Temple, TX Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- Dogs must be under restraint off-property
- Restraint means
- Enclosure or leash/lead + control
- On-property exception
- Direct supervision, obedient to commands
- Max fine
- Up to $2,000 per offense
- Repeat trigger
- At large 4+ times in one year
Summary
Temple requires every dog to be under restraint, enclosed, leashed, or under direct voice control, anywhere off the owner's property; running loose is a Code violation.
(a) All owners must keep their animals under restraint except as otherwise provided by this Section. (b) An animal not under restraint is at large, except if the animal is: (1) on the premises of its owner's property and is under the immediate personal supervision and the control of a responsible person and obedient to that person's commands... (c) It is unlawful for an animal to be at large.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Reformat).
Full Breakdown
City Code Chapter 6 makes it unlawful for any animal, including dogs, to be "at large." An animal is at large unless it's in a secure enclosure or under a responsible person's direct physical control on a leash, cord, or lead (or, on the owner's own property, under immediate supervision and obedient to commands). Animal Services and police can impound at-large dogs, and a dog at large more than four times in a year is classified a "repeatedly at large animal" with tighter release conditions.
Violations & Fines
Being at large is a Chapter 6 offense; Chapter 6 carries a fine up to $2,000 per offense, and each day of violation is a separate offense (Sec. 1-9). Repeatedly at-large dogs face added impoundment and release restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my dog be off-leash in my own yard?
Who can impound a loose dog in Temple?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Temple
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Temple to another location·View the Texas animal ordinances overview
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Dog Leash Laws in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Bell County handle dog leash laws.