Animal Ordinances in Abilene, TX (2026)
6 verified animal ordinances for Abilene, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Abilene may allow backyard chickens with limits. Roosters typically banned in residential areas. Livestock requires agricultural zoning or minimum lot size.
Abilene Chickens & Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsTex. Agric. Code Sec. 161.001
Sec. 161.001. DEFINITIONS. (a) In this chapter: (1) "Animal" includes livestock, exotic livestock, domestic fowl, and exotic fowl. (2) "Commission" means the Texas Animal Health Commission. ... (4) "Exotic livestock" means grass-eating or plant-eating, single-hooved or cloven-hooved mammals that are not indigenous to this state and are known as ungulates, including animals from the swine, horse...
Dog Leash Laws
Abilene requires dogs on leash in public. Off-leash in designated parks only. License and rabies vaccination required. TX HSC §822.013 covers dogs at large.
Abilene Dog Leash Laws
Some RestrictionsTex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 822.012
Sec. 822.012. CERTAIN DOGS AND COYOTES PROHIBITED FROM RUNNING AT LARGE; CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) The owner, keeper, or person in control of a dog or coyote that the owner, keeper, or person knows is accustomed to run, worry, or kill livestock, domestic animals, or fowls may not permit the dog or coyote to run at large. (b) A person who violates this section commits an offense. An offense under th...
Breed Restrictions
Texas does not ban specific dog breeds. Lillian’s Law (HSC Ch. 822) is behavior-based. Dangerous dog designations based on individual dog’s actions.
Abilene Dog Breed Restrictions
Few RestrictionsTex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 822.047
Sec. 822.047. LOCAL REGULATION OF DANGEROUS DOGS. A county or municipality may place additional requirements or restrictions on dangerous dogs if the requirements or restrictions: (1) are not specific to one breed or several breeds of dogs; and (2) are more stringent than restrictions provided by this subchapter.
Beekeeping
Abilene may allow residential beekeeping with hive limits and setbacks. Africanized bee concerns in Texas. Regulations vary by city.
Abilene Beekeeping Rules
Some RestrictionsTex. Agric. Code Sec. 131.045
Sec. 131.045. BEEKEEPER REGISTRATION. (a) Each beekeeper in this state may register on an annual basis with the chief apiary inspector. A registration under this section expires August 31 following the date the registration is issued. (b) A registration must include: (1) information required by the chief apiary inspector; and (2) the county or counties in which the beekeeper operates. (c) The i...
Exotic Pets
Abilene restricts ownership of exotic and wild animals. Many species require special permits or are prohibited entirely for public safety.
Abilene Exotic & Wild Animal Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsTex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 822.101
Sec. 822.101. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: ... (4) "Dangerous wild animal" means: (A) a lion; (B) a tiger; (C) an ocelot; (D) a cougar; (E) a leopard; (F) a cheetah; (G) a jaguar; (H) a bobcat; (I) a lynx; (J) a serval; (K) a caracal; (L) a hyena; (M) a bear; (N) a coyote; (O) a jackal; (P) a baboon; (Q) a chimpanzee; (R) an orangutan; (S) a gorilla; or (T) any hybrid of an animal listed in...
Wildlife Feeding
Abilene restricts or prohibits intentional feeding of wildlife including deer, coyotes, and bears. Feeding wildlife creates public safety hazards and nuisance conditions.
Abilene Wildlife Feeding Restrictions
Some RestrictionsLooking for Taylor County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Abilene city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Taylor County →