Whitfield County, GA Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Whitfield County Code § 4-45(c)(3)
- Applies to
- Dogs classified as "vicious" only
- Chip placement
- Between the shoulder blades, scannable
- Other conditions
- Enclosure, posted signs, $50,000 liability insurance
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor of high/aggravated nature (§ 4-46(c))
Summary
Whitfield County Code § 4-45(c)(3) requires a scannable microchip implanted between the shoulder blades of any dog classified as a vicious dog before Whitfield County Animal Control will issue the annual certificate of registration that lets the owner keep it.
(c)Except as provided in subsections (e) and (f) of this Code section, a certificate of registration for a vicious dog shall be issued if the dog control officer determines that the following requirements have been met:(1)The owner has maintained an enclosure designed to securely confine the vicious dog on the owner's property, indoors, or in a securely locked and enclosed pen, fence, or structure suitable to prevent the vicious dog from leaving such property;(2)Clearly visible warning signs have been posted at all entrances to the premises where the dog resides;(3)A microchip containing an identification number and capable of being scanned has been injected under the skin between the shoulder blades of the dog; and(4)The owner maintains and can provide proof of general or specific liability insurance in the amount of not less than $50,000.00 issued by an insurer authorized to transact business in this state insuring the owner of the vicious dog against liability for any bodily injury or property damage caused by the dog.
Full Breakdown
Whitfield County has no general microchipping mandate for pet dogs and cats; chipping is required only as one of four conditions for registering a dog the county has classified as vicious under § 4-45(c). Once the dangerous dog control officer classifies a dog as vicious following an investigation under § 4-40 and any hearing before the Whitfield County Board of Health under § 4-42, the owner must obtain a certificate of registration, and that certificate cannot issue unless a microchip containing a scannable identification number has been injected under the dog's skin between the shoulder blades.
00 covering bodily injury or property damage the dog causes. These four conditions must all be satisfied before Whitfield County Animal Control will issue or renew the registration, which is reviewed annually under § 4-45(g); failing to renew within ten days of the renewal date is itself a violation of the article. Separately, § 4-8 lets the county animal shelter use any identification tag, including a rabies tag, to trace and hold a stray for its owner, a tag-based system distinct from the microchip mandate that applies specifically to registered vicious dogs.
Violations & Fines
Possessing a vicious dog without meeting the microchip, enclosure, signage, and insurance conditions of § 4-45(c) is a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature under O.C.G.A. § 4-8-29, per § 4-46(c). Failure to renew a lapsed certificate within ten days is a separate violation under § 4-45(g), and a dog kept unlawfully may be confiscated under § 4-47.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all dogs need a microchip in unincorporated Whitfield County?
What else must a vicious dog's owner do besides microchipping?
What happens if I don't get the required microchip?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Whitfield County
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