Oconee County, SC Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)
Key Facts
- Microchip fee
- $15.00, if not already chipped
- When charged
- At impoundment reclaim, not upfront
- Daily board fee
- $10.00 per day boarded
- Impoundment fee
- $10.00 flat fee
- Minimum hold
- Five calendar days before release/adoption
- Governing section
- Oconee County Code § 4-6(a)(3)
Summary
Oconee County does not require owners to microchip pets in general, but Section 4-6 imposes a mandatory $15.00 microchip implant fee on any impounded animal that was not already microchipped before it is released back to its owner, on top of boarding and impoundment charges.
(a)(1)Unrestrained and nuisance animals, upon receipt of a written complaint signed by the complainant, may be taken by law enforcement officials and/or animal control officers and impounded in the county animal shelter and there be confined in a humane manner. ... (3)In addition, the owner shall be required to pay a fee of $10.00 per day for each day the animal is boarded by the county, actual cost for inoculation of the animal (if applicable) and a $10.00 impoundment feet. Further, a $15.00 fee will be charged for a mandatory microchip implant for animals not previously microchipped.
Full Breakdown
Section 4-6 governs impoundment and violation notices under the county's Animal Control Act. 00 fee along with the other reclaim charges before the animal is released. This is distinct from a general microchip mandate: an owner who never has an animal impounded is not required by Chapter 4 to microchip it, and the fee only attaches at the point of impoundment and reclaim. Owners must also show proof of current rabies inoculation before reclaiming an impounded dog or cat, and must pay for inoculation at their own expense if the animal is not current.
Impounded dogs and cats cannot be released before five calendar days have passed, and a positively identifiable animal not reclaimed within ten calendar days becomes county property for adoption or humane euthanasia. Section 4-6 also makes it unlawful to remove a rabies tag from the dog it was issued to, and to resist or hinder an animal control officer during capture and impoundment.
Violations & Fines
There is no separate microchip 'violation' distinct from the impoundment process itself: the $15.00 fee is charged automatically to the owner reclaiming an animal that arrives at the shelter without a chip, alongside the $10.00 per-day board fee, the $10.00 impoundment fee and any inoculation cost. An owner who fails to pay these fees cannot reclaim the animal, and a broader Chapter 4 violation, such as removing a rabies tag or resisting animal control during impoundment, is unlawful under Section 4-6(l) and (k) and is prosecuted as a misdemeanor under Section 4-12.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Oconee County require all pets to be microchipped?
How much does it cost to get my dog back from Oconee County Animal Control?
Is the microchip fee charged even if my pet already has a chip?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oconee County
Compare Oconee County to another location·View the South Carolina animal ordinances overview
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