Lee County, NC Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)

Lee County's animal ordinance defines 'microchipped' at Sec. 4-33 as permanently implanting a radio-frequency identification chip containing the owner's identifying information, but the chapter does not impose a blanket microchip mandate on every pet owner in unincorporated Lee County. Instead, microchipping is triggered by specific events. Under Sec. 4-41(d), a dog or cat impounded for running at large can only be reclaimed if the owner agrees to have it microchipped at the owner's expense within 30 days of reclamation, with proof due to animal services within 72 hours after that 30-day window closes.

Sec. 4-43(f)(4) separately requires an animal confirmed dangerous to be altered and microchipped at the owner's expense once impounded, or within 30 days if it remains in the owner's custody. Sec. 4-124(b) extends the requirement to adoptions: every animal, altered or not, adopted from animal services must be microchipped within 30 days, with written proof due to the shelter within 30 working days, and Sec. 4-125(b) repeats the 30-day proof requirement for reclaimed animals generally. The Lee County Sheriff's Office and animal services jointly enforce these deadlines, and Sec.

4-195 sets the applicable civil penalty schedule at $50.00 for a first offense, $100.00 for a second, and $200.00 for later offenses under the Animal Ordinance Fee Schedule. Because the requirement is redemption- and adoption-triggered, a pet that never runs at large, gets impounded, or goes through the shelter is not independently required to carry a chip under this chapter.