San Francisco Health Code Article 1 requires all dogs and cats impounded by Animal Care and Control to be microchipped before release, and licensing rules strongly encourage chipping for all pets.
SF Animal Care and Control requires microchipping for any dog or cat reclaimed from the shelter, adopted out, or transferred to rescue partners. Health Code Section 41 establishes licensing tied to vaccination and microchip records. Owners receive the chip implant during reclaim or adoption fees. Microchip data must be registered with a national database (HomeAgain, AVID, or similar) and kept current. Lost pets with chips are returned three times faster than unchipped strays. Voluntary chipping clinics run by ACC and SPCA offer subsidized rates throughout the year.
Reclaiming an impounded pet without paying for microchipping, failing to update registration after a move, or transferring ownership without chip transfer triggers ACC follow-up.
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