Pharr, TX Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)
Key Facts
- Feeding on city property
- Unlawful if regular/routine
- Wild animals in city limits
- Prohibited outright
- Exception
- Permitted special events only
- Enforcing agency
- Animal control officer
Summary
Pharr makes it unlawful to regularly feed or sustain animals on city property or right-of-way, and bans undomesticated wild animals within city limits outright.
(a) It is unlawful for any unauthorized person to regularly or routinely harbor, feed, care for or provide any form of sustenance to an animal on city property or right-of-way.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to raise, keep, pen or harbor any domestic fowl, livestock, or feral animal, or other endangered species upon any premises of less than one acre (43,460 square feet) and within 200 feet from any residence or residential building, hotel, motel, church, public or private school, boarding house, duplex, apartment house, cafe or restaurant of any type, or place of business or other entity manufacturing, distributing, or selling at retail or wholesale food products of any type.
(c) City prohibits any and all undomesticated wild animals in its limits; or otherwise as stated in section 18-35 of this article.
(d) Unless entry is necessary for the enforcement of the provisions of this article, city personnel will not be responsible for entrance upon private property for the removal or care of any animal, fowl, reptile, or insect including but not limited to bees.
(Ord. No. O-2015-23, § 4, 4-21-15; Ord. No. O-2017-12, § 4, 4-3-17; Ord. No. O-2019-34,
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 44).
Full Breakdown
City Code Section 18-34 prohibits any unauthorized person from regularly or routinely harboring, feeding, caring for, or providing sustenance to an animal on city property or right-of-way. The same section separately bans keeping any undomesticated wild animal within Pharr city limits, except as permitted under the section 18-35 special-event animal permit (circus, petting zoo, temporary zoo, etc.). Animal control enforces both provisions under Chapter 18.
Violations & Fines
Violating the feeding or wild-animal prohibition is a Chapter 18 offense; the animal control officer or designee may cite the responsible person and remove or impound the animal involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I feed stray cats on a city sidewalk in Pharr?
Can Pharr residents keep a wild animal as a pet?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pharr
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Pharr to another location·View the Texas animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Wildlife Feeding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Hidalgo County handle wildlife feeding.