Pinellas County, FL Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)

Each guard dog shall be permanently identified by microchip implantation.

(c) Reporting requirements. Any person possessing, harboring, keeping or having control or custody of a guard dog shall immediately notify the department when such guard dog:

(1) Is loose or unconfined;

(2) Has bitten a human being or attacked another animal; or

(3) Is sold or given away or dies. Prior to a guard dog being sold or given away, the owner shall provide the name, address and telephone number of the new owner to the department.

(d) An inspection shall be required prior to any registration issuance or renewal. The renewal inspection period shall extend from 60 days prior to the end of a current registration period until the last day of the current registration period. Notice of the renewal inspection period, including a description of the scope and criteria of the inspection, shall be provided no later than ten days prior to a renewal inspection period, and any effort to seek review by a competent jurisdiction of the intended inspection must be initiated before the renewal period begins. The renewal inspection shall be unscheduled, and may be conducted at any reasonable hour by any animal control code enforcement officer, who shall act in accordance with the renewal inspection period notice and at a minimum, shall be given access to and the opportunity to investigate the animals, premises and records of the guard dog owner, to determine compliance