Animal Ordinances in Edinburg, TX (2026)
9 verified animal ordinances for Edinburg, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Edinburg requires any chicken coop, fowl pen, or livestock enclosure to sit at least 300 feet from the nearest residential building, church, school, or store.
Edinburg Backyard Chicken & Livestock Setback Rule
Significant RestrictionsEdinburg City Code Sec. 91.04.01
It shall be unlawful for any person to raise, keep, pen, harbor, stake, picket, pasture or graze any livestock or domestic fowl, or the young of any livestock or domestic fowl, upon any premises within 300 feet from any residential building, or of any hotel, church, school or store, or any other building frequented, or human being habitats within the city. This section shall not apply to any pe...
Dog Leash Laws
Edinburg Code of Ordinances Chapter 91 (Animals) requires dogs in public to be under physical restraint by a leash held by a competent person; off-leash dogs at large are prohibited and can be impounded by Animal Care Services. Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 822 layers on dangerous-dog restraint duties enforced by Edinburg PD and Hidalgo County.
Edinburg Dog Leash Laws
Light RestrictionsTex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 822.042 (Requirements for Owner of Dangerous Dog - Leash and Secure Enclosure)
Sec. 822.042. REQUIREMENTS FOR OWNER OF DANGEROUS DOG. (a) Not later than the 30th day after a person learns that the person is the owner of a dangerous dog, the person shall:(1) register the dangerous dog with the animal control authority for the area in which the dog is kept;(2) restrain the dangerous dog at all times on a leash in the immediate control of a person or in a secure enclosu...
Breed Restrictions
Edinburg does not ban or restrict any dog breed; dangerous dog status is decided by behavior under adopted state law, not breed.
Edinburg Has No Breed-Specific Dog Ban
Few RestrictionsSec. 91.09.01
The definitions and the provisions contained in V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code ch. 822, Subchapter A: General Provisions; Dogs That Attack Persons Or Are A Danger To Persons and Subchapter D: Dangerous Dogs, are hereby adopted as if set out fully herein. For the purposes of this chapter, reference is here made to V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code § 822.041(2) which defines dangerous dog and V....
Beekeeping
Beekeeping in Edinburg is regulated locally under Chapter 91. Texas Apiary Inspection Service (TAIS) governs commercial operations. No state registration required for hobby beekeepers.
Edinburg Beekeeping & Apiary Regulations
Light RestrictionsTex. Agriculture Code Sec. 131.001 (Beekeeping - Definitions)
Sec. 131.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:(1) "Abandoned apiary, equipment, or bees" means an apiary, equipment, or a colony of bees that is not regularly maintained or attended in accordance with this chapter or rules or quarantines adopted under this chapter.(2) "Apiary" means a place where colonies of bees or nuclei of bees are kept.(3) "Beekeeper" means a person who owns, leases, poss...
Exotic Pets
Exotic pets in Texas require TPWD permits for many species. Edinburg Code Chapter 91 may add additional local restrictions on dangerous or exotic animals.
Edinburg Exotic Pet & Wild Animal Regulations
Light RestrictionsTex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 822.101 (Dangerous Wild Animals - Definitions)
Sec. 822.101. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:(1) "Animal registration agency" means the municipal or county animal control office with authority over the area where a dangerous wild animal is kept or a county sheriff in an area that does not have an animal control office.(2) Repealed by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1, Sec. 3.1639(119), eff. April 2, 2015.(3) "Commercial activity" means...
Wildlife Feeding
Edinburg requires caretakers who feed and care for free-roaming feral cat colonies of more than eight cats to register with Animal Care Services and hold an annual permit, tying legal feeding to a TNR management plan.
Edinburg Feral Cat Colony Feeding & Permit Rule
Some RestrictionsSec. 91.02.13
Each cat colony will be registered by the caretakers with the department or its designee... Cat colonies with eight or fewer cats are not required to be registered as a cat colony. ... Caretakers of feral cat colonies shall obtain a cat colony permit which shall be valid for one year, and shall implement proper management and sterilization practices as required by the department.
Pet Limits
Edinburg treats keeping more animals than the code allows as a public nuisance, exposing an owner to impoundment, a municipal court citation, and a fine up to $2,000.
Edinburg Excessive-Animals Nuisance Rules
Some RestrictionsSec. 91.10.11(A)(5)
The owner or keeper shall not keep more than the number of animals allowed under this chapter;
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Edinburg doesn't force every pet to be fixed, but shelter adoptions must be spayed or neutered within 30 days, and owners who keep an intact dog or cat pay a separate $50 annual license on top of a higher registration fee.
Edinburg Spay/Neuter & Intact Pet License Rules
Some RestrictionsSec. 91.10.08(D)
All animals adopted from the animal care facility shall be spayed or neutered within 30 days unless this procedure has already been accomplished. ... A deposit will be collected for each pet adopted that has not yet been spayed or neutered. This deposit will be returned upon application and presentment of a valid spay/neuter certificate.
Pet Store Rules
Edinburg does not ban pet stores from selling dogs and cats: it requires a $250/year Chief of Police license plus welfare, health, and sales-disclosure standards.
Edinburg Pet Shop License & Sale Rules
Some RestrictionsEdinburg, TX Code of Ordinances Sec. 91.02.10
No person shall operate any pet shop as defined in this chapter, without first obtaining a license from the Chief of Police... Not offer any puppy or kitten under the age of eight weeks for sale, trade or other compensation or for free giveaway...
Looking for Hidalgo County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Edinburg city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Hidalgo County →