McHenry County, IL Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)

870(C), the Animal Control Administrator or an authorized agent must scan every dog, cat or other animal for a microchip the moment it is apprehended and impounded, before any attempt is made to find the owner. When an owner comes to reclaim an impounded pet, the code sets out a six-item checklist the owner must complete: presenting proof of ownership, presenting proof of rabies vaccination and registration where applicable, paying for the rabies vaccination and registration if needed, paying the boarding fee set in the Public Health Fee Ordinance for every day the animal was held, paying the additional impound fee prescribed in that same fee schedule, and finally paying for microchipping and registration if the animal does not already have one.

The ordinance states flatly that all companion cats and dogs will be microchipped at redemption if not already done, so an owner cannot decline the procedure and still take the pet home. These redemption payments stack on top of any other penalty already charged under the county's animal control ordinance, the Illinois Animal Control Act, or the Illinois Public Health and Safety Animal Population Control Act. 04, the county's Public Health Ordinance administered by the McHenry County Department of Health, and applies only to the unincorporated area; Crystal Lake, Woodstock, Algonquin, Huntley, Cary, Lake in the Hills, Johnsburg and the separate City of McHenry each enforce their own municipal animal codes for pets inside city limits.