Rabies Laws in Chicago, Illinois (2026)
Chicago bite cases run through three overlapping authorities — the city's Animal Care and Control, Cook County's Department of Animal and Rabies Control, and the Illinois Department of Public Health. Knowing which to call first saves hours.
- County
- Cook County
- Population
- ~2,660,000
- Animal control
- (312) 747-1406
- Report a bite within
- 24 hours
What Chicago Requires
Chicago Municipal Code §7-12-040 requires every dog over 4 months old to carry a current rabies vaccination administered by a licensed Illinois veterinarian. Cook County additionally requires every dog to be registered through the County's rabies tag program, separate from any city dog license.
Ordinance citation
Chicago Municipal Code §7-12-040 (Vaccinations) and Cook County Code §10-12 (Rabies registration)
Read the sourceChicago Licensing & Vaccination
Required species & age
Dogs — first rabies vaccination by 4 months of age.
Initial vaccination required by 4 months. Cook County rabies tags are issued by the vaccinating veterinarian and must accompany the city license.
Annual licensing fee
- Dog — spayed/neutered
- $5 / year (spayed or neutered)
- Dog — intact
- $50 / year (intact)
- Cat
- No mandatory city license for cats. Rabies vaccination still strongly recommended.
- Senior discount
- Reduced fee for owners 65+.
In addition to the Chicago city license, Cook County requires a separate rabies registration tag issued through the licensed veterinarian at vaccination.
Reporting a Bite in Chicago
Animal bites must be reported within 24 hours.
Primary
(312) 747-1406
Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC)
Backup
(708) 974-6140
Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control
After hours
Bites should be reported to CACC during business hours, or dial 311 after hours. For the medical wound, go directly to the nearest ER — CACC will be looped in by hospital reporting.
Confirmed rabies cases in Cook County (2024)
10 confirmed animal rabies cases reported in 2024.
By species
bat
9
skunk
1
Bats account for almost every confirmed rabies case in Cook County. Skunk and raccoon cases are rare in the urban core but tracked county-wide.
Source: Illinois Department of Public Health – Rabies Surveillance
10-Day Quarantine & Observation
In Illinois, biting dogs, cats, and ferrets must be observed for 10 days following the bite. Vaccinated owned dogs may be approved for 10-day home observation. Stray or unvaccinated biting animals are held at CACC.
Facility
Chicago Animal Care and Control
2741 S. Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 747-1406
PEP-Equipped Hospitals in Chicago
Major facilities known to handle rabies PEP. Always call ahead to confirm rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) availability.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital Emergency Department
Streeterville — Level 1 trauma center.
Rush University Medical Center Emergency Department
Near West Side — stocks rabies vaccine and HRIG.
Stroger Hospital (John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County)
Cook County public hospital — handles PEP regardless of insurance.
University of Chicago Medicine Emergency Department
Hyde Park — Level 1 trauma center.
Key Contacts
Chicago Animal Care and Control
Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control
Illinois Department of Public Health
Chicago 311
Chicago FAQs
My dog bit a neighbor in Chicago — do I call the city or the county?+
Call Chicago Animal Care and Control first at (312) 747-1406 — they run the bite case within city limits. CACC will loop in the Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control if needed. The bite must be reported within 24 hours under Chicago Municipal Code.
I have a Cook County rabies tag but no Chicago city license. Is that enough?+
No. Cook County's rabies tag and Chicago's city dog license are two separate requirements. The Cook County tag is issued at vaccination by your veterinarian; the Chicago license is purchased annually through the City Clerk's office. You need both.
A bat got into our apartment in Wicker Park. What do we do?+
Confine the bat in a closed room — do not release it. Call CACC at (312) 747-1406. If anyone was sleeping in the room where the bat was found, treat it as a possible exposure and go to the nearest ER for PEP evaluation. If the bat can be captured safely, CACC can submit it to IDPH for rabies testing, which may eliminate the need for PEP.
Where is the closest 24-hour PEP-equipped ER in downtown Chicago?+
Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Streeterville), Rush University Medical Center (Near West Side), Stroger Hospital (West Side / public), and University of Chicago Medicine (Hyde Park) all stock rabies vaccine. HRIG availability varies — call ahead to confirm before traveling.
Is there a low-cost rabies clinic in Chicago?+
CACC and several partner organizations run periodic low-cost rabies vaccination clinics, typically $5–$10 per pet. Schedules are published on the CACC website. PAWS Chicago and the Anti-Cruelty Society also offer low-cost vaccinations year-round.
Full Illinois rabies law
Chicago sits inside Illinois, which sets the underlying vaccination, quarantine, and reporting framework. First booster within 1 year; subsequent boosters follow 1- or 3-year label depending on vaccine used.
Read the complete Illinois guideReferences
- Chicago Municipal Code – Title 7, Chapter 12 (Animal Care and Control) — City of Chicago
- Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control — Cook County, Illinois
- Illinois Department of Public Health – Rabies — Illinois Department of Public Health
Last reviewed: 2026-05-11
Disclaimer
This page is an educational summary, not legal or medical advice. Rabies laws and animal-control procedures change. Verify current requirements with Chicago's animal services, your local health department, or a licensed veterinarian. For an active exposure, seek medical care immediately — do not wait.