Victorville, CA Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)
Key Facts
- Tag exemption
- Microchip substitutes for collar tag
- First-year waiver
- Free license if chipped, spayed, vaccinated
- Reclaim requirement
- Impounded pets must be chipped before release
- State law applied
- Food & Ag. Code Sec. 31108.3, 31752.1
- 2023 waiver program
- Expired Dec. 31, 2023 absent extension
Summary
Victorville doesn't require microchipping outright, but it treats a microchip as valid alternative ID that exempts a dog from wearing a tag or collar, and it waives the first year's license fee for pets that are spayed, microchipped and vaccinated at adoption.
(5)Alternative Identification/Implants. Dogs with microchip implants or other permanent identification acceptable to the animal control division shall not be required to wear a tag or collar. All other licensing requirements of this part shall apply to such dog. ... (9)Waiver of License Fee For First Year. For animals adopted through an animal shelter or veterinarian's office, or purchased or adopted at a commercial establishment, a license is required, however, the license fee is waived for the first year after adopting or purchasing the animal. The first-year fee waiver applies to pets that are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and have a current rabies shot at time of purchase or adoption. After the first year, the license fee shall be as stipulated in Section 7.04.060.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 57).
Full Breakdown
' That means a microchipped dog still needs an annual license and rabies vaccination; the chip only replaces the metal tag. 050(9) builds in a financial incentive: the first year's license fee is waived for any pet adopted through a shelter or veterinarian, or purchased at a commercial establishment, if the animal is spayed or neutered, microchipped, and current on its rabies shot at the time of adoption or purchase. 3. 1. 055, adopted in 2023 to encourage owners to chip their pets, though by its own terms that waiver expired December 31, 2023 unless the city council acted to extend it.
Violations & Fines
There's no standalone fine for skipping microchipping since it isn't independently mandatory, but an impounded dog or cat that isn't microchipped cannot be reclaimed until the owner pays for microchipping plus impound, medical and apprehension fees under Section 7.04.160(c)-(d), and an unlicensed dog remains subject to the infraction and misdemeanor penalties in Section 7.04.280.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Victorville require me to microchip my dog?
Can I get a free license if my pet is microchipped?
What if my impounded dog isn't microchipped?
Is the 2023 microchipping fee waiver still active?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Victorville
California rules heatmap·Compare Victorville to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Microchipping in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle microchipping.