Bellaire, TX Animal Ordinances: Animal Hoarding (2026)

Bellaire Code of Ordinances Chapter 14 restricts residential properties to a maximum of four dogs and cats combined. Exceeding this limit requires written approval from the city, which is rarely granted for standard residential lots. Animal hoarding situations—where animals are kept in numbers or conditions that compromise animal welfare or create public health hazards—are addressed through both the animal control ordinance and the nuisance abatement provisions of the code. Code enforcement and Bellaire Animal Control officers may inspect properties upon complaint. Conditions constituting animal hoarding include overcrowding, inadequate food or water, unsanitary living conditions, accumulation of animal waste, and failure to provide veterinary care. The city coordinates with Harris County Animal Control and the SPCA for animal seizure and placement when hoarding is confirmed. Property owners harboring excessive animals may also face property maintenance violations for odor, waste accumulation, and vermin attraction under the city's nuisance provisions.