Cowlitz County, WA Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)
Key Facts
- Microchip trigger
- Only after a dangerous-animal declaration
- Compliance window
- 5 business days of designation (§ 6.13.100(C))
- General pets
- No microchip mandate outside Chapter 6.13 CCC
- Penalty
- $250-$750 civil fine; gross misdemeanor possible
Summary
Cowlitz County has no general pet microchipping mandate. It only requires a microchip once the Animal Control Authority has declared an animal "potentially dangerous" or "dangerous" under Chapter 6.13 CCC: owners must have the animal fitted with a microchip under § 6.13.050(B), or permanently identified by microchip within five business days under § 6.13.100(C).
The animal shall be fitted with a microchip, encoding the county, state, and such other information as may be required by the Animal Control Authority to provide positive identification of the animal.
Full Breakdown
" Subsection B requires the animal to be fitted with a microchip, encoding the county, state, and such other information as may be required by the Animal Control Authority to provide positive identification of the animal, alongside registration under subsection A and a distinctive collar under subsection C. 100(C) requires the owner to have the dangerous animal permanently identified by microchip within five business days of the designation, or within five days of moving into Cowlitz County from another jurisdiction with a similar declaration; the Animal Control Authority may allow an alternative identification method only on request.
The designated animal must also wear a collar at all times identifying it as dangerous. 130 for ordinary dog and optional cat registration relies on identification tags rather than microchips.
Violations & Fines
Failure to microchip a declared potentially dangerous animal is enforceable as a violation of § 6.13.050, carrying a civil penalty of $250.00 for a first offense, $500.00 for a second offense in 12 months, and $750.00 for a third, under § 6.13.100(D). Failing to microchip a declared dangerous animal within the required window can also support the criminal penalties of § 6.13.110, a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine, and the animal may be confiscated under § 6.13.110(A) for noncompliance with identification requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cowlitz County require pet owners to microchip their animals?
How soon must a declared dangerous animal be microchipped?
What happens if a declared dangerous animal is not microchipped?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cowlitz County
Compare Cowlitz County to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.