Gwinnett County, GA Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)

Once an animal control officer classifies a dog as dangerous or vicious, Code § 10-106(a) makes it unlawful to possess that dog in the county without a certificate of registration, and no more than one certificate is issued per domicile to a person 18 or older. Section 10-106(b) lists what the owner must show before the certificate issues: a proper enclosure that securely confines the dog, clearly visible warning signs posted at every entrance to the premises, and, at subsection (b)(3), a scannable microchip injected between the shoulder blades with the registration number reported to the animal welfare division, kept updated, and provable on inspection or recertification.

00, and no person may own more than one vicious dog under subsection (e). Certificates renew annually, and the animal control officer verifies continuing compliance, including the microchip registration, at renewal. No certificate is issued to anyone convicted of two or more violations of this division, or, under subsection (f), to anyone convicted of a serious violent felony, dogfighting, aggravated cruelty to animals, or drug trafficking offenses within the last two years. Failure to renew within ten days of the renewal or classification date is itself a violation.

Under subsection (i), the animal control officer or a designee may inspect a registered dangerous or vicious dog randomly and without notice, and the owner may not unreasonably withhold permission for that inspection, which is when a lapsed or missing microchip registration is typically caught.