Putnam County, FL Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)

Chapter 6 of the Putnam County Code does not require microchipping for ordinary pet ownership; the county's identification rules for animals generally are limited to the rabies vaccination tag required under Section 6-35. Permanent identification becomes mandatory only once a dog is declared dangerous under the procedures in Section 6-31. Section 6-32(d) states that a dangerous dog shall have a permanent identification such as a tattoo on the inside thigh or microchip, giving the owner a choice between the two methods. That requirement is enforced again at the registration stage: under Section 6-32(k), within 30 days of a dangerous-dog classification, or 14 days after the classification is upheld on a county-court appeal, the owner must obtain a certificate of registration from the animal control department, renewed annually, by presenting evidence that includes a current rabies vaccination, a proper posted enclosure, permanent identification such as a tattoo or electronic implantation, and payment of an annual registration fee.

Failing to obtain or renew that certificate, including the identification requirement, results in forfeiture of the dog to the department head under Section 6-32(l), and separately, any violation of Section 6-32's requirements is a noncriminal infraction fined up to $500 per day under subsection (r).