Fee schedule
Fees & fines
The complete Marion County Animal Control fee and fine schedule, published in full. Fines and fees are cumulative if multiple violations occur, and apply per animal unless the schedule states per occurrence.
Status of this schedule
These are the fees and fines adopted by Marion County, reproduced in full and exactly as published. If you are working out what you owe on a specific animal, you can confirm the amount with Animal Control before you pay.
How much does it cost to get my dog back?
Reclaiming an impounded animal involves a $25 apprehension fee, an impound fine of $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second and $150 for a third, and boarding at $15 per day. If the animal is not microchipped, microchip insertion and documentation is $25. Rabies vaccination, core vaccinations, flea and tick treatment, and any veterinary care are charged at cost.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Apprehension fee | $25 |
| Impound fine — 1st offense | $50 |
| Impound fine — 2nd offense | $100 |
| Impound fine — 3rd offense | $150 |
| Boarding | $15 / day |
| Microchip insertion and documentation | $25 |
| Rabies registration, core vaccinations, flea/tick, parasiticides | At cost |
| Spay or neuter (2nd offense and after) | Per veterinarian |
| Veterinary expenses | Per veterinarian |
Boarding accrues daily
Boarding is $15 per day. Boarding is usually the largest part of a reclaim bill, so coming in promptly is the single biggest thing you can do to keep the total down. Failure to redeem an animal is treated as abandonment.
What is the fine for a dog running at large in Marion County?
A first offense is a $100 running-at-large fee plus a $25 public safety fine. A second offense is $200 plus the $25 public safety fine, and a third is $300 plus the $25 public safety fine. An additional $75 applies if the animal is not microchipped, and further amounts apply if it is not spayed or neutered.
| Item | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Running at large | $100 | $200 | $300 |
| Public safety fine | $25 | $25 | $25 |
| Not microchipped within 30 days | $75 | $75 | $75 |
| Not spayed or neutered within 30 days | Warning | $75 | $100 |
What are the fees after a dog bite or a dangerous dog finding?
A bite carries a $75 bite fee and a $25 public safety fine, plus a $100 running-at-large fee if applicable. A dangerous dog finding adds a $50 dangerous dog fee, and a vicious dog finding a $100 vicious dog fee with substantially higher penalties for failure to comply. Quarantine is billed as impoundment.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Bite fee | $75 |
| Public safety fine | $25 |
| Running at large, if applicable | $100 |
| Not chipped within 14 days | $75 |
| Not altered within 14 days | $75 |
| Quarantine | As impound |
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Dangerous dog fee | $50 |
| Public safety fine | $25 |
| Running at large, if applicable | $200 |
| Failure to comply | $200 |
| Not chipped within 14 days | $75 |
| Not altered within 14 days | $75 |
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vicious dog fee | $100 |
| Public safety fine | $100 |
| Running at large, if applicable | $300 |
| Failure to comply | $500 |
| Not chipped within 10 days | $75 |
| Not altered within 10 days | $75 |
What other animal ordinance fines does Marion County charge?
Marion County also charges for abandonment, breeding without a permit, noise violations, improper disposal of a deceased animal, livestock running at large, reckless dog ownership, and failure to comply with the cruelty, abuse, and neglect ordinance.
| Violation | Amount |
|---|---|
| Failure to vaccinate against rabies and register | $200 $50 if compliant within 14 days |
| Abandonment — illegal dumping, per animal | $300 |
| Abandonment — public safety fine | $25 |
| Abandonment — not microchipped | $75 |
| Abandonment — not spayed or neutered | $75 |
| Breeding permit | $25 |
| Failure to comply with breeding or litter ordinances | $100 – $500 per occurrence |
| Noise violation — 1st offense | $30 per occurrence |
| Noise violation — 2nd and after | $75 per occurrence |
| Improper disposal of a deceased animal | $100 – $300 |
| Reckless dog owner — failure to comply | $500 |
| Livestock running at large — 1st | $100 |
| Livestock running at large — 2nd | $150 |
| Livestock running at large — 3rd | $200 |
| Livestock running at large — each additional | +$50 each |
| Failure to comply with cruelty, abuse or neglect ordinance | $1,000 or more per administrator |
How much is rabies registration in Marion County?
A one-year registration is $7 for a spayed or neutered animal and $15 for an unaltered animal. A three-year registration is $20 altered and $40 unaltered. See rabies tags and registration for how and where to pay.
| Term | Animal | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| One year | Spayed or neutered | $7.00 |
| One year | Not altered | $15.00 |
| Three year | Spayed or neutered | $20.00 |
| Three year | Not altered | $40.00 |
What are the criminal penalties for animal cruelty in Illinois?
Animal cruelty offenses are prosecuted under Illinois state law, not as county fees. Penalties range from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class 3 felony, carrying up to five years' imprisonment and fines up to $25,000.
| Offense | Count | Class | Max prison | Max fine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failure to fulfill owner's duties | 1st | Class B misdemeanor | 6 months | $1,500 |
| Failure to fulfill owner's duties | 2nd | Class 4 felony | 3 years | $25,000 |
| Cruel treatment | 1st | Class A misdemeanor | 1 year | $2,500 |
| Cruel treatment | 2nd | Class 4 felony | 3 years | $25,000 |
| Depiction of animal cruelty | 1st | Class A misdemeanor | 1 year | $2,500 |
| Depiction of animal cruelty | 2nd | Class 4 felony | 3 years | $25,000 |
| Poisoning | 1st | Class A misdemeanor | 1 year | $2,500 |
| Poisoning | 2nd | Class 4 felony | 3 years | $25,000 |
| Aggravated cruelty to companion animals | 1st | Class 4 felony | 3 years | $25,000 |
| Aggravated cruelty to companion animals | 2nd | Class 3 felony | 5 years | $25,000 |
| Torture | 1st | Class 3 felony | 5 years | $25,000 |
| Confinement of animals in a motor vehicle | 1st | Class C misdemeanor | 30 days | $1,500 |
| Confinement of animals in a motor vehicle | 2nd | Class B misdemeanor | 6 months | $1,500 |
Are Marion County animal control fines charged per animal or per incident?
Fines and fees are cumulative if multiple violations occur, and apply per animal unless the schedule states per occurrence. The owner is additionally responsible for any medical or veterinary costs incurred.