Illinois Leash Laws

Illinois has no general statewide leash law, but several state statutes restrict dogs running at large in specific situations, and local governments fill in the rest.

Illinois leash law at a glance

What Illinois state law says

• 510 ILCS 5/9: dogs running at large may be impounded; the owner pays a $25 public safety fine.
• A second or later violation requires sterilization within 30 days of reclaim.
• Hunting and supervised dog parks do not count as running at large.
• Counties (55 ILCS 5/5-1071) and municipalities (65 ILCS 5/11-20-9) regulate running at large; local rules may not be breed-specific.

Local leash ordinances

City and county codes do most of the work here. They typically say when a dog must be leashed, how long the leash can be, which parks allow off-leash dogs, and what fines apply when a dog is found running loose.

Staying on the right side of the law

• Keep your dog leashed in public unless you are in a posted off-leash area.
• Make sure your dog wears a current license and rabies tag, since a loose dog without tags is the one most likely to be impounded.
• If your dog has been declared dangerous, stricter leash, muzzle and enclosure rules apply; see the dangerous dog section of Illinois dog bite laws.
• A dog that runs loose and injures someone can create liability for the owner, so a leash is also your best protection.
• Leash training makes compliance easy; a local dog trainer can help with pulling and recall.

Sources

1. Michigan State University Animal Legal & Historical Center: Illinois dog laws
2. Michigan State University Animal Legal & Historical Center: State dog leash laws