Mesa does not require pet microchipping under Title 5, but Maricopa County strongly recommends it and shelters routinely chip impounded animals before adoption. Microchipping helps recover lost pets faster than license tags alone, especially during Phoenix-metro monsoons.
Neither Mesa City Code Title 5 nor Maricopa County Code 8 mandates microchipping for owned dogs and cats. However, Maricopa County Animal Care and Control implants microchips on all dogs and cats adopted out of county shelters, and recommends chipping for any pet that may go outdoors or escape during storms. Microchip registration is independent of the annual dog license; both should be kept current. Veterinarians and shelters scan all impounded animals on intake. Federal ARS rabies-control rules require vaccination but not chipping.
No fine attaches to keeping an unchipped pet. However, an unchipped animal may be impounded longer at Maricopa County Animal Care and treated as a stray, increasing reclaim fees if it lacks a license tag.
Mesa, AZ
Mesa does not mandate spay or neuter for owned dogs or cats. Maricopa County provides a substantial discount on dog licenses for sterilized animals, creating...
Mesa, AZ
Mesa requires dogs on leash in public. Off-leash in designated parks only. License and rabies vaccination required per ARS §11-1001 et seq.
See how other cities in Maricopa County handle microchipping.
See how Mesa's microchipping rules stack up against other locations.
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