Spokane County, WA Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)
Key Facts
- Requirement
- microchip mandatory for dangerous dogs only
- Cost
- borne by the owner
- Definition
- passive transponder + exterior collar tag
- Tied to
- dangerous-dog registration, SCC 5.04.035(1)(b)
- General pets
- identified by metal license tag, not chip
- Missing chip
- registration cannot be issued
Summary
Spokane County does not require microchips on ordinary pets, but a dog SCRAPS has declared dangerous must be identified with a microchip implant at the owner's expense under SCC 5.04.036. The chip is a passive electronic transponder with a unique number, defined in SCC 5.04.020(20), that pairs with an exterior collar tag.
"Microchip implant" means a passive electronic transponder that is subcutaneously injected into an animal by means of a hypodermic-type syringe device. Each microchip shall contain a unique and original number that is read by an electronic scanning device for purposes of animal identification and recovery by the animal's owner(s). The microchip implant shall be supplied with an exterior collar-type tag for purposes of an external means of notifying others that the animal has been implanted with a microchip. 5.04.036 - Dangerous dogs-Identification. The owner or keeper of a dog determined to be dangerous pursuant to section 5.04.032 or section 5.04.035(7) shall have the dog identified by a microchip implant at the owner's expense. The microchip shall be implanted in accordance with policy established by the director.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 63).
Full Breakdown
035(7) shall have the dog identified by a microchip implant at the owner's expense, implanted in accordance with policy established by the director. 020(20), spells out what qualifies: a passive electronic transponder that is subcutaneously injected into an animal by means of a hypodermic-type syringe device, carrying a unique and original number that is read by an electronic scanning device for purposes of animal identification and recovery, supplied with an exterior collar-type tag so the outside world knows the animal carries a chip. 035(1)(b): a certificate of registration cannot issue until the owner shows proof of the implant, alongside the proper enclosure, approved muzzle and leash, and the $250,000 surety bond or insurance policy. Reinspection at each twelve-month renewal covers the chip along with the rest of the enclosure. 030(4), not a chip.
Violations & Fines
Registering a dangerous dog without proof of the microchip is not optional: SCC 5.04.035(1) makes the implant one of the conditions precedent to issuing the certificate of registration at all, so an owner who skips it cannot lawfully get the dog back from SCRAPS. Once registered, failing to maintain any required condition, including the microchip, is a gross misdemeanor under SCC 5.04.035(8), and a dog whose registration lapses or is never completed is confiscated and euthanized at the director's direction under SCC 5.04.035(1).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to microchip my regular dog or cat in Spokane County?
Who pays for the chip and who implants it?
What information does the chip carry?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spokane County
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