Pasadena, TX Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Household Limit
- Typically 4 dogs/4 cats (Ch. 6)
- State Law
- TX Penal Code §42.092
- Felony Threshold
- Torture or serious harm
- Animal Services
- (713) 475-7725
- Code Enforcement
- (713) 475-5564
Summary
Animal hoarding in Pasadena, TX is addressed through city animal-limit provisions enforced by Pasadena Animal Control, with serious cases prosecuted under Texas Penal Code §42.092 (cruelty to non-livestock animals) as a state jail felony.
Sec. 821.022. SEIZURE OF CRUELLY TREATED ANIMAL. (a) If a peace officer or an officer who has responsibility for animal control in a county or municipality has reason to believe that an animal has been or is being cruelly treated, the officer may apply to a justice court or magistrate in the county or to a municipal court in the municipality in which the animal is located for a warrant to seize the animal. (b) On a showing of probable cause to believe that the animal has been or is being cruelly treated, the court or magistrate shall issue the warrant and set a time within 10 calendar days of the date of issuance for a hearing in the appropriate justice court or municipal court to determine whether the animal has been cruelly treated.
Full Breakdown
The City of Pasadena Code of Ordinances Chapter 6 (Animals) sets household animal limits, typically no more than four dogs and four cats over four months of age per residential lot without a kennel permit, as the primary tool for identifying hoarding situations. Pasadena Animal Services (a division of Pasadena Police Department) investigates complaints under authority of Chapter 6 and the Texas Health & Safety Code §823 (animal shelter standards). 09 covers cruelty to livestock. 092(c) carries 180 days to 2 years confinement and fines up to $10,000.
Harris County District Attorney's Animal Cruelty Section coordinates on felony prosecutions. 022 following a hearing before a justice of the peace. Texas adopted HB 598 (2021) which prohibits unlawful restraint of dogs. Pasadena's proximity to dense residential neighborhoods south of the Houston Ship Channel means complaints often cite both animal welfare and public-health nuisance concerns (odor, flies, vermin) under City Code Chapter 19 (Health and Sanitation).
Violations & Fines
City Code Chapter 6 animal-limit violations: municipal-court fines up to $500 per Class C offense, each day a separate violation. Texas Penal Code §42.092: Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year jail, $4,000 fine) for negligent failure to provide care; state jail felony (180 days-2 years, $10,000 fine) for torture or serious bodily harm; third-degree felony on second offense. Civil seizure under §821.022 transfers ownership to the municipality and bars future animal ownership for up to 5 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pets can I have in Pasadena?
How do I report suspected animal hoarding?
What penalties apply to hoarding?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pasadena
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Pasadena to another location·View the Texas animal ordinances overview
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Harris County handle pet limits.