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Ada County, ID Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Applies to
Dogs designated Dangerous or At-Risk only
Requirement
Implant chip + report number to Agency
Noncompliance
Immediate seizure, 10 days to fix
Penalty
Misdemeanor under Idaho Code 18-113
Transfers
New owner inherits chip obligation

Summary

Ada County does not microchip every dog. Chipping only becomes mandatory once an Animal Control Officer formally designates a dog Dangerous or At-Risk under Code section 5-7-19: at that point the owner must implant a microchip and report the number to the Animal Control Agency as one of several court-enforceable keeping conditions.

City-specific rules exist: Boise has its own microchipping rules that differ from Ada County's county-level regulations. If you live in Boise, check the city-specific page instead.

D. Keeping Dangerous Dogs: The owner of a dog designated as Dangerous, or a new adoptive owner of a dog designated as Dangerous prior to being adopted, shall be subject to the following restrictions for the keeping of such dog within the boundaries of Ada County: 1. The dog shall be licensed pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter. 2. The owner shall be required to have a microchip implanted in the dog that allows for identification of the animal and the owner shall be required to report the microchip number to the Animal Control Agency. ... E. Keeping At-Risk Dogs: ... 2. The owner shall be required to have a microchip implanted in the dog that allows for identification of the animal and the owner shall be required to report the microchip number to the Animal Control Agency;

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-15: Code current through: Ord. 1018, passed 3-24-2026).

Full Breakdown

Section 5-7-19, largely rewritten by Ordinance 945 on January 24, 2023, sets out what happens after an Animal Control Officer issues a Notice of Designation labeling a dog Dangerous or At-Risk, typically following a bite, attack, or documented aggressive incident. Subsection D lists the restrictions that attach to a Dangerous dog: licensing under the chapter, a microchip implanted in the dog with the microchip number reported to the Animal Control Agency, liability insurance of at least $150,000 (or $20,000 if the designation rests only on injury to another animal, not a person), a secure enclosure the Agency can inspect, posted "dangerous dog" signage at every yard or home entrance, and a leash no longer than three feet plus a muzzle whenever the dog leaves the property.

Subsection E imposes a lighter but still binding set of conditions on At-Risk dogs, including the same microchip-and-report requirement, a secure enclosure, and a six-foot leash limit off-property. Owners of either designation must also schedule the dog for the Agency's required inspections, and a new owner who takes custody of a previously designated dog inherits every one of these obligations under subsection G, including the microchip mandate. An owner who disagrees with the designation can petition the Animal Control Agency for review, and if that fails, appeal to district court within ten days under section 5-7-20, but the restrictions, microchipping included, remain enforceable while the case is pending unless a court says otherwise.

Violations & Fines

Failing to microchip and report the number, or any other Dangerous or At-Risk keeping violation, lets the Animal Control Agency seize and impound the dog immediately under 5-7-19(F). An owner has ten days after seizure to come into full compliance and redeem the dog; missing that window lets the Agency place the dog for adoption or euthanize it. Any owner who violates section 5-7-19 is also guilty of a misdemeanor under subsection K.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Ada County require every dog owner to microchip their pet?
No. There is no county-wide microchip mandate for ordinary pets. The requirement in Code section 5-7-19 only attaches once an Animal Control Officer formally designates a specific dog as Dangerous or At-Risk following a bite, attack, or aggressive incident.
What happens if I don't microchip a dog Ada County has designated as Dangerous?
The Animal Control Agency can immediately seize and impound the dog under 5-7-19(F). You then have ten days to come into compliance, including implanting the chip and reporting the number, or the Agency may place the dog for adoption or euthanize it.
If I adopt a dog that was already designated At-Risk, do I have to microchip it too?
Yes. Section 5-7-19(G) requires a new owner of a transferred At-Risk or Dangerous dog to comply with every keeping restriction that applied under the designation, including the microchip implant and reporting the microchip number to the Animal Control Agency.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Ada County

All Ada County rules

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