New Braunfels, TX Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Household limit
- 4 dogs, cats, or rabbits
- Age counted
- over 3 months old
- Exemption
- registered TNR feral cat colonies
- Minimum fine
- $30 per animal over limit
- Citation
- Code of Ordinances § 6-77(a)
Summary
New Braunfels caps most households at four dogs, cats, or rabbits over three months old per address, with an exception for feral cats kept in an approved trap-neuter-return colony.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, or harbor more than four dogs, cats, or rabbits over three months of age at any one address or location within the city limits. It shall be an affirmative defense to prosecution under subsection 6-77(a), that the cats are feral cats in a sponsor approved trap, neuter, and return feral cat colony program.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 36).
Full Breakdown
City code makes it unlawful to own, keep, or harbor more than four dogs, cats, or rabbits over three months of age at any one address in New Braunfels, combining all three species toward the same four-animal ceiling. Puppies, kittens, and young rabbits three months old or younger don't count toward the cap. Cat owners get one carve-out: feral cats housed in a sponsor-approved trap, neuter, and return colony are an affirmative defense to prosecution. Households that exceeded the limit before their property was annexed into the city are also grandfathered under a separate defense.
Violations & Fines
Keeping more than four qualifying dogs, cats, or rabbits draws a minimum $30 fine per animal over the limit, plus the chapter's general misdemeanor penalty of $25 to $2,000 per day the violation continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do puppies and kittens count toward the four-pet limit?
Can I keep more than four cats if I run a feral colony?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Braunfels
Texas rules heatmap·Compare New Braunfels to another location·View the Texas animal ordinances overview
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