Moorpark, CA Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 6.16.010(C)
- Applies to
- Cats only, not dogs
- Still required
- Current license and rabies proof
- Exempted
- Wearing a collar and tag
Summary
Moorpark lets microchipped cats skip the collar-and-tag requirement, but the cat still needs a current license and must meet every other requirement of the city's animal licensing code.
Cats with electronic identification in the form of microchip implants or other forms of permanent identification approved and issued by the city or its agent, are not required to wear a collar and tag. All other licensing requirements of this title apply to such cat.
D. Any dog found without a current license tag or for which there is no current license may be seized and impounded by an animal compliance officer or any peace officer, and/or a citation may be issued to the person who owns, harbors or keeps the dog.
E. Any cat found without a current license tag or for which there is no current license or without electronic identification may be seized and impounded by an animal compliance officer or any peace officer and/or a citation may be issued to the person who owns, harbors or keeps the cat. (Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4978490; v10 updated 2026-07-01).
Full Breakdown
Moorpark Municipal Code § 6.16.010(C) exempts cats carrying an electronic microchip implant, or other city-approved permanent identification, from having to wear a collar and license tag. The exemption applies only to the physical tag-wearing requirement: the cat must still be currently licensed, vaccinated for rabies, and comply with every other requirement of Chapter 6.16. Dogs are not covered; only cats with an approved microchip qualify. A cat found without a current license, tag, or microchip can still be seized and impounded under subsection E, and a citation may issue.
Violations & Fines
A cat without a current license, tag, or qualifying microchip may be seized and impounded, and the owner may be cited, even though microchipped cats are excused from wearing a physical tag.
Frequently Asked Questions
If my cat has a microchip, can I skip licensing it?
Does the microchip exemption cover dogs?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Moorpark
California rules heatmap·Compare Moorpark to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Microchipping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Ventura County handle microchipping.