Is Illinois dog friendly?

We analyzed 698 cities across Illinois. By default, we surface the strongest cities with at least 10,000 residents, then let you switch to the full statewide ranking.

✅State Preemption Law Active: Local cities in Illinois are legally banned from enacting breed-specific legislation against your dog.

State Average Score

73/100

Paw Score™

Top representative city: Effingham (A+)

Derived strictly from local government data

Statewide Vet Density

2.2clinics / 10k people

Avg Walkable Days

219days without extreme weather

BSL Restricted Cities

0known local breed bans

Data Journalist Analysis

The Leaderboard Disparity

When comparing 224 representative cities (10k+ residents) in Illinois, the leaderboard works best as a relative comparison surface, not a blanket relocation recommendation. Effingham is the strongest performer in this 224 representative cities (10k+ residents) set with a Paw Score Grade of A+, helped by 227 walkable days per year and comparatively strong veterinary access. Lincolnwood lands at the bottom with a D, where sparse vet coverage, climate stress, or housing friction create a visibly weaker dog-ownership outlook.

The Hidden Pet Tax

The economic reality of renting with a dog in Illinois fluctuates wildly depending on the municipality. While the state median for pet rent sits around $46/mo, moving to a high-demand area like Lincolnwood can push this implicit pet tax up to $123/mo. This doesn't even account for non-refundable localized pet deposits.

Safety & Legislative Climate

Illinois has a statewide BSL preemption law. That generally limits local governments from adopting new breed bans, which reduces policy risk for owners of commonly targeted breeds. Housing rules, enforcement practices, and older local language can still vary, so local verification still matters.

Ranked Cities in Illinois

Defaulting to cities with at least 10,000 residents so the leaderboard feels representative. Switch to the full statewide ranking any time.

698 cities audited

Showing the first 100 of 224 representative cities in Illinois.

State Rank	City	Paw Score	Walkable Days	Pet Rent	Vet / 10K	Population
#1	Effingham	A+	227	$24	4.95	12,258
#2	Waterloo	A+	225	$31	4.97	11,055
#3	Taylorville	A+	218	$26	4.85	11,149
#4	Columbia	A+	225	$38	4.97	11,063
#5	Kewanee	A	219	$27	4.7	12,280
#6	Dixon	A	205	$30	4.61	15,166
#7	Springfield	A	218	$33	4.72	113,714
#8	Macomb	A	216	$26	3.57	15,006
#9	Pekin	A	214	$28	4.5	31,812
#10	Marion	A	232	$31	4.54	16,796
#11	Morris	A	219	$40	4.77	14,775
#12	DeKalb	A	204	$36	4.81	40,464
#13	East Peoria	A	219	$31	4.5	22,485
#14	Herrin	A	232	$36	4.54	12,271
#15	Sycamore	A	204	$37	4.81	18,243
#16	Peoria	A	219	$33	4.01	112,126
#17	Morton	A	219	$35	4.5	16,503
#18	Granite City	A	219	$27	4.13	26,670
#19	Washington	A-	219	$38	4.5	15,946
#20	Chatham	A-	218	$40	4.72	14,740
#21	Highland	A-	226	$27	4.13	10,268
#22	Quincy	A-	220	$29	2.98	39,188
#23	Alton	A-	221	$33	4.13	25,430
#24	Freeport	A-	205	$27	3.55	23,636
#25	Mattoon	A-	227	$27	3.02	16,334
#26	Collinsville	A-	219	$34	4.13	24,126
#27	Charleston	A-	227	$29	3.02	17,212
#28	Wood River	A-	219	$32	4.13	10,315
#29	Channahon	A-	219	$60	4.77	13,854
#30	Urbana	A-	213	$33	3.59	38,447
#31	Troy	A-	226	$37	4.13	10,889
#32	Joliet	A-	219	$43	3.73	149,785
#33	Godfrey	A-	221	$39	4.13	17,743
#34	Minooka	A-	219	$62	4.77	12,632
#35	Streator	A-	219	$27	3.33	12,274
#36	Waukegan	A-	215	$41	3.72	88,919
#37	Champaign	A-	213	$39	3.59	88,822
#38	Galesburg	A-	206	$25	2.37	29,653
#39	Carbondale	A-	232	$26	2.76	21,813
#40	Glen Carbon	A-	219	$38	4.13	13,521
#41	Bloomington	A-	219	$35	3.06	78,703
#42	Edwardsville	A-	219	$43	4.13	26,543
#43	Woodstock	A-	208	$41	4.06	26,316
#44	Decatur	A-	220	$28	2.58	70,368
#45	Normal	A-	219	$34	3.06	52,908
#46	Addison	B+	215	$43	3.95	35,470
#47	Canton	A-	214	$28	2.51	13,408
#48	Rockford	B+	205	$33	2.98	147,649
#49	Crystal Lake	B+	216	$50	4.06	40,436
#50	Rantoul	B+	202	$31	3.59	12,515
#51	Zion	B+	215	$40	3.72	24,466
#52	Ottawa	B+	202	$32	3.33	18,714
#53	Fox Lake	B+	215	$37	3.72	10,872
#54	Huntley	B+	208	$48	4.06	27,859
#55	Lincoln	B+	218	$28	2.2	13,406
#56	Glen Ellyn	B+	215	$46	3.95	28,270
#57	New Lenox	B+	219	$44	3.73	27,456
#58	Westmont	B+	227	$50	3.95	24,201
#59	Antioch	B+	209	$39	3.72	14,751
#60	McHenry	B+	215	$53	4.06	27,774
#61	Cary	B+	216	$51	4.06	17,875
#62	Elgin	B+	208	$44	3.26	114,106
#63	Beach Park	B+	215	$43	3.72	13,988
#64	Pontiac	B+	219	$29	2.36	11,483
#65	Round Lake Beach	B+	215	$48	3.72	27,081
#66	West Chicago	B+	208	$48	3.95	25,434
#67	Villa Park	B+	215	$49	3.95	22,456
#68	Bensenville	B+	215	$48	3.95	18,576
#69	Manhattan	B+	219	$43	3.73	10,315
#70	Carol Stream	B+	208	$51	3.95	39,427
#71	Woodridge	B+	219	$54	3.95	33,889
#72	North Chicago	B+	215	$49	3.72	30,772
#73	Wauconda	B+	216	$46	3.72	14,010
#74	Downers Grove	B+	215	$56	3.95	49,867
#75	Hanover Park	B+	208	$52	3.95	36,850
#76	Loves Park	B	219	$39	2.98	23,185
#77	Machesney Park	B	219	$39	2.98	22,744
#78	Roselle	B+	215	$52	3.95	22,731
#79	Mokena	B+	219	$49	3.73	19,906
#80	Crest Hill	B+	219	$49	3.73	19,754
#81	East St. Louis	B+	219	$21	2.16	18,278
#82	Glendale Heights	B	215	$55	3.95	32,864
#83	Lake in the Hills	B	208	$57	4.06	28,853
#84	Grayslake	B	215	$50	3.72	20,707
#85	Lockport	B	219	$53	3.73	26,228
#86	Belvidere	B	219	$33	1.66	24,510
#87	Darien	B	227	$58	3.95	21,855
#88	Aurora	B	208	$54	3.26	179,867
#89	Bolingbrook	B	219	$60	3.73	73,813
#90	Rock Island	B	219	$29	1.93	36,758
#91	Mundelein	B	216	$55	3.72	31,632
#92	Batavia	B	208	$44	3.26	26,730
#93	Lisle	B	208	$54	3.95	23,413
#94	Bloomingdale	B	215	$56	3.95	22,388
#95	Round Lake	B	215	$52	3.72	18,588
#96	Mount Vernon	B	232	$31	1.86	14,492
#97	Naperville	B	208	$65	3.95	149,424
#98	Belleville	B	226	$33	2.16	41,722
#99	Gurnee	B	215	$56	3.72	30,486
#100	Yorkville	B	202	$57	3.77	22,350

Frequently Asked Questions

In the default 224 representative cities (10k+ residents) view, Effingham currently ranks first in Illinois. It posts a Paw Score grade of A+, supported by 227 walkable days per year, comparatively solid vet access, and more manageable pet housing costs than many competing cities.

The cost varies, but the median pet rent surcharge across Illinois is approximately $46 per month. This is an extra fee piled onto your base rent, not including the one-time, often non-refundable, pet deposit. Renters with large breeds often face higher fees or outright exclusion in denser metro areas.

Illinois has a statewide Breed-Specific Legislation (BSL) preemption law. That generally blocks local governments from adopting new breed bans, but you should still confirm local enforcement and housing rules before moving.