Austin, TX Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code Sec. 3-4-7
- Breed-specific rules
- None; conduct-based only
- Appeal deadline
- 15 days to Municipal Court
- Vaccination/microchip deadline
- 30 days after notice
- Enforcement
- Citation by Health Authority
Summary
Austin does not regulate dogs by breed. Instead, its vicious dog ordinance labels any dog that killed or seriously injured another animal while running at large as vicious after a health authority investigation, and then requires that dog's owner to keep it leashed or enclosed, disclose the finding to boarding facilities, and prove rabies vaccination and microchipping.
(A)An owner or handler shall take reasonable measures to protect the public from accidental contact with a dog that, by nature or by training, is dangerous to other animals.(B)For purposes of this section, a vicious dog is a dog that, while running at large, has:(1)killed a dog, cat, or other domestic pet, fowl, or livestock...; or(2)seriously injured another animal to an extent that an attending veterinarian has presented an affidavit to the health authority stating that the injured animal's life was seriously endangered or taken by the dog...(E)The owner of a vicious dog shall:(1)restrain the dog at all times on a leash in the immediate control of a person or in an enclosure that prevents the escape or release of the dog;(2)before taking the dog to a boarding facility, notify the facility that the dog has been determined by the Health Authority to be a vicious dog; and(3)not later than the 30th day after an owner has been provided notice...submit proof to the Health Authority of the dog's current rabies vaccination; and(b)implant a microchip in the dog with the owner's current information.
Full Breakdown
City Code Sec. 3-4-7 defines a vicious dog by conduct, not breed: a dog that, while running at large, has killed a dog, cat, other domestic pet, fowl, or livestock, or has seriously injured another animal to the point a veterinarian affidavits that the injured animal's life was endangered or it suffered permanent impairment, provided the killed or injured animal was not itself running loose in violation of the title. When someone reports such an incident, the health authority may investigate, take sworn witness statements, and if it determines the dog is vicious, must notify the owner in writing.
The owner has 15 days to appeal that determination to Austin Municipal Court by filing a notice of appeal, attaching the health authority's determination, and serving a copy on the health authority by mail. Once a dog is determined vicious, Sec. 3-4-7(E) requires the owner to restrain it at all times on a leash under a person's immediate control or in an escape-proof enclosure, to notify any boarding facility in advance of the determination, and within 30 days of notice to submit proof of current rabies vaccination and implant a microchip carrying the owner's current information.
Violations & Fines
The Health Authority may enforce a violation of the vicious dog restraint, boarding-notification, or vaccination/microchip requirements in Sec. 3-4-7(E) by issuing a citation under Sec. 3-4-7(F). An owner who disagrees with a vicious dog determination must file the Sec. 3-4-7(D) municipal court appeal within 15 days or the determination and its restrictions stand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Austin ban pit bulls or other specific dog breeds?
How does a dog get declared vicious in Austin?
Can I appeal a vicious dog determination in Austin?
What must the owner of a vicious dog do in Austin?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Austin
How Austin compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Austin to another location·View the Texas animal ordinances overview
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Breed Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Travis County handle breed restrictions.