Dallas County imposes no pets-per-household cap. Each city sets its own limit. Dallas allows up to six dogs and cats combined per single-family residence; suburbs vary from three to eight, often with kennel-permit options for larger numbers.
Dallas County government has not adopted a countywide pet-limit ordinance. In unincorporated areas, residents may keep multiple pets so long as conditions remain humane under Texas Penal Code 42.092 cruelty law. Inside cities, limits vary widely. Dallas Code Chapter 7 caps single-family lots at six dogs and cats combined, with no more than four of any one species. Plano sets a four-dog cap. Garland allows three dogs and three cats. Several suburbs add kennel or breeder permits for owners exceeding the residential cap. Multifamily complexes typically cap pets through lease terms, separate from city code.
Where city caps apply, exceeding them draws municipal citations starting near one hundred dollars per offense. Repeated violations can trigger impound, kennel-permit demands, and code-enforcement abatement orders requiring rehoming of excess animals.
See how Garland's pet limits rules stack up against other locations.
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