Irving, TX Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Sec. 6-1 of Irving's Code of Civil and Criminal Ordinances defines "at large" as any animal not confined by a physical enclosure of sufficient height, strength, and construction to keep it on the owner's premises, or not physically and continually restrained by a leash or chain of proper strength and length to prevent unsolicited contact with people, property, or other premises. Sec. 6-80(a) makes it an offense to own an animal and fail to prevent it from being at large, and a separate offense to fail to provide an enclosure or restraint system secure enough to prevent escape. Community and feral cats that are sterilized, vaccinated, and ear-notched, and dogs off-leash inside the city's designated dog park, are the only listed defenses to the at-large offense (Sec. 6-80(g)).

Once the animal services manager determines a dog is dangerous under Sec. 822.041, the clock starts on the state's Sec. 822.042 requirements: registration with animal services, restraint at all times on a leash or in a secure enclosure, at least $100,000 in liability coverage, and compliance with any applicable municipal rule, all within 30 days of the owner learning of the determination. Irving's own Sec. 6-53 layers stricter local terms onto that state floor: the leash cannot exceed six feet, the dog must wear a muzzle that will not injure it but prevents biting, the liability policy must reach $250,000, and the dog must wear a fluorescent yellow collar visible at 50 feet along with a posted "BEWARE OF DANGEROUS DOG" sign at every entrance to the property. Owners have a right to appeal a dangerous-dog determination to the municipal court within 15 days (Sec. 6-52).