Elk Grove, CA Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- EGMC § 8.03.080
- Microchip required
- before license issued
- Exemption option
- annual fee set by Council resolution
- First-offense fine
- up to $100 (Ch. 1.04)
- Enforcing agency
- Elk Grove Animal Control
Summary
Elk Grove requires every dog or cat presented for a City license to be microchipped. Under EGMC Section 8.03.080, the applicant must submit a veterinarian's certificate confirming both a current rabies vaccination and a microchip implant before the City issues the license. Owners can instead pay an annual exemption fee set by City Council resolution.
A. As a condition for the issuance of a dog or cat license, all applicants for such license shall procure and deliver a certificate issued by a duly licensed veterinarian, certifying that each dog or cat to be licensed has been administered an anti-rabies vaccination and has had a microchip inserted prior to the issuance of said license for the current license period. B. The owner of a dog or cat may receive a microchip exemption for their animal upon payment of an annual microchip exemption registration fee as established by resolution of the City Council.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4937385; v2 updated 2026-05-13; through 05-13-2026).
Full Breakdown
080 makes microchipping a licensing precondition, not a free-standing offense. 040 that must be worn whenever the animal is outdoors and unconfined. An Animal Control Officer can demand the tag and receipt at any time; refusing to show them is itself unlawful. 080(B) lets them pay an annual microchip exemption registration fee set by City Council resolution instead of chipping the animal. 010, though the microchip or exemption-fee condition still applies to any animal not exempt from licensing altogether. 050. 04 rabies-control provisions.
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision of Sections 8.03.010 through 8.03.080, including licensing without the required microchip certificate or exemption fee, is an infraction enforced under EGMC Chapter 1.04: a fine up to $100 for a first offense, up to $200 for a second violation of the same provision within 12 months, and up to $500 for each further violation in that period. A third violation in 12 months converts the offense to a misdemeanor, punishable by up to $1,000 or six months in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Elk Grove require my dog or cat to be microchipped?
What happens if I license my pet without a microchip and without paying the exemption fee?
Is any pet exempt from Elk Grove's licensing fee?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Elk Grove
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Microchipping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sacramento County handle microchipping.