After eliminating a requirement for residents to purchase annual vehicle stickers in 2024, Clarendon Hills has now done away with having to purchase annual licenses for dogs and cats.
The Village Board approved the measure April 13, a move Maureen B. Potempa, the village’s chief financial officer, said makes a lot of sense.
“Participation declined over time,” Potempa said. “In recent years, the village issued approximately 150 tags annually, dropping to just 37 tags last year and 15 this year.”
Potempa said while the direct cost of the tags themselves was relatively minimal, the program required ongoing staff time to process applications, maintain records, respond to inquiries and coordinate between Village Hall and the Police Department.
“As participation declined, the administrative effort required to operate the program met or exceeded the limited revenue being generated,” she said.
Pet licenses were $15 per tag. At its peak (2016–2018), the village generated $3,300 to $3,700 annually, representing roughly 220–245 tags issued per year, Potempa said.
She said another factor in the decision to eliminate pet licensing was that requirements have become largely duplicative.
“DuPage County requires rabies vaccinations and associated tags, which already provide a recognized and enforceable form of animal identification,” she said. “In practice, veterinary issued rabies tags and microchipping have become the primary and most reliable methods for identifying and returning lost pets.”
Both Potempa and police Chief Ed Leinweber agreed eliminating the village’s dog/cat licensing requirement does not reduce public safety or the ability to identify lost animals.
“Residents remain subject to all applicable county rabies vaccination requirements, and animal control practices remain unchanged,” Potempa said.
The decline in the number of residents purchasing licenses for dogs and cats accelerated following the elimination of the vehicle sticker program, she said.
“That previously served as a natural compliance point for residents,” Potempa said.
She said residents with dogs and/or cats very often purchased those licenses when they came into purchase their annual vehicle stickers.
Historically, vehicle sticker revenue was relatively significant. From 2016 through 2023, annual revenue ranged from about $154,000 to $203,000, with $174,763 collected in 2023, the final full year prior to elimination, Potempa said,
“The program required ongoing administrative effort, including purchasing and distributing stickers, maintaining records and staffing support,” she said,
At the time vehicle stickers were eliminated, the village increased the Places for Eating Tax from 1% to 2%. In 2024, that tax generated more than $179,000. In 2025, it generated about $180,000, Potempa said.
Leinweber said eliminating vehicle stickers has had no negative impact on his department in doing its job.
“You could check a vehicle sticker to see who the vehicle was registered to, but it’s not something that was really needed for us,” he said.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
