Santa Maria, CA Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Restricted, vicious, or dangerous-dog finding
- Required alongside chip
- Licensing, spay/neuter, vaccination
- Compliance deadline if not impounded
- 14 calendar days
- Court authority for dangerous dogs
- SMMC § 5-3.204
- Noncompliance penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine / 6 months jail
Summary
Santa Maria does not require every pet to carry a microchip, but a dog declared restricted or vicious after an administrative hearing must be microchipped, licensed, spayed or neutered and vaccinated before Animal Services will release it, under Section 5-3.203(e). A court can order the same for any dog found dangerous under Section 5-3.204.
A dog determined to be a restricted dog shall be properly licensed, microchipped, spayed or neutered, and vaccinated at the owner or custodian's expenses, prior to release to the owner or custodian if the dog was impounded. ... If a dog determined to be a restricted dog was not impounded, the dog owner or custodian shall provide proof that the dog is licensed, microchipped, spayed or neutered, and vaccinated within 14 calendar days after the decision declaring the dog to be a restricted dog is served on the dog owner or custodian.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4818069; v9 updated 2026-04-07).
Full Breakdown
203(e)(1) and (2), once the Animal Services Director's hearing officer determines a dog is a restricted dog, that dog must be properly licensed, microchipped, spayed or neutered, and vaccinated at the owner's expense. If the dog was impounded during the investigation, those steps must be completed before Animal Services releases it. If it was never impounded, the owner has 14 calendar days after the decision is served to prove compliance, and Animal Services then adds a 'restricted' designation to the dog's license record. 101. 203, or by a court order in a related criminal case.
Failure to comply with the microchipping condition, along with the other release conditions, exposes the owner to further enforcement, including a follow-up compliance hearing and seizure of the dog to ensure the conditions are met.
Violations & Fines
Failing to comply with any imposed condition, including the microchip requirement, is a misdemeanor under Section 5-3.203(f)(2)(i), punishable by a fine up to $1,000, up to six months in County Jail, or both. The hearing officer may also order the dog seized to force compliance, and a repeat failure can support a new petition to declare the dog vicious under Section 5-3.202.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Santa Maria require microchipping every dog?
How long do I have to get my restricted dog chipped after the hearing?
What happens if I don't microchip my restricted dog as ordered?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Maria
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Maria to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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