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Antioch, CA Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)

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

Key Facts

Trigger
Any dog or cat impoundment
Mandatory before release
Microchip implant
Scanning duty
Animal Control Supervisor at pickup
Cost
Microchip fee added to redemption costs
Second impoundment
Also triggers mandatory spay/neuter

Summary

Antioch does not require owners to microchip pets in general, but no dog or cat may be redeemed from the Animal Shelter until it has been implanted with a microchip, under AMC § 6-1.704(B); shelter staff must also scan every impounded animal for an existing chip.

(B) No dog shall be released from impoundment until the dog has been licensed or registered. No dog or cat shall be released from impoundment until the animal has been implanted with a microchip identification and, after the second impoundment, until the animal has been spayed or neutered.

View official code

Full Breakdown

The mandate is tied to impoundment, not to ownership at large. 703(B) requires the Animal Control Supervisor to scan an impounded animal for a microchip identifying the owner as part of preparing the mandatory written impoundment notice, cross-referencing Cal. Food and Agric. Code § 31108(c). 704(B) then blocks release: a dog cannot leave impoundment until it is licensed or registered, and neither a dog nor a cat can leave until it has been implanted with a microchip; after a second impoundment, the animal must also be spayed or neutered before it goes home.

704(A)(1) lists a microchip fee among the redemption charges that can also include impound, boarding, license, vaccination, and investigation fees. An owner reclaiming the animal must sign a declaration of ownership under penalty of perjury, and the Animal Control Supervisor can demand additional proof of ownership if the declaration looks unreliable. 501.

Violations & Fines

Refusing to pay the microchip and other redemption fees, or failing to provide acceptable proof of ownership, is treated under AMC § 6-1.703(C) as abandonment of the animal, forfeiting any claim to it; an owner who otherwise fails to comply with the chapter's animal-control requirements remains subject to citation as a misdemeanor under the general penalty, AMC § 1-2.01.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Antioch require all pets to be microchipped?
Not as a blanket rule for pets kept at home. AMC § 6-1.704(B) requires it only as a condition of getting a dog or cat back from the Animal Shelter after impoundment: every impounded dog and cat must be microchipped before release.
Does the shelter check for an existing chip?
Yes. Under AMC § 6-1.703(B), the Animal Control Supervisor scans every impounded animal for a microchip identifying the owner and includes that scan as part of preparing the mandatory written impoundment notice.
Who pays for the microchip?
The owner does. AMC § 6-1.704(A)(1) lists a microchip fee among the redemption costs, alongside impound, boarding, license, and vaccination fees, all of which must be paid before the animal is released.

Sources & Official References

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All Antioch rules

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