Animal Control

Working with Animal Care League, 1011 Garfield St.,  the Village helps find and return lost pets, and promotes adoption of stray animals. Animal Control employs one full-time, professionally trained officer who addresses stray and nuisance wildlife problems. As part of the Oak Park Department of Public Health, the division also licenses pets annually.

If your pet is missing, first call Animal Care League at 708.848.8155, the Village's impound shelter. If you cannot reach Animal Care League, call Animal Control at 708.358.5486. If you would like to adopt an animal or become an animal control volunteer click here to visit the Animal Care League's website.

A telephone call from Animal Control is all it takes to reunite lost or strayed pets with their owners - provided those pets have been licensed and are wearing tags. All dogs and outdoor cats must be licensed annually by May 1. Owners must show proof of a current rabies inoculation before a license will be issued. The annual license fee of $25 is reduced to $10 for a spayed or neutered animal.

Residents new to the Village can register online or come to Village Hall with proof of current rabies inoculation and spaying/neutering. The license fee is $10 for a neutered/spayed dog and all cats, and $25 for any non-spayed/non-neutered dog.

Village ordinance limits the number of animals on private premises as follows:

• Single-family residences, townhomes, buildings or lots
  • Three dogs
  • Two cats if allowed to run at-large (outside), or four cats if only kept indoors
  • Combination of no more than 10 of all types of permitted animals
• Single units of two- or three-flat residential dwellings
  • Two dogs
  • Two cats 
  • Combination of no more than five of all types of permitted animals
• Single units of multi-family residential building containing four or more dwelling units
  • Two dogs
  • One cat allowed if allowed to run at-large (outside), or two cats if only kept indoors.
  • Combination of no more than five of all types of permitted animals 

Animal Control can answer questions and provide assistance detering nuisance wildlife such as birds, skunks, squirrels, raccoons and opossums. Property owners can call 708.358.5486 or email health@oak-park.us to request a consultation.

Detailed information on preventing and solving wildlife problems or hiring a nuisance wildlife control operator is posted on the University of Illinois Extension's Living with Wildlife in Illinois website  - just click here.

Responsible pet owners agree that picking up after one’s dog is the right thing to do. Dog excrement is not only a nuisance, it’s unhealthy and against the law. Owners who fail to pick up after their pets may be ticketed and fined.

All dogs that use any street, sidewalk, parkway or public area within Oak Park must be on a leash no longer than 8 feet controlled by the owner.

The Park District of Oak Park offers two areas where dogs can run off leash in Maple Park and Ridgeland Common. Both dog parks are free to Oak Park residents who have obtained a dog park pass.

Find more information on the Park District website at www.pdop.org/dogparks. 

Anyone observing a dog not on a leash or an owner not picking up after a pet can report the violation by calling 708.358.5486 or emailing health@oak-park.us.