Animal Ordinances in Lake County, IL (2026)
10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Lake County, Illinois.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Unincorporated Lake County allows hens on residential lots of 10,000+ sq ft, with headcount tied to lot size and roosters banned outright.
Lake County Backyard Chicken Rules
Some RestrictionsLake County Code § 151.113(S)
(S) Chickens. The keeping of hens, the female of the chicken species Gallus gailus domesticus, shall be permitted in single family residential zoning areas, on zoning lots of 10,000 square feet or greater... (4) Prohibitions and management practices. (a) Roosters. The keeping of roosters shall not be allowed on non-exempt property.
Dog Leash Laws
Lake County requires owners to keep dogs, cats and other animals under control by leash, confinement on the owner's premises, or an enclosure whenever the animal is off the owner's property; loose animals can be impounded.
Lake County Dogs Must Be Controlled Off Premises
Some RestrictionsLake County Code § 172.07
An owner or harborer of a dog, cat, or other animal shall control the animal when it is not on their premises. A dog, cat, or other animal found running at large contrary to provisions of this chapter may be apprehended and impounded.
Breed Restrictions
Illinois law bars breed-specific ordinances, so Lake County Health Department declares dogs dangerous, vicious, or animal-aggressive based on behavior alone under Code § 172.12, then orders confinement, muzzling, or euthanasia through its own investigation and appeal process.
Lake County Dangerous & Animal-Aggressive Dog Rules
Significant RestrictionsLake County Code § 172.12(A)
(A) Dangerous and/or vicious dog determinations and requirements. The determination that a dog is vicious or dangerous shall be made in accordance with the requirements of the Illinois Animal Control Act and this chapter. Any associated enforcement shall proceed in accordance with the requirements of the Illinois Animal Control Act, this chapter and the current fee schedule adopted by the Cou...
Beekeeping
Unincorporated Lake County allows backyard beekeeping as an accessory use, with hive limits by lot size and mandatory setbacks, fencing, and water requirements.
Beekeeping Rules in Unincorporated Lake County
Some RestrictionsLake County Code § 151.113(R)
The keeping of honey bees, of the European species Apis mefifera, shall be permitted in the Agricultural, Rural Estate. Estate, R1, R2, R3, and R4 Zoning Districts on lots less than 200,000 square feet in area, as an accessory use to a principal use... Two full beehives (hives) and two "nucleus hives" shall be permitted on lots up to and including a minimum lot area of 10,000 square feet of are...
Pet Limits
Lake County caps unincorporated households at four dogs and four cats over six months old, whether a single-family home or one unit in a multi-family building. Landlords and condo associations may set stricter limits. Owners wanting more animals must apply to the Health Officer for a Multiple Pet Permit, available only on parcels larger than 1.5 acres.
Lake County Limits Households to Four Dogs and Cats
Some RestrictionsLake County Code § 172.15(A), (B)
(A) Dogs, cats: maximum number allowed. A maximum of four dogs and four cats of an age greater than six months may be owned, kept, or harbored in an individual residence. For the purposes of this section, an individual residence includes both single family dwellings and each individual dwelling unit within multi-unit housing structures. Owners and/or landlords of multi-unit housing structures...
Cat Rules
Lake County requires every cat over four months to be rabies-vaccinated and registered with the Health Department, kept under control off its owner's property, and caps most households at four cats unless a Multiple Pet Permit is obtained.
Lake County Cat Registration, At-Large & Household Limits
Some RestrictionsLake County Code §§ 172.06(A), 172.15(A)
Every owner of a dog or cat four months or more of age shall have the dog or cat that is not medically exempt vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian... No more than four dogs and four cats of an age greater than six months may be owned, kept, or harbored in an individual residence.
Microchipping
After a dog or cat bites someone and is released from confinement, Lake County requires the owner to have it microchipped within 30 days and give the Health Officer written proof.
Lake County biting-animal microchip rule
Some RestrictionsLake County Code § 172.05(C)
(C) Microchipping after release from confinement. At the expense of the owner, if not already implanted, a biting dog or cat shall be microchipped within 30 days after being released from confinement, and the owner shall provide written verification of the procedure to the Health Officer.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In unincorporated Lake County, veterinary clinics are a permitted use by right in the Agricultural, Recreational Commercial, General Commercial, Limited Industrial, and Intensive Industrial zoning districts under the county's Use Table.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning in Lake County
Some RestrictionsLake County Code § 151.111
(1) Permitted uses. (a) A “P” indicates that a use is allowed by right in the respective zoning district. (b) Permitted uses are subject to all other applicable regulations of this chapter. ... (3) Uses not allowed. A blank cell (one without a “P” or “C”) indicates that a use type is not allowed in the respective zoning district.
Bird Protection
Unincorporated Lake County requires new non-residential buildings to use bird-friendly glass on most of their exterior facade to cut bird collisions.
Lake County Bird-Friendly Glazing Rule
Some RestrictionsLake County Code § 150.16 (2024 IBC § 2410.2)
2410.2 New non-residential facade requirements. For new build non-residential properties, at least eighty percent of all glass on each exterior facade from the ground level to one hundred feet, including but not limited to glass surrounding a green roof or landscaped area, shall be bird-friendly glass.
Wildlife Rescue Permits
A wildlife rehabilitation facility in unincorporated Lake County cannot open on a zoning certificate alone. County Code Section 151.112(DDD) requires a delegated conditional use permit, an 80,000-square-foot minimum site, 30-foot setbacks for rehabilitation structures, and site capacity/site plan review run alongside the permit case.
Wildlife Rehab Permits, Unincorporated Lake County
Significant RestrictionsLake County Code § 151.112(DDD)
(DDD) Wildlife rehabilitation facilities. This use shall be allowed only by a delegated conditional use permit. Setbacks, screening, and noise abatement requirements shall be addressed as part of the conditional use permit. The following standards shall apply: (1) The use shall be subject to the site capacity/site plan review procedures of § 151.070... (2) The site shall contain a minimum of 80...
Animal Ordinances by City in Lake County
1 cities in Lake County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Lake County ordinances
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