Fairfield, CA Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)
Key Facts
- Citywide microchip mandate
- None
- ID requirement source
- Dangerous-animal order (Sec. 3.77(a)(8))
- ID method
- Tattoo or electronic device, hearing officer's choice
- Noncompliance penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $1,000 fine (Sec. 3.79(b))
Summary
Fairfield does not require microchipping of pets generally; the only identification mandate in the Municipal Code applies to an animal declared dangerous under Article VI, which the hearing officer can order tattooed or fitted with an electronic identification device (microchip) as a release condition.
(8) Numbers and tattoo. To have a registration number assigned to such animal tattooed by a licensed veterinarian on the animal's inner thigh or inserted by a licensed veterinarian under the animal's skin by means of an electronic identification device. The manner and method of identification to be used hereunder shall be determined by the hearing officer. For the purpose of this section, "tattoo" shall be defined as any permanent numbering of an animal by means of indelible or permanent ink;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4962673; v0 updated 2026-02-17).
Full Breakdown
77(a)(8) authorizes the hearing officer, as one of several conditions for releasing a dangerous animal from impoundment, to require a registration number tattooed by a licensed veterinarian on the animal's inner thigh, or inserted by a licensed veterinarian under the animal's skin by means of an electronic identification device, commonly known as a microchip. The section leaves the choice of tattoo versus microchip, and the manner of implementation, to the hearing officer's determination, and defines 'tattoo' as any permanent numbering using indelible or permanent ink.
76. 36) require an annual license tag attached to a collar or harness, but do not require implanted microchips or tattoos for ordinary pets. 77(b). 79 enforcement as any other dangerous-animal condition.
Violations & Fines
Failing to comply with a hearing officer's tattoo or microchip order for a declared dangerous animal is enforceable under Section 3.79: the animal is subject to seizure and removal from the city, and noncompliance with any Article VI condition is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $1,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fairfield require pets to be microchipped?
What identification does Fairfield require for a dangerous animal?
What if I don't comply with a dangerous-animal ID order in Fairfield?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fairfield
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How other cities in Solano County handle microchipping.