Austin City Code Section 3-2-7 limits households to three dogs and three cats over four months old without an animal-establishment permit. Larger numbers require a kennel, foster, or rescue authorization with inspection, zoning compliance, and welfare standards.
Austin Code Section 3-2-7 caps the number of pets per residence to discourage hoarding and protect neighborhood quality of life. A household may keep up to three dogs and three cats over four months of age without additional approval. Households exceeding the cap must obtain an animal-establishment permit treating the property as a kennel, foster, or rescue facility, which carries inspection, zoning, and welfare-standard duties. Foster volunteers working with Austin Animal Center or recognized rescue partners are typically credited under the partner organization's umbrella permit and exempt from the household cap while animals remain in foster status. The rule does not apply to litters under four months of age born in the home.
Exceeding the household pet cap without an establishment permit violates Section 3-2-7 and is a Class C misdemeanor with fines up to five hundred dollars per animal. Hoarding conditions may trigger seizure under TX H&S Chapter 821.
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