added public safety fine on top of the standard nuisance penalty.
Kankakee County Dog Leash and Restraint Rule
Some RestrictionsKankakee County Code § 10-11(b)(1)
(1)Running at large prohibited.a.No owner or custodian of any domestic animal or livestock shall knowingly allow said animal to be at large in any unincorporated area of the county or in any municipality that has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the county. ... b.No owner or custodian of any dog shall knowingly allow said animal to be off of the owner's or custodian's property w...
Exotic Pets
Raising exotic animals such as fox, mink, and chinchilla in unincorporated Kankakee County is not a by-right use anywhere: an animal farm raising exotic or other farm animals needs a special use permit in the A1 Agriculture district, a five-acre minimum lot, and a 200-foot setback from every lot line.
Exotic Animal Farm Permits, Kankakee County
Significant RestrictionsKankakee County Code § 121-99(c)(2)
Animal farms engaged in the raising of exotic animals, fox, mink, chinchilla, hogs, chickens, turkeys, dairy cows, horses, and other farm animals when not accessory to the pursuit of agriculture and provided no building or structure is located nearer than 200 feet from a lot line, and is located on a lot no smaller than five acres.
Pet Limits
Kankakee County does not cap how many dogs or cats a household may keep, but once a resident owns three or more breedable adult dogs or cats, section 10-3 classifies that person as a "breeder" and requires an annual county kennel license, inspections and compliance with detailed housing and care standards.
Kankakee County's Three-Animal Breeder Threshold
Some RestrictionsKankakee County Code § 10-3(a)
(a)Breeder. Is an individual or business entity duly recognized and licensed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, or is registered with Kankakee County as an owner of three or more breedable adult male and/or female dogs or cats.
Cat Rules
Kankakee County's animal code exempts feral cat caretakers from being treated as an "owner" when they take part in a trap, spay/neuter, return or release program. Section 10-13 defines "owner" broadly for stray and abandoned dogs and cats but expressly carves out TNR caretakers, so feeding a recognized feral colony does not itself trigger county owner obligations.
Kankakee County Feral Cat Caretaker Exemption
Some RestrictionsKankakee County Code § 10-13(c)
(c)"Owner" means any person having a right of property in an animal, who keeps or harbors an animal, who has an animal in his or her care or acts as its custodian, or who knowingly permits a dog to remain on any premises occupied by him or her. "Owner" does not include a feral cat caretaker participating in a trap, spay/neuter, return or release program.
Microchipping
Kankakee County requires every dog and cat to be microchipped for identification at the time of its rabies vaccination. Section 10-2(h) sets a nine-month deadline for puppies and kittens and makes the microchip number double as the animal's official animal control registration number in unincorporated Kankakee County.
Kankakee County Requires Pet Microchipping
Some RestrictionsKankakee County Code § 10-2(h)
(h)Microchipping. All dogs and cats in the county must be microchipped for identification at the time of their rabies vaccination. Puppies and kittens must be microchipped by nine months of age. The microchip number shall serve as the animal control registration number.
Pet Store Rules
Kankakee County bars any pet store from selling, bartering, auctioning or giving away a dog or cat. Section 10-15(b) leaves pet stores free only to host animal care facilities or nonprofit rescue organizations showcasing adoptable animals on their floor, making the county effectively adoption-only for commercial dog and cat sales.
Kankakee County Bans Retail Pet Store Sales
Heavy RestrictionsKankakee County Code § 10-15(b)
(b)Restrictions on the sale of animals. No pet store shall sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction, give away, or otherwise transfer or dispose of cats or dogs. Nothing in this section shall prohibit pet stores from collaborating with animal care facilities or animal rescue organizations to offer space for such entities to showcase adoptable dogs and cats.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Animal hospitals are a permitted use only in the C2 general commercial district in unincorporated Kankakee County, and the county defines the term narrowly: short-term boarding incidental to medical or surgical treatment only. A stand-alone kennel or boarding operation is a different, more restricted use under the same chapter.
Kankakee County Animal Hospital Zoning
Some RestrictionsKankakee County Code §§ 121-3, 121-183(a)(3)
Animal hospital means a place where animals or pets are given medical or surgical treatment and the boarding of animals is limited to shortterm care incidental to the hospital use. ... (a)Scope and permitted uses. ... This section applies to the C ... 2 district. Permitted uses are as follows:(1)Amusement establishments, bowling alleys, pool halls, gymnasiums, skating rinks, shooting galleries,...
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