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Tehama County, CA Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Applies to
Licensed kennels, 5+ dogs
Accepted ID
Tattoo or microchip
Exempt
Boarding kennels
Optional microchip service fee
$15 per animal

Summary

Tehama County, California requires every dog over four months in a licensed kennel to carry permanent ID, a tattoo or microchip, recorded on its rabies certificate; boarding kennels are exempt.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Tehama County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Kennels shall have each dog over the age of four months marked with a means of permanent, positive identification (such as a tattoo or micro-chip) and that identification mark or number shall be also recorded on that dog's current rabies vaccination certificate. (Boarding kennels shall be exempt from this requirement.)

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23).

Full Breakdown

Tehama County Code § 7.20.110 requires kennels (five or more dogs on one property, licensed under Chapter 7.20) to mark each dog over four months old with permanent, positive identification such as a tattoo or microchip, and to record that mark or number on the dog's current rabies vaccination certificate. Boarding kennels are exempt from this requirement. The county does not impose a general microchip mandate on individual pet owners with four or fewer dogs: the Division of Animal Services separately offers microchipping as an optional $15 service under its fee schedule. This applies only in the unincorporated area of Tehama County; Red Bluff, Corning, and the City of Tehama set their own rules.

Violations & Fines

Failing to permanently identify kennel dogs violates the kennel license conditions and can lead to license denial, suspension, or revocation under § 7.20.050.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Tehama County require all pet owners to microchip their dog?
No: county code only requires permanent ID, tattoo or microchip, for dogs kept in a licensed kennel under § 7.20.110. Individual owners aren't mandated to microchip.
Can I get my dog microchipped through Tehama County?
Yes: the Division of Animal Services offers microchipping for $15 per animal under its fee schedule.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Tehama County

All Tehama County rules

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