Animal Ordinances in Irving, TX: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Irving or are thinking about moving there, animal ordinances are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Irving has 9 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of animal ordinances, and some of them might surprise you.

Chickens & Livestock

Irving regulates livestock by zoning district. Most residential districts prohibit large livestock. Properties in qualifying zoning districts must comply with animal density and lot size requirements.

Key details: Residential Zones: Most prohibit large livestock. Qualifying Zones: Larger-lot and agricultural districts. Containment: Must stay on owner's property. Sanitation: Enclosures must be maintained. Check Zoning: Planning Dept. (972) 721-2424.

Keeping livestock in prohibited zones is a code violation. Nuisance fines up to $2,000 per day for unsanitary conditions.

Cat Rules

Irving treats a cat running loose the same as any other animal at large: the owner is on the hook under Sec. 6-80(a) for failing to prevent it or to secure it, unless the cat is part of a recognized colony. Sec. 6-80(g)(1) carves out a specific defense for feral and community cats that have been sterilized, rabies-vaccinated, and ear-notched, letting supervised colonies avoid citation.

Key details: At-large offense: Owner liable if cat escapes or roams loose. TNR defense: Sterilized, vaccinated, ear-notched colony cats exempt. No cat license: Irving runs no separate cat-licensing program. Microchip mandate applies: Cats over 4 months need a registered microchip. Waste duty: Owners must remove cat feces from public/private property.

Owning a cat that gets loose, or failing to keep it securely enclosed, is a criminal offense under Sec. 6-80(a) enforced by animal services and charged in Irving Municipal Court. A colony caretaker who can't show sterilization, current rabies vaccination, and an ear notch loses the Sec. 6-80(g)(1) defense and faces the same at-large citation as any other owner. Loose cats can also be impounded under the city's general impoundment authority in Article III of Chapter 6.

Mandatory Spay/Neuter

Irving doesn't require every pet to be spayed or neutered, but two triggers make it mandatory. Sec. 6-34 forces sterilization within 30 days on any dog or cat that bites a person, animal, or livestock while at large, and Sec. 6-22(a)(3) adds a second trigger: any dog, cat, or rabbit impounded more than once in a 12-month span must be sterilized before release.

Key details: Bite trigger: Sterilize within 30 days after a bite while at large. Repeat-impound trigger: Required after 2nd impoundment in 12 months. Age exception: Animals under 6 months old are exempt. Medical exception: Vet-certified unsuitable or infertile pets are exempt. Proof required: Sterilization certificate from a licensed veterinarian.

Missing the 30-day sterilization deadline after a bite is a standalone offense under Sec. 6-34(c), charged separately from any bite-related citation. Animal services can withhold release of an impounded dog, cat, or rabbit that has been picked up more than once in 12 months until the owner produces a veterinarian's sterilization certificate, or sterilize a quarantined animal itself and bill the owner, under Sec. 6-34(b) and Sec. 6-22(a)(3).

Microchipping

Irving requires every dog and cat over four months old to carry a microchip registered with a microchip company, not just a collar tag. Sec. 6-15 of the Code of Civil and Criminal Ordinances makes it an offense to keep an unchipped pet, misuse another animal's chip number, or let a dog or cat go outdoors without an ID tag bearing the owner's name and current phone number.

Key details: Microchip age threshold: Required once a dog or cat is over 4 months old. Registry update window: 30 days to update chip registration after a sale. ID tag rule: Tag with name and phone number required outdoors. Medical exemption: Vet-certified pets get a tattoo instead. Visitor exemption: Non-residents keeping a pet under 30 days exempt.

Failing to microchip a covered dog or cat, letting registration lapse after a change of ownership, or sending a pet outdoors without a legible ID tag is each a separate criminal offense under Sec. 6-15, charged in Irving Municipal Court. Reusing another animal's registered chip number under Sec. 6-15(b) is likewise a standalone offense. Animal services can microchip an unchipped animal at intake and bill the owner for the procedure (Sec. 6-20(c)).

Pet Limits

Irving caps a single residence at eight companion animals four months or older, counting dogs and cats together. A household may also keep no more than two litters of offspring at the same time. Irving Animal Services enforces the limit under Chapter 6.

Key details: Household cap: 8 companion animals. Age counted: 4 months and older. Litter limit: 2 litters maximum. Governing section: Code § 6-92. Enforcement: Irving Animal Services.

Owning more than eight companion animals four months or older, or keeping more than two litters, at one residence is a separate offense enforced by Irving Animal Services through municipal court.

Irving is more permissive than most cities when it comes to pet limits. That said, there are still limits.

Exotic Pets

Irving Ch. 6 regulates the keeping of wild and exotic animals. Texas Parks and Wildlife regulates possession of dangerous wild animals under Health & Safety Code Ch. 822, Subchapter E.

Key details: Dangerous Wild Animals: Registration required. State Law: TX Health & Safety Code Ch. 822, Subchapter E. Escaped Animals: May be seized. Federal Permits: May be required for some species. Contact: Animal Services (972) 721-2256.

Unlawful possession of dangerous wild animals is a Class C misdemeanor. Animals may be seized.

Veterinary Clinic Zoning

Irving's Unified Development Code treats veterinary clinics and animal hospitals as their own zoning use, not as ordinary professional offices. Section 2.5.4(a)(7) expressly excludes 'animal grooming salons, dog kennels, funeral homes, veterinarian and veterinary hospitals' from the Professional Office district's use list, and the Non-Residential Land Use Table permits enclosed veterinary clinics by right only in Neighborhood and Community Commercial zoning, with outside runs or boarding requiring a Conditional Use Permit.

Key details: Excluded from: Professional Office use, § 2.5.4(a)(7). By-right districts: C-N and C-C (enclosed clinics only). Outdoor kennels/runs: Requires Conditional Use Permit. Governing table: UDC § 2.5.2, Non-Residential Land Use Table. Maximum fine: $2,000 per offense (§ 1-6).

Operating a veterinary clinic in a district where the Non-Residential Land Use Table does not list it as permitted, or adding outside runs or boarding kennels without first obtaining a Conditional Use Permit, is a zoning violation. Irving prosecutes it under the Code of Civil and Criminal Ordinances general penalty, section 1-6: a fine up to $2,000 per offense for violations governing zoning, with each day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense.

Beekeeping

Texas Property Code § 202.007 prohibits HOAs from banning beekeeping that complies with TX Apiary Inspection Act. Irving allows beekeeping subject to nuisance provisions in Ch. 6.

Key details: Permitted: Yes, subject to state apiary law. HOA Protection: TX Property Code § 202.007 (1/4 acre min). State Registration: Required with TX Apiary Inspection Service. City Permit: None required beyond state compliance. Nuisance: Must not create public nuisance.

Bee colonies creating a nuisance may be cited under Ch. 6. State apiary violations enforced by TX Dept. of Agriculture.

Irving is more permissive than most cities when it comes to beekeeping. That said, there are still limits.

Dog Leash Laws

Irving dog owners must keep animals from running at large under Sec. 6-80(a): confined or restrained on a leash strong enough to prevent unwanted contact, per the Sec. 6-1 definition. Once animal services declares a dog dangerous, Texas Health and Safety Code Sec. 822.042 gives the owner 30 days to register it, leash or enclose it, and carry $100,000 in liability coverage; Irving's ordinance raises that floor to a 6-foot leash and $250,000 in insurance.

Key details: General leash duty: Confine or leash animals to prevent running at large. Dangerous-dog window: 30 days to register, leash, and insure the dog. State insurance floor: $100,000 minimum liability coverage under state law. Irving's leash cap: 6-foot maximum leash for declared dangerous dogs. Irving's insurance floor: $250,000 liability coverage required locally.

Missing the 30-day deadline lets any person apply to a justice, county, or municipal court for a seizure warrant (Sec. 822.042(c)); animal services must then impound the dog at the owner's expense. The court must order the dog humanely destroyed if the owner still has not complied by the 11th day after seizure, though any destruction order is automatically stayed 10 days to allow an appeal under Sec. 822.0424. The owner also pays every seizure, impoundment, and destruction cost the city assesses (Sec. 822.042(d)).

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Irving actively enforces its dog leash laws requirements.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Irving gives residents more room on animal ordinances. 2 of the 9 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

These rules come from Irving's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.