Clinton Township, MI Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)
Key Facts
- Impounded-animal rule
- Microchip and vaccinate before release, owner pays
- Potentially dangerous dogs
- Vet-implanted chip with classification data
- Visiting dogs
- Microchip required before release, even non-residents
- Reclaimed strays
- Must be licensed and microchipped, Sec. 610.15(j)
- Adopted
- Ordinance 484, passed February 27, 2023
Summary
Every animal impounded by Macomb County Animal Control must be microchipped and vaccinated before release, at the owner's expense, under Section 610.16(g). Dogs classified as potentially dangerous face a stricter mandate: they must carry a veterinarian-implanted microchip listing the dog's classification and the owner's contact information before returning to the Township.
(g) Microchipping and Vaccinations. All animals impounded by the Macomb County Animal Control are required to be microchipped and vaccinated prior to release, at the expense of their owner.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-25: Local legislation current through May 26, 2026).
Full Breakdown
16(g), part of the Animal Control Best Practices adopted by Ordinance 484 in 2023, states plainly that all animals impounded by the Macomb County Animal Control are required to be microchipped and vaccinated prior to release, at the expense of their owner. This applies broadly to any impounded animal, whether picked up as a stray, surrendered, or confiscated for neglect, not only to dogs found at large. 19(e)(5)(A)(iii) requires it to have a microchip implanted by a licensed veterinarian containing the dog's name, approximate age, its potentially-dangerous classification, and the registered owner's name, address and telephone number.
19(e)(5)(B)(ii). 19(e)(6) requires it to be microchipped before release even though it is not subject to the full local possession conditions. 15(j) states that all reclaimed animals must be licensed and microchipped as specified in the subchapter before an owner can take the animal home from the shelter. Microchipping costs in every case fall on the animal's owner, not the Township or County.
Violations & Fines
Failing to microchip an impounded animal before reclaiming it, or returning a potentially dangerous dog to the Township without the veterinarian-implanted, classification-bearing microchip required by Section 610.19(e)(5)(A)(iii), blocks release or return and exposes the owner to misdemeanor prosecution under Section 610.23, punishable by up to 90 days imprisonment or a $500 fine, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Clinton Township require every pet to be microchipped?
What information must a potentially dangerous dog's microchip contain?
Who pays for the microchipping?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clinton Township
Compare Clinton Township to another location·View the Michigan animal ordinances overview
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Microchipping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Macomb County handle microchipping.