Riverside County, CA Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)
Key Facts
- Deadline
- Chip required by 4 months old
- Citation
- Riverside County Code § 6.08.130
- First-offense fine
- Up to $100
- Exemptions
- Health risk, working dogs, nonresident owners
Summary
Every dog and cat in unincorporated Riverside County must be microchipped by four months old, with owners required to register the chip number and report any change of address or ownership to Animal Services.
All dogs and cats over the age of four months must be implanted with an identifying microchip. The owner or custodian is required to provide the microchip number to the department, and shall notify the department of any change of ownership of the dog or cat, or any change of address or telephone number.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 84 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Riverside County Code § 6.08.130 requires every dog and cat over four months old in the unincorporated county to be implanted with an identifying microchip. Owners must report the microchip number to Animal Services and update it after any change of address, phone number, or ownership. Exemptions apply when a licensed veterinarian confirms the procedure would endanger the animal's health or impair its working ability, or when the animal is kenneled in the county but owned by a nonresident. An impounded animal without a chip must be implanted at the owner's expense before release.
Violations & Fines
Violating the microchipping requirement is an infraction under the chapter's penalty schedule: up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 for each further offense, each day counted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Riverside County require pet microchipping?
What happens if my pet isn't microchipped?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Riverside County
California rules heatmap·Compare Riverside County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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