San Jose, CA Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SJMC § 7.20.570
- Cat option
- Microchip in lieu of metal tag
- Show-dog option
- Microchip exempts tag while showing
- Cost
- Paid solely by owner/guardian
- Dogs generally
- Metal tag still required
Summary
San Jose lets cats wear a microchip instead of a metal license tag, and exhibition dogs skip wearing the tag if implanted with a chip carrying the same license information.
(C) In lieu of the requirement that a cat wear a metal tag, the administrator may approve that a cat receive a computer microchip providing access to all of the information on the metal tag issued for the cat at the sole cost and expense of the owner/guardian or person with a right to control the cat. ... (E) A dog participating in or preparing for an exhibition may not be required to wear a metal tag if the dog is implanted with a computer microchip providing access to all of the information on the metal tag issued for the dog...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
San Jose Municipal Code § 7.20.570 requires every licensed dog and cat to wear a metal license tag issued with its city license. Subsection C carves out cats: the administrator can approve a computer microchip in lieu of the tag, at the owner's sole cost, so long as it provides access to the same identifying information printed on the tag. Subsection E gives exhibition dogs a parallel option, a microchip implant lets the dog skip wearing the tag during the show, but the owner still must carry the physical tag and comply with the leash and at-large rules in §§ 7.40.030 and 7.40.040. Dogs generally must still wear the metal tag; the microchip swap is not a citywide alternative for dogs.
Violations & Fines
A dog or cat without the required tag or an approved microchip is rebuttably presumed an unvaccinated stray under § 7.20.520 and can be seized and impounded under Chapter 7.50, with impoundment and boarding fees due before release.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I microchip my dog instead of using a metal tag?
Who pays for the cat's microchip?
Does a show dog with a microchip skip city licensing entirely?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Jose
California rules heatmap·Compare San Jose to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Microchipping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle microchipping.