Plymouth, MN Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 915.11
- Accepted ID methods
- Microchip, rabies certificate, or phone-number tag
- Enforcing agency
- Plymouth Police animal control officers
- Correction window
- 48 hours after notice of violation
- Maximum penalty
- $700 fine and 90 days, § 2000.01
Summary
In the City of Plymouth, City Code Section 915.11 requires every dog and cat to carry some form of identification that lets animal control officers reach the owner. A microchip is one of three accepted methods, along with a veterinarian-issued rabies certificate or a tag or collar bearing the owner's name and phone number. No single method is mandatory.
All dogs and cats are required to have some identification on them that would assist animal control in contacting the owner. Identification allowed under this subdivision include microchips, veterinarian issued rabies certificates, or any tags or collars with contact information and phone number(s) inscribed on it.
Full Breakdown
33. The ordinance does not single out microchipping as the required method; it lists three interchangeable options, and any dog or cat wearing a tag or collar with the owner's phone number satisfies the rule just as a chip would. 09, which requires every dog, cat, or ferret over six months old to be vaccinated against rabies, with unvaccinated animals confined to the owner's property or a veterinary facility until vaccinated. 05. 07 while the owner's identity is confirmed. Because Plymouth accepts rabies certificates and phone-number tags as equal substitutes, an owner who skips the vet visit or the microchip clinic can still comply with a basic collar tag, so the rule functions mainly as an owner-contact requirement rather than a technology mandate.
Violations & Fines
Failing to keep acceptable identification on a dog or cat is enforced by Plymouth Police animal control officers under Section 915.05. A first response is a notice of violation giving the owner 48 hours to correct the problem; if the owner does not comply, the officer can issue a citation. Because violating any provision of the City Code is a misdemeanor under Section 2000.01, a citation carries a fine of up to $700.00 and up to 90 days in jail, and each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Plymouth require dogs and cats to be microchipped?
What happens if my pet is picked up with no ID?
Is there a fee to get my impounded pet back?
Does the rabies vaccination requirement apply along with the ID rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Plymouth
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Microchipping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Hennepin County handle microchipping.