(A) Dogs, cats - maximum number allowed. A maximum of four dogs and four cats of an age greater than six months may be owned, kept, or harbored in an individual residence. For the purposes of this section, an individual residence includes both single family dwellings and each individual dwelling unit within multi-unit housing structures. Owners and/or landlords of multi-unit housing structures, condominium associations, or other such authorities, however, may further limit the number of animals in said structures and/or units.
(1) Disallowance of age exemption for dogs or cats due to improper care of treatment. In a case where an owner of dogs or cats is maintaining and/or treating any of these animals in such a manner that is results in a citation or citations for violating §§ 3, 3.01, or 3.02 of the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act (510 ILCS 70/3, 3.01, or 3.02), dogs and cats aged six months or younger shall not be exempted from being counted toward the maximum number allowed as stipulated in division (A) above. In these cases, dogs and cats of all ages owned, kept or harbored shall be counted for the purposes of enforcing this chapter.
(2) Penalties for violations of the maximum number of dogs and cats allowed. Where a notice of ordinance violation ticket is issued for the violation of the maximum number of dogs and/or cats in accordance with division (A)(1) above, the penalty fee established in the current fee schedule adopted by the County Board as codified in § 178.01 shall apply to each of the dogs or cats aged six months or younger.
(B) Multiple Pet Permits. On parcels larger than one and one-half acres, and subject to zoning and/or use restrictions on the property, the Health Officer may approve a Multiple Pet Permit, allowing the holder of the permit to own, keep, or harbor five or more dogs and five or more cats of an age greater than six months in any individual residence on the property, providing the owning, keeping or harboring of these animals does not meet the requirements for a license in accordance with the Illinois Animal Welfare Act.
(1) Applications. Applications by individuals for Multiple Pet Permits shall be made to the Health Officer on forms provided by the Lake County Health Department, and shall be accompanied by the required fee as set by the current fee schedule adopted by the County Board as codified in § 178.01.
(2) Application Conditions. The application for a Multiple Pet Permit shall contain information that indicates the following:
(a) A minimum distance of 150 feet is maintained from pet related dwellings, structures or enclosures (homes, sheds, dog houses, dog runs, barns, lean-tos) to dwellings other than those of the applicant.
(b) The number of dogs and/or cats proposed to be covered under the Multiple Pet Permit, along with the name and a description of each pet.
(c) Proof of current rabies inoculation and registration for each pet four months of age or older.
(3) Inspections. The Health Officer shall annually inspect the premises where the multiple pets are kept or harbored to determine the number of permitted pets, and for sanitary conditions, proper ventilation, adequate nutrition, humane care and treatment, including required rabies vaccinations and registrations for all dogs and/or cats.
(4) Term of permit. Each Multiple Pet Permit shall be valid for the term of one calendar year, and shall expire on December 31 of each year. When a permit is issued during a calendar year, the permit shall be valid for the duration of that calendar year.
(5) Conditions to revoke, refuse to issue or renew a permit. The Health Officer may revoke, refuse to issue or renew a Multiple Pet Permit when the applicant or permit holder:
(a) Makes a material misstatement in the application for original permit or in the application for any renewal permit;
(b) Does not abide by the conditions of the permit, including exceeding the number of permitted pets, violates other provisions of this chapter or any other applicable Lake County ordinance or regulation, or has a prior history of violation of this chapter;
(c) Willfully aids or abets another in the violation of this chapter;
(d) Allows his or her permit to be used by another person;
(e) Refuses to allow the Health Officer to conduct the required annual inspection.
(6) Exemptions. Licensed kennel operators, pounds/catteries, animal shelters, pet shop operators and dog/cat dealers, as defined in the Illinois Animal Welfare Act are exempt from this section.
(7) Revocation of a Multiple Pet Permit. When the holder of a Multiple Pet Permit violates conditions specified in subsection (B) of this section, the Health Officer may revoke the approval of that site Multiple Pet Permit.
(a) Revocation notice. Revocation of approval shall be in writing and mailed to the permit holder by regular, certified or registered mail. The notice shall contain information as follows:
i. A statement that the permit is revoked and that the pet owner is no longer exempted from the requirements of § 172.15(A).
ii. An explanation of the reason for the revocation of approval.
iii. An outline of action required to reinstate the approval, if determined.
iv. An explanation of rights and procedures for a hearing to be conducted in accordance with Chapter 176.
(b) Hearing request. A person whose approval for a Multiple Pet Permit is revoked may request a hearing, provided that the request is received in writing within ten days from receipt of the notice of revocation.
(c) Failure to request hearing. Unless the Health Officer receives a request for a hearing, the revocation of approval shall be considered final.
(Ord. [Bd of Health Ord., Art. X], passed 11-9-1976; Ord. [Bd of Health Ord., Art. X], passed 4-10-1979; Ord. [Bd of Health Ord., Art. X], passed 10-9-1984; Ord. [Bd of Health Ord., Art. X], passed 12-20-1984; Ord. [Bd of Health Ord., Art. X], passed 6-11-1990; Ord. [Bd of Health Ord., Art. X], passed 1-10-1995; Ord. [Bd of Health Ord., Art. X], passed 11-12-1996; Ord. [Bd of Health Ord., Art. X], passed 3-15-2011; Ord. [Bd of Health Ord., Art. X], passed 1-15-2013; Res. 18-0398, passed 4-10-2018; Am. Ord. 19-1208, passed 8-13-2019)