Taylorsville, UT Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)
Key Facts
- Ferret microchip
- Mandatory, number on license app (§8.05.004)
- Guard dog microchip
- Mandatory + registered with division (§8.04.010)
- Pet dog/cat microchip
- Optional, substitutes for wearable tag
- Guard dog penalty
- Class B misdemeanor per violation day
- Chip vendor duty
- Must report owner info to division
Summary
Taylorsville doesn't require every pet to carry a microchip, but two categories must: City Code § 8.05.004(C) makes an implanted, registered microchip mandatory for every licensed ferret, and § 8.04.010(F) requires the same for any dog permitted as a guard dog. Owners of ordinary dogs and cats may microchip voluntarily under § 8.05.009(D) in place of a wearable tag.
Without limiting any other requirements of this Title, those wishing to keep ferrets must adhere to the following requirements: ... ... C. An identifying microchip must be implanted in each ferret and the microchip number must be included with each license application;
Full Breakdown
Section 8.05.004 lays out extra keeping and licensing conditions for ferrets beyond the standard pet license: annual rabies vaccination, a cap of two adult ferrets and one litter of kits under five months per household, an annual division inspection of the ferret's housing, and, at subsection C, a mandatory identifying microchip whose number must be submitted with the license application. A guard dog carries the same mandate: § 8.04.010(F) requires a guard dog to be microchipped in addition to being licensed, with the microchip number registered with the division, and the dog must also wear a one-inch red or orange collar reading 'Danger' in three-quarter-inch black lettering at all times.
For ordinary dogs and cats, microchipping is optional rather than compulsory: § 8.05.009(D) lets an owner implant a microchip registered with the division instead of keeping an identifying tag on the animal at all times while it is on the owner's own premises, though the owner still assumes the risk if the chip cannot be located or read after the animal strays. Any vendor who implants a microchip must, under § 8.05.009(E), report the owner's identifying information to the division so a lost animal can be traced back to its keeper.
Violations & Fines
Keeping an unchipped ferret or operating an unchipped guard dog is a licensing violation of Title 8; a guard dog permit violation under § 8.04.010(G) is a class B misdemeanor, with each day the dog is deployed in violation counting as a separate offense. Other Title 8 licensing violations, including a ferret kept without the required microchip, carry the general $25-per-day civil penalty under § 18.05.050, capped at $5,000 per violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to microchip my ferret in Taylorsville?
Is microchipping required for my pet dog or cat?
What about a dog kept as a guard dog?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Taylorsville
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Microchipping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle microchipping.