Galveston County, TX Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- County cat leash law
- None in unincorporated area
- Restraint authority
- H&S 826.033 rabies control
- Rabies vaccination
- Required (H&S Ch. 826)
- League City registration
- Cats over 3 months tagged
- Stray handling
- Health District impoundment
Summary
The county has no cat leash or roaming ordinance in the unincorporated area, but state rabies law lets it require restraint and impound strays. Cities may require registration and address free-roaming cats.
The governing body of a municipality and the commissioners court of a county may adopt ordinances or rules... requiring that: each dog or cat be restrained by its owner; each stray dog or cat be declared a public nuisance; each unrestrained dog or cat be detained or impounded by the local rabies control authority.
Full Breakdown
Cats are largely unregulated in unincorporated Galveston County because the county cannot zone; there is no leash law for cats. What the county can do flows from rabies control: Health & Safety Code 826.033 lets the commissioners court require that each dog or cat be restrained, declare stray cats a public nuisance, and impound unrestrained cats through the local rabies control authority. All cats must also be vaccinated against rabies under Chapter 826. Inside cities the code adds detail: League City requires cats over three months old to be registered and tagged annually. Trap-neuter-return and feral-colony questions are handled through the Galveston County Health District and local rescues.
Violations & Fines
An unvaccinated or stray cat may be impounded by the rabies control authority; owners pay impound and boarding fees, and city registration lapses can draw a municipal citation (826.033).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cats have to be leashed in Galveston County?
Must my cat be vaccinated?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Galveston County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Galveston County to another location·View the Texas animal ordinances overview
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