Chattanooga, TN Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Dogs/cats sold for profit
- Requirement
- Microchip implanted before sale
- Registration deadline
- Within 48 hours of sale
- Who registers
- The seller, with new owner's info
Summary
Chattanooga requires every dog and cat sold for profit in the city to be microchipped before the sale, with the seller registering the chip with the national registry within 48 hours.
All dogs and cats sold for profit in the City shall have a microchip implanted prior to sale. The seller shall register the microchip with the national registry associated with the microchip within forty-eight (48) hours of the sale of the dog or cat, providing all information about the new owner that is required to effectuate the registration.(f)No Person may sell or transfer any dog or cat that is less than eight (8) weeks of age. (Ord. No. 12880, § 4, 11-18-14)
Editor's note— Ord. No. 12880, §§ 1, 4, adopted November 18, 2014, amended the title of § 7-23 to read as set out herein. Previously § 7-23 was titled permit authorizing pet dogs in outdoor dining areas of restaurants.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 40 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Under Chattanooga City Code § 7-23(e), all dogs and cats sold for profit within the City must have a microchip implanted before the sale takes place. The seller is also responsible for registering that microchip with the national registry tied to the chip within 48 hours of the sale, providing the new owner's information needed to complete the registration. The requirement sits alongside § 7-23's broader pre-sale vaccination and health rules for dogs and cats offered for sale, barter, trade or exchange in the City.
Violations & Fines
Selling a dog or cat for profit without implanting and registering a microchip violates § 7-23(e) and is enforced as a general animal-code offense, subject to City Court citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Chattanooga require microchips for pets sold in the city?
Do I have to microchip a pet I'm giving away for free?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chattanooga
Compare Chattanooga to another location·View the Tennessee animal ordinances overview
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