King County, WA Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)
Key Facts
- Microchip fee
- $25 (K.C.C. § 11.04.035)
- License tag alternative
- Microchip may replace metal tag
- Shelter adoptions
- Must be altered and microchipped
- Repeat impound
- Microchip required before redemption
- Coverage
- Unincorporated King County only
Summary
King County accepts an implanted microchip as a substitute for a metal license tag on licensed pets, and separately requires microchipping before any shelter adoption and before redeeming a pet impounded more than once.
License tags must be worn by dogs at all times. Notwithstanding the requirement for license tags, as an alternative to a license tag, a currently licensed pet may be implanted with a microchip registered with the regional animal services section.
8. Pet owners of who hold valid licenses from other jurisdictions and who move into King County may transfer the license, subject to by paying a transfer fee. The license remains valid through the original license's expiration date or for twelve months after the license was issued by the other jurisdiction, whichever period is shorter.
9. It is a violation of this title for any person to sell or transfer ownership of any pet that does not have a pet license. Any person selling or transferring a pet shall notify the regional animal services section of the name, address, and telephone number of the new owner within thirty days following the sale or transfer.
10. It is a violation of this title to falsely represent a pet as altered or nonaltered.
11. Pet owners are subject to the penalty set in K.C.C. 11.04.035 for failure to comply with the licensing requirement in subsection A. of this section.
C. The late fee set in K.C.C. 11.04.035 shall be charged for any pet license not obtained within thirty days of ownership or not renewed before expiration. The late fee is in addition to any other penalties that might apply.
Full Breakdown
King County Code § 11.04.030 requires dogs to wear a metal license tag, but lets the owner use an implanted microchip registered with the regional animal services section instead once the pet is currently licensed. The county leans on chipping harder at the shelter: § 11.04.210 requires every pet adopted from the King County animal shelter to be altered and microchipped before adoption, and any pet impounded more than once must be microchipped before the owner can redeem it. The manager bills the microchipping service, set at $25 in the § 11.04.035 fee schedule, to the pet owner.
Violations & Fines
A pet impounded more than once can't be redeemed until it's microchipped, and every shelter adoption requires alteration and microchipping first; the microchipping service itself is billed at $25.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does King County require every pet to be microchipped?
Does this rule apply inside Seattle?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in King County
Compare King County to another location·View the Washington animal ordinances overview
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