Illinois Compiled Statutes
Chapter 510 - ANIMALS
510 ILCS 45/ - Carrier, Racing, Hobby, and Show Pigeon Act of 1993.

(510 ILCS 45/1) (from Ch. 8, par. 901)
Sec. 1.

This Act may be cited as the Carrier, Racing, Hobby, and Show Pigeon Act of 1993.

(Source: P.A. 88-136.)

(510 ILCS 45/2) (from Ch. 8, par. 902)
Sec. 2.
As used in this Act:
(a) "Carrier pigeon" means homing and racing pigeons which have the
name of the owner stamped upon the wing or tail, or are banded upon the leg
with the name or initials of the owner or with an identification or
registration number stamped on the band.
(b) "Racing pigeon" means a pigeon registered with a national pigeon
racing organization and used as a game competitive bird. The pigeons are
not to be identified or classified as fowl when raised and used in the
sport and hobby of racing carrier pigeons.
(c) "Department" means the health department of any municipality
or county, in unincorporated areas and shall include the head of such
department or any employee acting in his stead.
(d) "Loft" means any structure in which carrier, hobby, or show pigeons
are housed.
(e) "Hobby or show pigeons" means pigeons that are raised for the purpose
of a hobby or exhibited for show and must have a band on one leg with an
identification number along with the year the bird was raised. These pigeons
are not to be identified or classified as fowl when raised for hobby or show.
These pigeons need not be registered with any organization.

(Source: P.A. 88-136.)

(510 ILCS 45/3) (from Ch. 8, par. 903)
Sec. 3.

(a) The construction of a loft shall comply with the building
code regulations of the municipality or county in which it is erected.
(b) The loft shall at all times be in compliance with regulations
prescribed by the department and be maintained in a clean, orderly
condition, kept in good repair and inspected annually.

(Source: P.A. 83-1526.)

(510 ILCS 45/4) (from Ch. 8, par. 904)
Sec. 4.

(a) The requirements of zoning regulations relating to
restrictions on the location of stables and poultry enclosures shall not
apply to a loft for which a permit has been issued.
(b) A person to whom the department has issued a carrier, hobby, or
show pigeon permit
may erect and maintain a loft of carrier, hobby, or show pigeons in the
municipality or county.

(Source: P.A. 88-136.)

(510 ILCS 45/5) (from Ch. 8, par. 905)
Sec. 5.

(a) An owner of pigeons to whom the department has
issued a carrier, hobby, or show pigeon permit, or his agent, shall be
allowed to fly the
pigeons for necessary exercise and training.
(b) The owner, or his agent, is not required to restrict his training and
conditioning program unless duly proven to be in violation of a
municipal or county health or nuisance ordinance.

(Source: P.A. 88-136.)

(510 ILCS 45/6) (from Ch. 8, par. 906)
Sec. 6.

Any person not the owner thereof, who shall shoot, kill,
maim or injure any Antwerp or homing pigeon, commonly called "carrier
pigeon," hobby, or show pigeon knowing the same to be such, or who shall
entrap, catch, detain,
or shall remove any mark, band or other means of identification from such
pigeon, provided that such pigeon at the time shall have the name of the
owner stamped or marked upon it, or have upon it a band with the owner's
name, initial or number thereon, shall be guilty of a petty offense and
fined for each offense not more than $100 nor less than $50.

(Source: P.A. 88-136.)

(510 ILCS 45/7) (from Ch. 8, par. 907)
Sec. 7.
A municipality located in a county having fewer than 3,000,000
inhabitants or a county shall not enact an
ordinance to prohibit the orderly keeping of carrier, racing, hobby, or
show pigeons, except that (i) any municipality located in a county having
3,000,000 or more inhabitants may enact an ordinance to prohibit or regulate
the orderly keeping of carrier, racing, hobby, or show pigeons and (ii) any municipality located in a county having fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants may enact an ordinance to regulate, but not prohibit, the orderly keeping of carrier, racing, hobby, or show pigeons.

(Source: P.A. 96-646, eff. 8-24-09.)

(510 ILCS 45/8) (from Ch. 8, par. 908)
Sec. 8.

This Act applies to all municipalities and counties and
pursuant to paragraph (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Constitution,
this Act is a limitation upon the power of home rule units to enact
ordinances contrary to this Act.

(Source: P.A. 83-1526.)