Dallas, TX Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Under Sec. 047 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, Dallas may only add dangerous-dog requirements that are not specific to one or more breeds and that exceed the state's own minimums, so no ordinance singles out pit bulls, Rottweilers, or any other breed. Instead, Dallas City Code Article V of Chapter 7 runs an individualized, behavior-based process. Under Sec. 1, a 'dangerous dog' is defined by an unprovoked attack or threatening act, not by breed. Sec. 3 lets the animal services director investigate a bite complaint under state Sec.

0421 and determine, in writing, whether a specific dog is dangerous; the owner is notified by certified mail and told of the right to appeal. Under Sec. 4, an owner has 15 days to file a written appeal with the municipal, justice, or county court, though the owner must post a bond covering the dog's estimated boarding costs while the appeal is pending. If the dangerous determination stands, Sec. 5(a) requires the owner, within 30 days, to sterilize the dog if unaltered, register it with the director for a $252 fee, renewed annually for $50, keep it muzzled outside its enclosure, show proof of at least $100,000 in liability coverage, implant and register a microchip with a national registry, and post a 'BEWARE DANGEROUS DOG' sign bought from Dallas Animal Services.

Sec. 11 requires the director to publish a public dangerous-dog registry listing each dog's address, description, and microchip number. Sec. 7 separately bars anyone from owning, in Dallas, a dog already declared dangerous by another jurisdiction, unless the owner had the dog in the city before June 25, 2008.