Dallas, TX Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)

Sec. 2(a) makes it an offense for an owner to keep a dog or cat that has no microchip. Sec. 2(b) lists the only defenses: the animal was under four months old; it was held for adoption by animal services or an animal welfare organization; the owner has lived in the city fewer than 30 days; a licensed veterinarian granted a medical exception; the owner is a nonresident staying fewer than 60 days; or the person cited produces proof the animal was implanted with a registered microchip at the time of citation or within 20 days after.

Sec. 2(c) separately requires every owner to keep contact information current with a microchip registration company: if the owner's address or phone changes, they have 30 days to update the registrar, and a new owner has 30 days after a change of ownership to file current contact information. It is a defense to a contact-information charge that the information was accurate when the citation issued or was corrected within 20 days after. These duties were last amended by Ordinance 32194, effective November 11, 2022. A pattern of chapter violations carries consequences beyond the microchip fine: Sec.

3 lets the director revoke or deny registration on every dog and cat an owner has if that owner racks up two or more violations of Chapter 7 within any 12-month period.