Animal Ordinances in Corpus Christi, TX (2026)

Tex. Agric. Code Sec. 142.003 (Estrays)

Sec. 142.003. DISCOVERY OF ESTRAY; NOTICE. (a) If an estray, without being herded with other livestock, roams about the property of a person without that person's permission or roams about public property, the owner of the private property or the custodian of the public property, as applicable, shall, as soon as reasonably possible, report the presence of the estray to the sheriff of the county...

Tex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 822.007

Sec. 822.007. LOCAL REGULATION OF DOGS. This subchapter does not prohibit a municipality or county from adopting leash or registration requirements applicable to dogs.

Tex. 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.

Corpus Christi Code of Ordinances Sec. 6-234

(a)It shall be unlawful to keep more than the following number of colonies on any tract within the city, based upon the size of configuration of the tract on which the apiary is situated:(1)One-quarter acre or less tract size—Two (2) colonies.(2)More than one-quarter acre but less than one-half acre tract size—Four (4) colonies.(3)More than one-half acre but less than one (1) acre tract size—Si...

Tex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 822.103 (Dangerous Wild Animals)

Sec. 822.103. CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION; FEES. (a) A person may not own, harbor, or have custody or control of a dangerous wild animal for any purpose unless the person holds a certificate of registration for that animal issued by an animal registration agency. (b) A certificate of registration issued under this subchapter is not transferrable and is valid for one year after its date of issua...

Corpus Christi Code of Ordinances Sec. 6-163

(a)A person commits an offense if the person intentionally feeds any animal or makes food available for animal consumption in a manner that:(1)Creates a danger to public health or safety, or(2)Destroys public or private property, or(3)Causes more than ten (10) adult animals to congregate.(b)A person shall be deemed to have fed an animal if the person places food in any form as defined in this s...

Tex. Penal Code Sec. 42.092(a)(7), (b)(3)-(5)

A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence: ... (3) fails unreasonably to provide necessary food, water, care, or shelter for an animal in the person's custody; (4) abandons unreasonably an animal in the person's custody; (5) transports or confines an animal in a cruel manner ... 'Necessary food, water, care, or shelter' includes ...

Tex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 826.021

VACCINATION OF DOGS AND CATS REQUIRED. (a) Except as otherwise provided by department rule, the owner of a dog or cat shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies by the time the animal is four months of age and at regular intervals thereafter as prescribed by department rule. (b) A veterinarian who vaccinates a dog or cat against rabies shall issue to the animal's owner a vaccination certif...

Tex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 828.002, 828.004(a)

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTION. Except as provided by Section 828.013, a releasing agency may not release a dog or cat for adoption unless the animal has been sterilized or the release is made to a new owner who signs an agreement to have the animal sterilized. ... a new owner who signs an agreement under Section 828.002 shall have the adopted animal sterilized on or before the sterilization complet...

Tex. Occ. Code Sec. 802.002(8), 802.003(b)

'Dog or cat breeder' means a person who possesses five or more adult intact female animals and is engaged in the business of breeding those animals for direct or indirect sale or for exchange in return for consideration. ... This chapter does not prevent a municipality or county from prohibiting or further regulating by order or ordinance the possession, breeding, or selling of dogs or cats.

Corpus Christi Code of Ordinances Sec. 6-1, 6-51

Grooming shop means a commercial enterprise where two (2) or more dogs or cats over four (4) months of age are groomed, upon agreement with the dog or cat owner, on a service-for-fee basis... Except for veterinarians and veterinary hospitals, all commercial animal establishments and owners and possessors of guard dogs are required to maintain a valid commercial permit... Failure to apply for a ...

Corpus Christi Unified Development Code § 4.3.2, Table 4.3.2

Table 4.3.2 Permitted Uses (Single-family districts) SINGLE-FAMILY DISTRICTS P = Permitted Use; SP = Special Permit; L = Subject to Limitations; [blank cell] = Not Permitted ... Commercial Uses Bed and breakfast home SP SP SP SP SP SP Farmers market L Veterinarian or animal hospital with outdoor runs P and kennels.

Tex. Parks & Wild. Code Sec. 64.002

PROTECTION OF NONGAME BIRDS. (a) Except as provided by this code, no person may: (1) catch, kill, injure, pursue, or possess, dead or alive, or purchase, sell, expose for sale, transport, ship, or receive or deliver for transportation, a bird that is not a game bird; (2) possess any part of the plumage, skin, or body of a bird that is not a game bird; or (3) disturb or destroy the eggs, nest, o...