Moreno Valley, CA Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- MVMC § 10.02.105(A)
- Age/duration trigger
- Over 4 months, kept 30+ days
- Exemptions
- Health risk, out-of-city animal, age 10+
- Transfer duty
- Report new owner within 10 days
- Fee waiver
- Waived if already chipped elsewhere (§E)
Summary
Every dog and cat over four months old that stays in Moreno Valley 30 days or longer must carry an implanted microchip under Section 10.02.105(A), on top of any separate dog license or optional cat license. Owners must report the chip number to animal services and update it whenever the animal changes hands, address or phone contact.
§ 10.02.105. Mandatory microchipping—Dogs and cats.
A. Requirement. All dogs and cats over the age of four months and kept within the city for a period of 30 days or longer must be implanted with an identifying microchip. The owner or custodian is required to provide the microchip number to animal services, and shall notify animal services of any change of ownership of the dog or cat, or any change of address or telephone number. Nothing in this section supersedes, eliminates, or alters the requirements of Section 10.02.020 or 10.02.030, and any other licensing requirements of Title 10. [...] B. Exemptions. The mandatory microchipping requirements shall not apply to any of the following: 1. A dog or cat with a high likelihood of suffering serious bodily injury, if implanted with the microchip identification, due to the health conditions of the animal... 3. A dog or cat over the age of 10 years.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4887234; v10 updated 2026-04-07).
Full Breakdown
030; the section says explicitly it does not replace those licensing rules. Three exemptions apply under subsection B: an animal a veterinarian certifies faces a high risk of serious injury from implantation due to its health, a dog or cat kenneled or trained in Moreno Valley but owned by a resident of another jurisdiction who follows that jurisdiction's rules instead, and any dog or cat over 10 years old. 10 violation. When an unchipped dog or cat is impounded, subsection D lets the owner choose a shelter-staff implant at their own cost, an outside veterinarian's implant paid to the department for transport, or a signed perjury statement promising the procedure.
The microchip fee is set in the city's fee schedule and is waived under subsection E if the animal already carries a chip from elsewhere.
Violations & Fines
Selling, trading, or offering a puppy, kitten, dog or cat for adoption without disclosing the microchip number, or without notifying animal services of the new owner's name and address within 10 days, is a chargeable violation under Section 10.02.105(C) subject to the penalties in Chapter 1.10. An impounded animal found without a chip cannot be released until the owner completes one of the four implantation options in subsection D.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is microchipping required even if my dog is already licensed?
Are any animals exempt from Moreno Valley's microchip law?
What if I sell or give away my microchipped pet?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Moreno Valley
California rules heatmap·Compare Moreno Valley to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Microchipping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle microchipping.