Animal Ordinances in St. Clair County, IL (2026)
8 rules for unincorporated St. Clair County, Illinois.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Livestock is a zoning matter in unincorporated St. Clair County. The 'A' Agricultural Industry and RR Rural Residential districts permit raising livestock, poultry and farm animals; horses need 20,000 sq ft per animal in RR. Single-family residential districts do not allow livestock.
Livestock & Farm Animal Rules in St. Clair County
Some RestrictionsSt. Clair County Zoning Code 40-4-2 ('A' Agricultural District)
All uses commonly classified as agriculture... including... livestock raising; animal and poultry breeding, raising, and feeding; fisheries; forestry operations... but not including stockyards or agricultural product processing plants for other than agricultural use.
Dog Leash Laws
In unincorporated St. Clair County a dog off its owner's property must be under control by leash or other recognized method. A dog loose on public ways or others' land is a stray and may be impounded. Belleville, O'Fallon and other cities set their own leash rules.
Dog Leash & Running-at-Large Rules in St. Clair County
Some RestrictionsSt. Clair County Animal Services Code 3-4-3
Such dog is not on the premises of its owner or keeper and is not under control by leash or other recognized control methods... shall be considered a 'stray' and shall be considered to have been 'found running at large contrary to the provisions of this Code.'
Breed Restrictions
St. Clair County does not ban any dog breed. Regulation is behavior-based: a dog is a 'dangerous dog' by its conduct, not its breed. Illinois law (510 ILCS 5/2.05a) likewise defines dangerous dogs by behavior, not breed.
Are Any Dog Breeds Banned in St. Clair County?
Some RestrictionsSt. Clair County Animal Services Code 3-1-2 (Dangerous Dog)
'Dangerous Dog' means a dog which has been known at any time, without provocation, to attack or injure any person who was peacefully conducting himself where he lawfully may be.
Exotic Pets
St. Clair County flatly prohibits keeping big cats, bears, wolves, coyotes, hyenas and poisonous reptiles outside licensed facilities such as zoos, circuses or research institutions. Domesticating such an animal is no defense.
Exotic & Wild Animal Rules in St. Clair County
Some RestrictionsSt. Clair County Animal Services Code 3-5-1
No person, business association or corporation shall keep any lion, tiger, leopard, ocelot, jaguar, cheetah, margay, mountain lion, canada lynx, bobcat, jaguarundi, hyena or coyote, bear, wolf, or any poisonous reptile in any place other than a property maintained zoological park, circus, scientific or educational institution, research laboratory, veterinary hospital or animal refuge.
Wildlife Feeding
St. Clair County makes it unlawful to place or distribute animal feed on public property, public easements, or on vacant lots and unoccupied structures. The rule targets feeding that draws strays and wildlife into problem areas.
Wildlife & Stray Feeding Rules in St. Clair County
Some RestrictionsSt. Clair County Animal Services Code 3-4-17
It shall be unlawful for anyone to place or distribute any animal feed on public property, public easements and accesses to public property. It shall be unlawful for anyone to place or distribute animal feed on vacant lots or in unoccupied structures in the County.
Pet Limits
St. Clair County sets no numeric cap on the number of dogs or cats you may own, but every dog and cat four months or older must be registered and rabies-vaccinated. Tethering is limited to two dogs per residential property. Cities may impose pet-count limits.
How Many Pets Can You Own in St. Clair County?
Some RestrictionsSt. Clair County Animal Services Code 3-4-16(G)-(H)
No more than two (2) dogs may be tethered on one residential property. No more than one (1) dog shall be attached to a tether.
Cat Rules
St. Clair County requires every cat four months or older to be registered annually and rabies-vaccinated. There is no county cat leash law, but cats found running at large can be impounded and redeemed like dogs. Cities may add their own cat rules.
Cat Registration & Rabies Rules in St. Clair County
Some RestrictionsSt. Clair County Animal Services Code 3-3-1
Every person who is or has been a resident of this County for thirty (30) days or more and who is the owner of any dog or cat, four (4) months or more of age, shall cause such dog or cat to be registered and shall pay an annual fee.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
A dog caught running at large a third time in unincorporated St. Clair County must be spayed or neutered within 30 days of being reclaimed. Refusing the order keeps the dog impounded, and the underlying running-at-large violation is a fined petty offense under the County's Animal Services Code.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter in St. Clair County
Significant RestrictionsSt. Clair County Animal Services Code Sec. 3-4-15
3-4-15 MICROCHIPPING. All dogs impounded for running at large for a second time shall be microchipped at the owner's expense. The fee shall be Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) per dog. A dog found running at large a third time shall be spayed or neutered within thirty (30) days of being reclaimed. The owner's failure to comply with this order shall result in the impoundment of the dog.
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