Sugar Land, TX Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

City Code Sec. 3-16 makes it unlawful to possess or keep more than four dogs over four months of age, four cats over four months of age, a combination of four dogs and cats over four months of age, or four other household pets over four months of age at any one location, whether a single building, a residential dwelling, or one lot. A single litter under four months old from any dog, cat, or other household pet does not count toward the cap. The ordinance builds in three defenses to prosecution: animals kept by an animal rescue group or individual foster caretaker registered with the city, animals kept in a state- or federally-permitted kennel, veterinary facility, pet store, research facility, or other nonresidential land use permitted under the city's zoning regulations, and community cats kept by a registered community cat caretaker as part of a registered colony.

Enforcement runs through the city's animal services department, which investigates complaints and can require an owner to reduce the number of animals kept at a location to come into compliance. The section was last amended by Ordinance No. 2330 on May 7, 2024, which also renumbered several related sections in the chapter.