Elgin, IL Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)

04 defines a microchip as a device permanently installed under an animal's skin by a licensed veterinarian that, when scanned, identifies the animal along with the owner's name, address, and phone number. 3 requires a dog found running at large to be microchipped, at the owner's expense, within 30 days of being reclaimed if it isn't chipped already. 120B4, any dog designated dangerous or vicious must be altered and microchipped, at the owner's expense, within 14 days of the designation. 160 requires the animal control facility to scan every impounded dog or cat for a microchip before contacting the owner, and an owner who redeems the animal must pay for microchipping if it lacks one.

170 requires the same scan for any unclaimed dog or cat, and if a microchip is found, the registered owner must be notified before the animal is offered for adoption. Beyond identification, a microchip also plays into ownership disputes and rescue transfers: the shelter cannot adopt out or release a dog or cat to anyone other than the owner unless the animal has first been altered and microchipped, which pushes every animal that passes through the shelter's hands toward permanent, chip-based identification even without a citywide mandate for every pet.