Animal Ordinances in Carrollton, TX (2026)
13 verified animal ordinances for Carrollton, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Carrollton allows up to six chickens per lot with a DCO permit, no roosters, and a coop no bigger than 80 square feet or eight feet tall, set back 25 feet from a neighbor's dwelling and five feet from any property line. Livestock needs at least an acre.
Carrollton Backyard Chicken Permit and Coop Setback
Some RestrictionsCarrollton Code of Ordinances § 91.007(A)(4)
(4) Up to six chickens may be kept on any residential or non-residential lot within the city in compliance with the following conditions: (a) An annual permit to keep chickens has been approved by the DCO; (b) No roosters are kept on the property; (c) Chickens are provided a chicken coop and not allowed to fly or roam free on the property; (d) A chicken coop may not exceed 80 square feet or be ...
Dog Leash Laws
Carrollton makes it unlawful for any dog owner to let their animal run at large, defined in § 91.003 as not confined by a fence or leash strong enough to keep it on the owner's property. A third at-large conviction within 12 months lets the Designated City Official ask a Municipal Court judge to order the dog removed from the city entirely.
Carrollton Dog At-Large and Leash Law
Some RestrictionsCarrollton, TX Code of Ordinances §§ 91.003, 91.010
At-large.An animal that is not confined to the premises of its owner by a fence of sufficient strength and height to prevent the animal from escaping therefrom, inside a house or other enclosure, or secured on said premises by a leash of sufficient strength to prevent the animal from escaping from said premises, and so arranged that the animal will remain upon said premises when the leash is st...
Breed Restrictions
Carrollton has no breed-specific ban; instead it declares a dog "dangerous" by behavior. A dog that has bitten more than once, or caused serious bodily injury once, can be seized by the DCO and faces a Municipal Court hearing that may order euthanasia or release under strict conditions.
Carrollton Dangerous Dog Declaration and Release Rules
Significant RestrictionsCarrollton Code of Ordinances § 91.050
For the purpose of this chapter, "dangerous dog" shall mean: (A) Any dog that has attacked or bitten any person more than once; or (B) Any dog that has attacked or bitten one person causing "serious bodily injury" including multiple bite wounds or severe ripping and tearing of muscle that would cause a reasonably prudent person to seek treatment from a medical professional or would require hosp...
Beekeeping
Carrollton bans keeping bees or hives without an annual DCO permit, capping residential lots at three hives with setbacks, flight-path barriers, and biennial re-queening. Section 91.007(A)(6) lays out the full standards, replacing the thinner state-law citation with a detailed local permit scheme adopted November 2025.
Carrollton Backyard Beekeeping Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsCarrollton, TX Code of Ordinances § 91.007(A)(6)
(6) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or allow bees, their hives, or any abandoned hives within the city limits, except honeybees may be kept if all of the following conditions are met: (a) An annual permit to keep honeybees has been approved by the DCO; (b) All hives shall be located a minimum of 10 feet from any property line; (c) All hives shall be surrounded by barriers placed at ...
Exotic Pets
Carrollton's Code of Ordinances bans keeping any wild or vicious animal as a pet, for display, or for exhibition within city limits under § 91.055, readopted by Ordinance 4287 on November 18, 2025. The chapter's definitions section lists dozens of covered species, from big cats to venomous reptiles, with narrow exemptions only for zoos, circuses, and performing-animal exhibitions; violators face fines up to $2,000.00.
Carrollton Bans Keeping Wild Animals as Pets
Heavy RestrictionsCarrollton, TX Code of Ordinances § 91.055 (Ch. 91, Art. VII, Wild or Vicious Animals)
(A) No person shall keep or permit to be kept on their premises any wild or vicious animal for display or for exhibition purposes, whether gratuitously, or for a fee, or as a pet within the City limits. This section shall not be construed to apply to zoological parks, performing animal exhibitions, or circuses. (B) It shall be unlawful for anyone to allow any wild animal to be at-large outside ...
Wildlife Feeding
Carrollton bans feeding wild animals by any method except fowl, and separately makes it a public nuisance to feed birds or wildlife in a way that could attract rodents or vermin. Both bans sit in Chapter 91's animal code, enforced by the Designated City Official with fines of up to $2,000 per violation.
Carrollton Wildlife Feeding Ban
Heavy RestrictionsCarrollton, TX Code of Ordinances § 91.011(C)-(D)
(C) It shall be unlawful to feed any animal on any property other than the property of the owner of the animal. Animals must be fed from a container designed to prevent attracting rodents. (D) Except as provided in section 91.007(A)(4), it shall be unlawful to feed wild animals in any method, excluding fowl. ... Public nuisance ... Feeding: (a) Storing food in a manner that may attract rodents ...
Pet Limits
Carrollton limits most households to two dogs and two cats without a fenced backyard, three of each with one, and up to five of each on a fenced acre 200 feet from a neighbor's home. A separate five-animal cap covers other pets, and permits allow up to six chickens or three beehives per lot.
Carrollton Pet Limits Per Household
Some RestrictionsCarrollton, TX Code of Ordinances § 91.007(A)(1)-(3)
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep more than two cats or two dogs on any premises within the city which has no enclosed backyard fencing. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep more than three dogs and three cats on any premises within the city that has enclosed backyard fencing. (2) Up to five dogs and five cats may be kept on premises containing one acre of land, where the a...
Cat Rules
Every cat four months or older in Carrollton must be rabies-vaccinated and registered with the city within 30 days, wearing its registration tag whenever it is off the owner's property. The code has no separate feral-colony program; the DCO handles registration and enforcement.
Carrollton Cat Registration and Rabies Tag Rules
Some RestrictionsCarrollton Code of Ordinances § 91.021(A), (B), (E), (G)
(A) Any person owning a dog or cat that is four months old or older within City limits must have such dog or cat vaccinated for rabies. (B) Any person owning a dog or cat that is four months old or older within city limits must register such dog or cat with the city as herein provided. ... (E) Application for a registration shall be made within 30 days after obtaining a dog or cat over four mon...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Carrollton doesn't require sterilizing every owned pet, but any animal adopted from the city shelter over four months old must be spayed or neutered within 30 days, and animals impounded a third time in 12 months must be sterilized before release.
Carrollton Mandatory Spay/Neuter for Adopted Pets
Some RestrictionsCarrollton Code of Ordinances § 91.044(A)(4), (B)
(4) If the pet is over the age of four months, the person shall submit proof within 30 days from the adoption date that the pet is vaccinated for rabies and is spayed or neutered. (B) Animals under the age of four months shall be adopted only if the adopter signs a contract specifying the dates by which the animal shall be spayed or neutered and vaccinated for rabies. Failing to comply with the...
Microchipping
Carrollton does not mandate microchipping for all pets, but any animal impounded at the shelter must be microchipped before the DCO releases it back to its owner. Owners get 10 calendar days to provide proof if the chip cannot be implanted at pickup.
Carrollton Microchip Requirement to Reclaim a Pet
Some RestrictionsCarrollton Code of Ordinances § 91.042(B)(2)
(2) A microchip implant in the animal is required. (a) If the animal is not already identifiable by microchip, the owner shall pay a fee to have a microchip implanted into the animal prior to release. (b) If a microchip implant cannot occur prior to release, the owner shall have 10 calendar days to provide written proof of a microchip implantation of the animal.
Coyote Management
Carrollton's animal code makes it unlawful to feed wild animals, including coyotes, anywhere in the city, and separately bans keeping a coyote or other wild animal as a pet. The Department of Community Oversight (DCO) can impound or euthanize a wild animal found at large.
Carrollton Bans Feeding Wild Animals Like Coyotes
Significant RestrictionsCarrollton Code of Ordinances § 91.011(C)-(D)
(C) It shall be unlawful to feed any animal on any property other than the property of the owner of the animal. Animals must be fed from a container designed to prevent attracting rodents. (D) Except as provided in section 91.007(A)(4), it shall be unlawful to feed wild animals in any method, excluding fowl.
Pet Groomer Rules
Carrollton classifies any grooming business as a 'kennel' once it handles two or more animals over four months old, per § 91.003, and those businesses are exempt from the city's residential pet-count limits only if they sit on property zoned for that use and meet sanitation and secure-containment standards under § 91.007(A)(9).
Carrollton Pet Grooming and Kennel Rules
Significant RestrictionsCarrollton, TX Code of Ordinances §§ 91.003, 91.007(A)(9)
Kennel.Any premises in which two or more animals, four months of age or older, are kept and where the business of buying, selling, breeding, grooming, training or boarding of dogs, cats or other animals is conducted. The term "kennel" does not include veterinary hospitals. ... This subsection (A) shall not apply to governmental or educational facilities, commercial kennels, veterinary hospitals...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Veterinary hospitals in Carrollton are exempt from the city's residential pet-count caps only when located on property zoned for that purpose, per § 91.007(A)(9), and the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance separately classifies veterinary and kennel uses as requiring a Special Use Permit in single-family districts.
Carrollton Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsCarrollton, TX Code of Ordinances § 91.007(A)(9)
(9) This subsection (A) shall not apply to governmental or educational facilities, commercial kennels, veterinary hospitals, or animal establishments operated by a veterinarian, located on property zoned for such purpose. Such establishments, however, must meet sanitation requirements and keep animals securely contained.
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