City of West Chicago, Illinois

Where History and Progress Meet

Animal Control

West Chicago has a number of laws regulating the care, treatment, and registration of pets. The following City ordinances pertain to animal control:

  1. There is a limit of three household pets allowed per residence.
  2. The owner of the pet is responsible for cleaning any waste produced by the pet.
  3. Residents are prohibited from owning any agricultural, non-domestic, or exotic animals.
  4. It is unlawful for any cat, dog, or other animal from running at large in the City.
  5. It is unlawful for any person to keep any animal on any property located within the City when the keeping of such animal constitutes a public nuisance or menace to public health or safety.

There is a leash law in West Chicago that prohibits dogs from running wild. If you see a dog off its leash, call the West Chicago Police Department, (630) 293-2222. Lost dogs should be brought to *DuPage County Animal Services, 120 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, Illinois. The phone number is (630) 407-2800.

*DuPage County Animal Services enforces state and county animal control and welfare laws. For a complete list of services provided by DuPage County Animal Services, visit their website.

Wild Nuisance Animals

The City of West Chicago has an agreement with a private company to provide the residents of West Chicago with a service to remove wild animals from their residences. On Target Animal Control will provide the capture and removal of nuisance animals at the following rates and under the following conditions:

  • The $95.00 set up fee will be waived.
  • Residents will be charged $75.00 for the first animal.
  • Residents will be charged $45.00 for each additional animal.
  • Exceptions to this include squirrels, birds and bats above the structure’s first story and coyotes, beavers and muskrats which require a set-up fee and a labor-intensive technique.

Any West Chicago resident requiring the removal of a wild animal should contact On Target Animal Control directly at (815) 286-3073.

Additional Resources:

"Being Coyote Wise: Living with Urban Coyotes". (Produced by the Colorado Division of Wildlife)