Cicero, IL Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)

Section 18-44 conditions the return of an impounded, unlicensed dog or cat on microchipping: after paying the $50.00 impound fee, the current license fee and boarding costs, the owner faces the rule that "No dog or cat shall be released without having an identifying microchip installed under the animal's skin and being neutered." Where installing the chip before pickup isn't practical, the animal control warden has discretion to instead accept "a written agreement from the person desiring to redeem the animal that the animal will have an identifying microchip installed and will be neutered." Section 18-45 applies the same conditions to licensed animals redeemed from impoundment, cross-referencing Section 18-44's fee and microchip terms.

Cicero layers a second, independent microchip mandate onto dogs it has declared dangerous under Section 18-47. Subsection (b)(3)(d) requires that for a dangerous dog kept in town rather than destroyed, "the owner, at the owner's expense, shall have an identifying microchip installed under the animal's skin," alongside secure confinement, a posted warning sign, liability insurance of at least $100,000.00, and mandatory obedience training. Failing any of these dangerous-dog conditions, including the microchip mandate, is enforceable through the hearing and impoundment process in Section 18-47(c) and (d), and can lead to a fine of $100.00 to $250.00 under subsection (f). Outside impoundment redemption and a dangerous-dog declaration, the general code does not require microchipping of every pet kept in Cicero.