Riverside County requires all licensed dogs and cats to be microchipped with current owner contact information registered to a recognized national database, enforced through RCDAS at licensing renewal.
Microchipping is mandatory for any dog or cat receiving a Riverside County license, per RCDAS policy implementing Ordinance 630. Owners must register the chip with AAHA, HomeAgain, or AKC Reunite and keep contact information current. Chips are scanned at impound intake to expedite return-to-owner outcomes. RCDAS offers low-cost microchipping clinics and includes chips with adoption fees. Failure to update registration after a move or sale may delay reunification but does not directly trigger fines unless paired with other violations.
Unchipped licensed pets cannot complete renewal until chipped. Lost pets without chips face longer holds and standard impound fees beginning around $50 daily boarding.
See how Temecula's microchipping rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.