Santa Cruz County, CA Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)

08. Three exemptions apply: an animal whose veterinarian confirms in writing that implanting a chip carries a high likelihood of serious injury given its health condition; an animal kenneled or trained in the county but owned by a nonresident who follows their home jurisdiction's licensing and rabies rules instead; and rabbits used commercially, defined as livestock, or used for 4-H/FFA education. The section also regulates transfers: anyone offering a dog over three months for sale, trade, or adoption must provide the microchip number along with the dog's valid license number, both printed on the transfer document, while a cat or rabbit over four months requires only the microchip number on the transfer document.

When an impounded dog, cat, or rabbit arrives at the Animal Shelter without a chip, the Shelter implants one before release and bills the cost to the owner. For animals adopted directly from the Shelter, the chip fee is folded into the standard adoption cost rather than charged separately. All fees and fines collected under this section are earmarked for the Animal Shelter to cover the cost of implementing and enforcing the chapter, per subsection (F).