Animal Ordinances in McLean County, IL (2026)
8 rules for unincorporated McLean County, Illinois.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
McLean County lets residential lots keep hens as an accessory use, but only on a quarter acre or more inside a single-family district. Section 350-43GGG(2)-(3) sets a sliding cap from four hens on a quarter acre up to twenty hens on more than an acre, and bans roosters outright.
McLean County Backyard Hen Chicken Limits
Some RestrictionsMcLean County Code § 350-43GGG(2)-(3)
Locations allowed. The keeping of hens is allowed as an accessory use on any lot which is at least 1/4 acre (10,890 square feet) in size in single ownership, located in a single-family residential district, and which contains a detached single-family dwelling. ... Number allowed. A zoning lot consisting of multiple platted lots shall be considered one zoning lot. Roosters are prohibited. 1/4 ac...
Dog Leash Laws
McLean County bans letting a dog run at large in any unincorporated, subdivided residential area of the county. Animal Control or any Illinois law enforcement officer can catch and impound a loose dog on sight, and the owner of a repeat offender must have the dog spayed or neutered within 30 days of reclaiming it.
McLean County Dogs Running at Large Ban
Some RestrictionsMcLean County Code of Ordinances § 165-7(A)
It shall be unlawful for any person to permit a dog to run at large in any unincorporated area of this County which has been subdivided for residence purposes. Any dog found running at large contrary to the provisions of this article may be apprehended and impounded by authorized personnel of the Animal Control Center or any Illinois law enforcement officer.
Breed Restrictions
McLean County doesn't restrict dogs by breed, but it does regulate individual dogs once Animal Control declares them dangerous or vicious under Chapter 165. A dangerous dog must be spayed, neutered, and microchipped within 14 days; a vicious dog within 10 days plus kept in an approved enclosure. Violations carry a $500-per-day fine and impoundment.
McLean County Dangerous and Vicious Dog Rules
Significant RestrictionsMcLean County Code of Ordinances § 165-12
It is unlawful for any person to knowingly or recklessly permit any dangerous dog to leave the premises of its owner, and owners must comply with the following. Any dog found to be dangerous shall: Be spayed or neutered and microchipped within 14 days of the declaration at the owner's expense, if not already done: and Pay applicable public safety fines as set forth in § 205-32.
Cat Rules
McLean County requires every cat owner countywide to register their cat with the County of McLean and keep a current rabies vaccination and registration tag. Animal Control or any Illinois officer can seize an unregistered cat as a public nuisance, and an unclaimed cat becomes county property after seven business days. Feral cat caretakers in an approved trap-neuter-return program are exempt.
McLean County Cat Registration and Feral Cat Rules
Some RestrictionsMcLean County Code of Ordinances § 165-4
Every person residing in McLean County who is the owner of a dog or cat shall register said dog or cat with the County of McLean. ... Any duly authorized personnel of the Animal Control Center or any Illinois law enforcement officer is authorized and may summarily seize and impound as a public nuisance any dog or cat for which proof of current vaccination for rabies and registration is not disp...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
A McLean County dog caught running at large for a second time must be spayed or neutered within 30 days of being reclaimed, unless it's already altered. Section 165-7B makes the surgery mandatory before Animal Control considers the matter closed, and failing to comply keeps the dog impounded rather than returned home.
McLean County Spay-Neuter Rule for Repeat Strays
Significant RestrictionsMcLean County Code of Ordinances § 165-7(B)
A dog found running at large a second or subsequent time shall be spayed or neutered within 30 days after being reclaimed unless already spayed or neutered. Failure to comply shall result in impoundment of the dog.
Microchipping
McLean County Animal Control will not release an adopted dog or cat until it has been spayed or neutered, vaccinated, registered, and microchipped, or the adopter has signed an agreement to complete those steps within 30 days. An adopter who misses the deadline can have the animal seized and returned to the shelter, forfeiting every fee already paid.
McLean County Microchip Rule for Adopted Pets
Some RestrictionsMcLean County Code of Ordinances § 165-18
The animal must be rendered incapable of reproduction by spaying or neutering, officially vaccinated, registered and microchipped or the person adopting the animal shall enter into an agreement to have such service done within a specified period of time, not to exceed 30 days, unless otherwise recommended by a licensed veterinarian. If the person adopting the animal fails to have said animal sp...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Veterinary clinics, kennels and stables cannot operate as a home occupation in unincorporated McLean County. Section 350-43.R(1)(k) places them eighth on the list of uses the county excludes outright from residential home-business zoning.
McLean County Bars Home-Based Veterinary Clinics
Significant RestrictionsMcLean County Code § 350-43.R(1)(k)[8]
(k) Particular home occupations prohibited. Permitted home occupations shall not in any event include the following: [7] Physician or dental clinics. [8] Veterinary clinics, kennels and stables. [9] Adult entertainment establishments.
Bird Protection
McLean County makes it unlawful to trap, catch, kill, wound or cruelly treat any bird, take a bird egg, or rob a nest anywhere in a county park or recreational area, under Code § 282-7B, backing the chapter's outright hunting and trapping ban.
McLean County Bans Harming Birds in Parks
Heavy RestrictionsMcLean County Code § 282-7B
No person shall trap, catch, kill or wound, or attempt to trap, catch, kill or wound any bird or animal, take any bird egg or molest or rob any nest of any animal or otherwise cruelly treat any bird or animal in any County park or recreational area.
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