Animal Ordinances in Burleson, TX (2026)
13 verified animal ordinances for Burleson, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In the City of Burleson, Texas, residents outside A-Agricultural zoning can keep no more than four fowl, limited to hens, in an adequate coop at least 25 feet from an occupied building and never in the front yard. Roosters, slaughter and egg sales for profit are prohibited.
Burleson TX Backyard Chickens: Four Hens Maximum
Some RestrictionsBurleson Code of Ordinances § 6-8
(d) Exceptions for keeping of certain fowl.For the purposes of this subsection, fowl shall be limited to female chickens, hens. This subsection does not apply if the land upon which the animals are maintained is zoned "A—agricultural." A person commits an offense if the person knowingly: (1) Keeps or maintains more than four fowl; (2) Keeps or maintains fowl in an adequate fowl shelter, includi...
Dog Leash Laws
In the City of Burleson, Texas, the owner of a dog commits an offense whenever the dog is at large, with no proof of intent required. Off the owner's premises a dog must be in a vehicle or restrained by a leash, chain, or similar apparatus, and on the premises it must be fenced or secured.
Burleson TX Dogs at Large and Leash Law
Some RestrictionsBurleson Code of Ordinances § 6-10
§ 6-10. Animals at large. ... (a) Generally.An owner of any animal commits an offense if the animal is at large. For purposes of this section, an offense occurs without regard to any culpable mental state of the owner and there shall be an irrebuttable presumption that any animal which is at large shall have become so by the permission of its owner or harborer. ... (c) Impoundment.The animal co...
Breed Restrictions
Section 6-13 of the Burleson Code, which governs the City of Burleson, Texas, turns on what an animal does, not what breed it is. After an attack or unprovoked act, the animal control authority can declare the animal dangerous, and the owner then has ten days from final notice to meet registration, restraint, insurance, and alteration duties.
Burleson Dangerous Animal Declaration and Owner Rules
Significant RestrictionsBurleson Code of Ordinances § 6-13
(a) Nuisance declared.It is hereby declared to be a public nuisance for an owner to keep a dangerous animal within the city limits unless the owner complies with the requirements of this section and with Chapter 822, Title 10, Health and Safety of Animals, of the Texas Health and Safety Code, as amended. ... (g) Requirements for owner of a dangerous animal. (1) Not later than ten days after the...
Beekeeping
In the City of Burleson, Texas, anyone keeping honey bees on their property must first obtain a permit from the animal control authority, renewed annually after inspection. In residentially zoned areas a lot of one-half acre or less is capped at two colonies, and hives near a property line need a six-foot flyaway barrier.
Burleson Beekeeping Permit and Colony Limits
Significant RestrictionsBurleson Code of Ordinances § 6-18
(b) Keeping of honey bees.Honey bees may be kept if all of the following conditions are met: (1) Beekeeping permit.Any person desiring to keep bees on their property must first obtain a permit from the animal control authority. ... a. In each instance in which a colony is situated within ten feet of a private or public property line, including schools, of the tract upon which the apiary is loca...
Exotic Pets
In the City of Burleson, Texas, keeping a dangerous wild animal is an offense, with affirmative defenses only for circuses, performing animal exhibitions, zoological parks and permitted wildlife rehabilitators. Swine are banned citywide, and hoofed animals of the order Ungulata need five acres of agriculturally zoned land.
Burleson TX Dangerous Wild Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsBurleson Code of Ordinances § 6-8
§ 6-8. Prohibited animals. ... (a) Dangerous wild animals.A person commits an offense if the person keeps a dangerous wild animal. It is an affirmative defense to prosecution for this violation that the dangerous wild animal is kept as part of a circus, performing animal exhibition, zoological park, or to individuals keeping wild animals as properly permitted wildlife rehabilitators, as require...
Pet Limits
No residence in the City of Burleson, Texas can harbor more than four adult dogs, four adult cats, or four adult dogs and cats in any combination, or more than one litter of puppies or kittens at a time. A multi-pet permit from the animal control authority, renewed yearly after inspection, is the only way past the cap.
Burleson TX Pet Limits: Four Adult Dogs or Cats
Some RestrictionsBurleson Code of Ordinances § 6-6
(a) [Number of dogs and cats.]Except as provided by this section, no residence within the city shall harbor more than four adult dogs, four adult cats, or four adult dogs and cats in any combination. No residence within the city shall harbor more than one litter of puppies or one litter of kittens at any given time. (b) Multi-pet permit.Any person desiring to keep more than four adult dogs and/...
Cat Rules
In the City of Burleson, Texas, a cat is at large the moment it is off its owner's premises without a crate, carrier, leash or other restraint, and any cat that intrudes onto another person's property is deemed at large. Chapter 6 also requires every dog and cat to be registered annually and to wear a city-issued tag.
Burleson TX Cat Rules: At Large and Registration
Some RestrictionsBurleson Code of Ordinances § 6-1
AT LARGE CAT Any cat which is off the premises of its owner and not secured within a vehicle and/or restrained by means of a crate, carrier, leash, or other physical apparatus to preclude the animal from making any unsolicited contact with any person, their clothing, their property, and/or their premises. Any cat intruding upon the property of any person other than the cat's owner shall be deem...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
In the City of Burleson, Texas, every dog and cat adopted through the city animal shelter must be sterilized, and the adopter does not own the animal until the surgery is done. The duty applies once the animal is eight weeks old or two pounds, and the animal control authority runs it under Code § 6-11.
Burleson Shelter Adoption Spay and Neuter Rule
Some RestrictionsBurleson Code of Ordinances § 6-11(d)(4)
b. All dogs and cats which are adopted through the city animal shelter shall be sterilized/altered to prevent reproduction in that animal provided the animal is eight weeks or older or two pounds or more in body weight. ... e. A person adopting an animal from the animal control authority does not have legal ownership of the animal until the animal is sterilized (spayed or neutered) and claimed ...
Microchipping
In the City of Burleson, Texas, every animal reclaimed from the shelter, except a dangerous wild animal, must be microchipped and registered with the microchip company at the owner's expense before leaving. Adopted dogs and cats are microchipped too, and a microchip extends the impound hold from three days to five.
Burleson TX Pet Microchip Requirements
Some RestrictionsBurleson Code of Ordinances § 6-11
(c) Impoundment period.An impounded animal, including those released from quarantine, shall be kept for three days excluding the date of impoundment, except that any animal wearing a current tag or microchip shall be kept for five days excluding the date of impoundment. ... (d) Redemption. ... (2) All animals reclaimed, except dangerous wild animals, shall be, at the owner's expense, microchipp...
Pet Store Rules
In the City of Burleson, Texas, pet shops must be located and operated under the city's zoning regulations and must care for animals under the Texas Health and Safety Code and Chapter 6. Section 6-7 contains no ban on selling dogs or cats, though kennels need an annual city permit.
Burleson TX Pet Shop and Kennel Rules
Light RestrictionsBurleson Code of Ordinances § 6-7
§ 6-7. Kennel/pet shop requirements. ... (a) Kennels and pet shops shall be located and operated in accordance with the city's zoning regulations. (b) Kennel permits.Kennels may only be operated within the city limits of Burleson if permitted by the city. ... (d) Kennels and pet shops must be operated and all animals must be cared for in accordance with the Texas Health and Safety Code and this...
Pet Groomer Rules
The City of Burleson, Texas, zoning ordinance has no separate use called pet groomer. Grooming appears inside the definition of Kennel (indoor), a facility for the boarding, grooming, and/or training of small domesticated household animals for commercial purposes, without outdoor runs. The C commercial district lists Kennel (indoor) as a specific use permit use, and the I industrial district lists it too.
Pet Grooming Business Zoning in Burleson
Some RestrictionsBurleson Code of Ordinances, App. B, § 50
KENNEL (INDOOR) A facility for the boarding, grooming, and/or training of small domesticated household animals for commercial purposes. Accessory uses would include indoor or outdoor areas for periodic activity. Outdoor runs are not included in this definition. KENNEL (OUTDOOR) A facility for the boarding, grooming, and/or training of small domesticated household animals for commercial purposes...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
The City of Burleson, Texas, zoning ordinance defines three veterinary uses: Veterinarian hospital, Veterinarian hospital with outside pens, and Veterinarian, office only. Among the base districts, hospitals and offices are primary uses in GR, CC, C and I, while a hospital with outside pens appears only in the I district as a primary use and in the A district under a specific use permit.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning in Burleson
Some RestrictionsBurleson Code of Ordinances, App. B, § 50
VETERINARIAN HOSPITAL The office and clinic of a doctor of veterinary medicine, not including outside treatment pens. VETERINARIAN HOSPITAL WITH OUTSIDE PENS The office and clinic of a doctor of veterinary medicine, including outside treatment pens. VETERINARIAN, OFFICE ONLY The offices of a doctor of veterinary medicine with limited on site treatment of small domestic animals.
Bird Protection
In the City of Burleson, Texas, § 58-13 bars anyone in a city park from capturing, hunting, molesting, injuring or trapping any bird, and from removing or possessing the young, eggs or inhabited nest of any bird, without a permit from the parks and recreation director. Killing a wild animal is allowed only to protect a person from imminent bodily injury or death.
Burleson Park Bird, Egg and Nest Protection
Some RestrictionsBurleson Code of Ordinances § 58-13
(a) Except as set out in subsections (b) and (c) below, no person, in any city park, shall do or cause to be done any of the following without obtaining a permit from the director in accordance with this article: (1) Capture, attempt to capture, hunt, molest, injure, trap or set out any trap or harmful substance for any wild or domestic animal, reptile, bird or fish. (2) Remove or have in posse...