McLean County, IL Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)

Section 165-18 of Chapter 165 governs microchipping for animals leaving McLean County Animal Control. Before an adoption is final, the animal must be rendered incapable of reproduction by spaying or neutering, officially vaccinated, registered and microchipped, unless the adopter instead signs an agreement with the shelter to have those four services performed within a specified period not to exceed 30 days, or a later date if a licensed veterinarian recommends it. The chapter's definitions section, Section 165-1, lists microchipping as one of the standing duties an agent, a licensed veterinarian under a service agreement with the county, performs for the county, alongside altering animals, distributing tags, administering rabies vaccine, and filing rabies certificates.

Outside the adoption context, routine registration under Section 165-4 does not itself require a microchip, only a rabies vaccination and a county tag or proof of registration. Microchipping becomes mandatory again for any dog later declared dangerous or vicious under Sections 165-12 and 165-13, which require microchipping within 14 or 10 days of the declaration, respectively. If an adopter fails to have the animal spayed or neutered, vaccinated, registered, or microchipped within the agreed time, the Animal Control Administrator, any authorized Animal Control personnel, or any law enforcement officer may seize the animal and return it to McLean County Animal Control, and the shelter keeps every adoption and reclamation fee already collected, with no refund.