Brookhaven, GA Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)

Chapter 5 of the Code of the City of Brookhaven, Georgia does not make microchips a blanket requirement for every pet. Sec. 5-9 applies the duty to two groups: an owner who has been convicted, in a court of competent jurisdiction, of abandonment, cruelty or neglect of an animal, and the owner of a classified animal. Sec. 5-1 defines a classified animal as one classified as dangerous or vicious under the chapter, or comparably classified by the State of Georgia or by a court, hearing officer or authorized government agency of another state, county or municipality. A licensed veterinarian must insert the chip, and it must be registered with the chip parent company and the police chief.

For classified animals, Sec. 5-12(b)(1) sets the clock. Written evidence of the microchip is one of the documents required for the certificate of registration, and the chip must be registered with the chip parent company and the police chief within 30 days of an order classifying the animal, within such later time as a court of competent jurisdiction specifies, or within 30 days of the conclusion of any appeal that upholds the classification. If a classified animal dies, the owner must notify the police chief within 24 hours, and the body must be available for microchip scanning to provide positive identification (Sec. 5-12(c)).

Identification matters for every owner in other ways. Sec. 5-1 defines identification as any tag, tattoo, microchip or other marking that can be used to locate an animal's owner. When the city impounds an animal with identification, Sec. 5-22(a) requires a prompt and reasonable effort to locate the owner. An impounded animal without a rabies tag, or a tag or microchip identifying the name, address and telephone number of its owner, can be placed for adoption after three business days and disposed of after five business days (Sec. 5-22(c)). Sec. 5-17(j) separately requires the owner of a dog, cat or ferret to provide a collar or harness that the animal wears at all times together with its rabies tag.