Texas Cities Animal Ordinances

We provide here information about animal control ordinances of some Texas cities and towns. If you would like to see a certain city added, please notify us through the contact form.

Allen

The City of Allen's animal control ordinance covers topics including dangerous dogs and animal fights. Once a person knows that he or she owns a dangerous dog, the person must obtain liability insurance to cover injury caused by the dog. Link the to ordinance - http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=13969&stateId=43&stateName=Texas

Arlington

Arlington has a great website, listing its animal ordinance and even photos and locations (on a map) of dangerous dogs. A dog owner commits an offense if his dog is not licensed and vaccinated, evidenced by collar tags. Link to the website - http://www.arlingtontx.gov/animals/codes.html

Austin

The City of Austin has an ordinance which prohibits residents from keeping dangerous animals. Like other cities, Austin has a requirement that some animal owners have liability insurance. However, Austin's $500,000.00 miminum liability limit is more appropriate for serious dog bite injuries. Here is a link to Austin's animal control ordinance -

http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Texas/austin/thecodeofthecityofaustintexas?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:austin_tx$anc=

Carrollton

Carrollton law requires all dogs to be restrained by a leash, chain, or fenced area. There is a 2-dog limit for homes without a fenced or enclosed back yard, and a 3-dog limit for dogs kept in an enclosed or fenced back yard. Link to ordinance summary page - http://www.cityofcarrollton.com/index.aspx?page=137

Cedar Hill

Cedar Hill has a wild animal and dangerous wild animal ordinance. A person who has such an animal must carry liability insurance which would cover at least $100,000.00 for each attack. Here is a link to the entire animal ordinance - http://library7.municode.com/default-test/home.htm?infobase=11825&doc_action=whatsnew

Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi has an animal care and control ordinance which allows various city officials, including the police, to inspect premises where animals are kept. The ordinance is here - http://library7.municode.com/default-now/home.htm?infobase=13945&doc_action=whatsnew

Dallas

The City of Dallas has a lengthy ordinance regarding animals, and there are too many provisions to address here. Dallas incorporates into its ordinance Chapters 823 and 826 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. These chapters deal with animal shelters and rabies. The City also incorporates provisions of the Texas Dangerous Dog Act (in Chapter 822 of the Texas Health and Safety Code). We briefly address this Act on the Texas law page of our website. Dogs must be registered and vaccinated, and they must wear current tags. Link to website - http://dallasanimalservices.org/CityCode_Chapter7.html

Denton

The City of Denton has a dangerous animal ordinance which lists detailed procedures. It covers how to file a complaint, investigation, hearings, and disposition of animals. It also makes it unlawful for someone to sign a false complaint about dangerous animals. Link to the dangerous animal ordinance - http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=10644&stateId=43&stateName=Texas

El Paso

El Paso's animal control ordinance is progressive, requiring all dogs to be registered and to have implanted microchips. Microchips can identify the owner of a dog if there is a dispute following an attack. Here is a link to the animal control ordinance -

http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=16180&stateId=43&stateName=Texas

Fort Worth

Fort Worth requires that all dogs be kept in a fenced area when outside at the owner's property, and on a leash when being walked. The city defines a dangerous dog as one that 1) makes an unprovoked attack on a person or other animal that causes bodily injury and occurs in a place other than an enclosure in which the dog was being kept or 2) commits unprovoked acts in a place other than an enclosure which the dog was being kept and those acts cause a person to reasonably believe that the animal will attack and cause bodily injury to that person. Fort Worth prohibits residents from keeping wild or exotic animals. The City Council approved an ordinance banning use of chains, ropes, tethers, leashes, cables or  other devices to attach an unattended dog to a stationary object or trolley system. Residents can still tether dogs under limited circumstances when the owner is present, such as at lawful animal events or city dog parks, as well as during vet treatment, grooming, training, or law enforcement activity. The City has an online complaint form. Link to website - http://www.fortworthgov.org/animals/default.aspx?id=8858

Frisco

Frisco has a lengthy animal control ordiance. Any person that has knowledge of a bite of or scratch to a human must, as soon as possible, and no later than 24 housrs later, report the incident to Animal Control. This requirement does not apply to certain animals that are considered to be low-risk for rabies. Link to the ordinance -

http://www.friscotexas.gov/departments/planningDevelopment/animalcontrol/Documents/AnimalControlOrdinance1-08_08-01-06_REPEALING_05-04-27.pdf

Garland

The City of Garland is becoming proactive in protecting its citizens from what might be the most dangerous dog breed in America - pit bulls. Here is an excerpt from a 2010 press release: "Garland Animal Services is preparing to enforce new fencing requirements for pit bull dogs or pit bull crossbreeds.  Pit bull dogs or crossbreeds thereof have been responsible for the most dog bites since statistics have been kept (2004).  Additionally, 27% of the dogs caught while running at large are pit bull dogs.  In response to this growing public safety problem, Garland Animal Services has developed an ordinance based directive that requires owners of pit bull dogs to maintain the animals within a six foot fence." Link to website - http://www.ci.garland.tx.us/Home/Departments/Community+Services/Animal+Services/

Grand Prairie

Grand Prairie's ordinance has an expansive definition of a dangerous animal, including an animal that makes an unprovoked attack on a human eight years of age or younger within the animal's enclosure, and such enclosure was not reasonably certain to keep a person that age from entering. This definition recognizes that there are a disproportionately high number of dog attacks on children as compared to adults. Link to ordinance - http://www.gptx.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=1524

Houston

The City of Houston has a dangerous dogs ordinance. The ordinance covers complaints by residents, hearings about dangerous dogs, and requirements for dangerous dog owners. A dangerous dog owner must carry at least $100,000.00 in liability insurance. Here is a link to the ordinance - http://www.houstontx.gov/barc/pdf/chapter6-6.pdf

Irving

The City of Irving has a link at its website to its animal control ordinance. The City also notes that it will respond to emergency calls about aggressive or dangerous dogs that are at large (behavior including any dog at large which exhibits a threatening act, attacks another animal, and/or bites or attacks a person; and if the likelihood exists that the dog is an imminent danger to the public). Link to website - http://www.ci.irving.tx.us/animal-services/index.html

Lewisville

Lewisville's animal control ordinance prohibits tying a dog to a stationary object in a manner that can harm the dog or a person. Many animal behaviorists believe that tying up a dog for long periods of time can cause the dog to become aggressive or vicious. Here is a link to the ordinance - http://www.cityoflewisville.com/wcmsite/publishing.nsf/Content/Animals+Ordinance

Laredo

Laredo has an extensive animal control ordinance, and it adopts a portion of state law. Here is a link to the ordinance - http://library7.municode.com/default-test/home.htm?infobase=12258&doc_action=whatsnew

Lubbock

The City of Lubbock's animal control ordinance covers dangerous dogs. If, after a hearing, it is determined that a dog is dangerous, the City can require the owner to obtain liability insurance with at least $250,000.00 in coverage. Here is the ordinance - http://las.ci.lubbock.tx.us/pdf/animalOrdinance.pdf

McKinney

McKinney's animal control ordinance expressly adopts Chapter 822 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. Link to its dangerous dogs ordinance - http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=14250&stateId=43&stateName=Texas

Mesquite

Mesquite required that all dogs must be confined to an owner's property by fence or chain. Citizens must report all dog bites to the Animal Control Division. It is also unlawful to keep an animal in Mesquite in such a manner that it creates a nuisance. Link to website - http://www.cityofmesquite.com/animal/city_ordinance.php

Plano

As of this writing, the City of Plano does not have a link at its website to its animal control ordinance. Here is a link to the City of Plano Animal Services home page - http://plano.gov/Animal/Pages/default.aspx

Richardson

Richardson's animal control ordinance is quite detailed, and it even includes provisions regarding the sale of baby chickens. If a person believes that a dog is dangerous or vicious, the person may file a sworn, written complaint with Richardson's environmental health department. Here is a link to the ordinance - http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=10221&stateId=43&stateName=Texas

San Antonio

San Antonio's dog control ordinance includes sections for both dangerous animals and vicious animals. Like many other cites, San Antonio requires owners of certain animals to have liability insurance to cover dog bites. A link to information about San Antonio's animal control regulations is here - http://www.sanantonio.gov/animalcare/healthcode.asp