San Antonio Municipal Code Chapter 5 regulates pet stores through licensing, sanitation, and consumer disclosures. Texas does not impose a statewide retail puppy or kitten sale ban, and San Antonio has not enacted a humane sourcing ordinance like Austin or El Paso.
Pet stores operating in San Antonio must hold a permit from Animal Care Services under SAMC Chapter 5, meet sanitation and housing standards, maintain veterinary care records, and post sourcing information for each puppy and kitten offered for sale. Texas has not preempted local humane sourcing rules, but San Antonio City Council has not adopted an ordinance restricting retail sales of dogs and cats to shelter or rescue sources, unlike Austin and several other Texas cities. Federal USDA-licensed breeders remain a permitted source. ACS inspects pet stores, investigates complaints, and can suspend or revoke permits. The state Health and Safety Code Chapter 802 also licenses dog and cat breeders selling more than 20 animals annually.
Operating without an ACS permit, violating sanitation standards, or misrepresenting an animal's source can lead to citations up to 500 dollars per violation, permit suspension, and seizure of mistreated animals under Chapter 5.
San Antonio, TX
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San Antonio, TX
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See how San Antonio's pet store rules rules stack up against other locations.
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