Tomball, TX Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Tomball follows the Texas approach of regulating individual dangerous dogs rather than entire breeds. Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 822 preempts most breed-specific bans by municipalities and establishes a statewide framework for dangerous dog declarations. Under Tomball's Chapter 14 (Animals), a dog of any breed may be declared dangerous if it makes an unprovoked attack causing bodily injury outside the dog's enclosure, or commits unprovoked acts that cause a person to reasonably believe the dog will attack. Once declared dangerous, the owner must comply with strict confinement requirements: the dog must be kept in a secure enclosure, registered with the city, and the owner must carry liability insurance of at least $100,000. Dangerous dogs must be muzzled and on a leash when outside the enclosure. This behavior-based approach means no breed is banned, but individual dogs with aggressive histories face significant restrictions.