Animal Ordinances in Tazewell County, IL (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Tazewell County, Illinois.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Tazewell County allows up to six hens on a quarter-acre to two-acre lot in the R-1 and R-2 residential districts, but bans roosters, on-site slaughter, and coops closer than ten feet to a property line under Zoning Code Section 157.060.
Backyard Chickens Rules in Tazewell County
Some RestrictionsTazewell County Code of Ordinances § 157.060
Specific requirements for chickens/fowl in the R-1 Low Density Residential and R-2 Multi Family Residential Districts: (A) Roosters shall be prohibited; (B) The slaughtering of chickens/fowl shall not be allowed on-site, except for humane reasons; (C) Chickens/fowl shall be kept for personal use only and shall be contained within a coop or enclosure/run at all times... (F) The number of chicken...
Dog Leash Laws
Unincorporated Tazewell County requires every dog and other animal to stay confined or under restraint whenever it leaves the owner's property; letting an animal run at large violates County Code § 90.02. Exceptions cover hunting dogs, licensed barn cats, and law-enforcement canines. Animal control, police, or any private citizen may impound a loose animal, and owners pay fines and fees to reclaim it.
Tazewell County Dog Leash and At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsTazewell County Code of Ordinances § 90.02(A)
(A) The owner of any animal shall keep such animal confined or under restraint at all times when it is off the premises of the owner's real property, and shall not permit such animal to be at large. Dogs trained for law enforcement under the control of a peace officer in the performance of duty shall not be required to be confined or under restraint.
Breed Restrictions
Tazewell County does not ban or single out any dog breed; instead, County Code § 90.35 lets the Administrator or Director declare an individual dog "dangerous" after investigating its actual conduct, triggering microchipping, sterilization, muzzling, and fines regardless of breed.
Tazewell County Dangerous Dog Determination Rule
Significant RestrictionsTazewell County Code of Ordinances § 90.35
(A) After a thorough investigation, including: sending notifications to the owner of the alleged infractions within ten business days of the Administrator or Director becoming aware of the alleged infractions... an animal control officer, Deputy Administrator, or law enforcement agent may ask the Administrator, or his or her designee, or the Director, to deem a dog to be "dangerous." No dog s...
Cat Rules
Unincorporated Tazewell County lets residents keep unowned barn cats and feral colonies legally only through a licensing path: County Code § 90.24 requires an annual $10 barn cat caretaker license, and § 90.01 defines the feral cats that caretakers and TNVR programs may manage without registering each animal.
Tazewell County Barn Cat and Feral Cat Rules
Some RestrictionsTazewell County Code of Ordinances § 90.24
(A) Barn cat caretakers may obtain an annual license from the county by no later than January 31 of each year. Licensees shall pay an annual renewal fee of $10. (B) An applicant for and holder of a barn cat caretaker license shall conform to the following requirements: (1) All cats over four months of age must receive an inoculation against rabies; (2) All cats must be spayed or neutere...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Unincorporated Tazewell County does not require every pet to be sterilized, but County Code § 90.02(C) forces it on repeat offenders: any dog or cat caught running at large a second time must be spayed or neutered within 30 days of being reclaimed. Missing the deadline adds a $50 fine and a second impoundment before release.
Tazewell County Mandatory Spay/Neuter Rule
Some RestrictionsTazewell County Code of Ordinances § 90.02(C)
(C) A dog or cat found running at large contrary to the provisions of this chapter a second or subsequent time must be spayed or neutered within 30 days after being reclaimed unless already spayed or neutered. Failure to comply with this section shall be a violation of law and shall result in the Administrator or Deputy Administrator ordering the dog impounded and the dog's owner paying a $50...
Microchipping
Tazewell County does not microchip every pet, but County Code § 90.26(C) makes it mandatory after a bite investigation: once a dog or other animal completes its ten-day bite confinement and clears a veterinary exam, the owner must have it microchipped at the vet's office at the owner's expense.
Tazewell County Bite Case Microchipping Rule
Light RestrictionsTazewell County Code of Ordinances § 90.26(C)
(C) When such dog or other animal has been examined by a licensed veterinarian, at the end of the confinement period and released from confinement, said animal shall be microchipped at the owner's expense at the time of examination. The owner shall notify the Administrator of the microchip number within 72 hours.
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