Highlands County, FL Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)

5-2 requires every dog, cat and ferret four months or older to be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian and revaccinated 12 months later. 5-3 then requires the owner to register that vaccinated animal with Highlands County Animal Control within 30 days and pay the registration fee the Board of County Commissioners sets by resolution. 5-3(a) and (b) excuse an owner from the tag-and-collar requirement entirely if the dog, cat or ferret has instead been implanted with a radio frequency identification, or RFID, microchip that is registered with Highlands County Animal Control.

A lost tag can be replaced for a separate fee set by the same resolution. 5-42 imposes the identical microchip-before-release rule for cats. A dog or cat redeemed by a rescue or humane society rather than the owner must be both spayed or neutered and microchipped before release. IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) rescue and adoption organizations are exempt from paying for the rabies tag itself until the animal is adopted, but must still give Animal Control a copy of the rabies certificate and buy the tag before delivering the adopted animal.