Animal Ordinances in Fort Worth, TX (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Fort Worth, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Fort Worth Code Sec. 11A-22 allows fowl on residential property with caps tied to lot size: 12 fowl (max two roosters) on lots up to 1/2 acre, 25 fowl over 1/2 acre but under 1 acre, and 50 fowl on 1+ acre lots. Coops must be at least 50 feet from any neighbor's residence.
Fort Worth Backyard Chickens Ordinance
Light RestrictionsTex. Agric. Code Sec. 161.003
Sec. 161.003. DUTY OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. (a) The commissioners court of each county shall cooperate with and assist the commission in protecting livestock, domestic animals, and domestic fowl from communicable diseases, regardless of whether a particular disease exists in the county.(b) Each commissioners court may employ a veterinarian at the expense of the county. Any veterinari...
Dog Leash Laws
Fort Worth requires every dog and cat owner to keep the animal under restraint at all times, either on a leash or inside an adequate, code-compliant enclosure. Chaining a dog to a stake, tree or trolley line is banned outright. Violations are a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,000, charged separately for each dog involved.
Fort Worth Dog Restraint and Leash Law
Some RestrictionsFort Worth City Code § 6-13
(a) It shall be unlawful for an owner of an animal to fail or refuse: (1) To keep an animal under restraint; and (2) To exercise diligent care and control of his or her animal to prevent such animal from becoming a public nuisance. ... (d) It shall be unlawful for a person to use a chain, rope, tether, leash, cable or other device to attach a dog to a stationary object or trolley system. ... (h...
Breed Restrictions
Fort Worth does not restrict dogs by breed. Instead, City Code §§ 6-14.1 through 6-15.8 use behavior, not breed, to declare a dog 'aggressive' or 'dangerous' after an unprovoked bite or attack. A dangerous-dog owner must register the dog for $500 a year, carry $100,000 in liability coverage, muzzle it off-property, and post warning signs.
Fort Worth Dangerous and Aggressive Dog Rules
Significant RestrictionsFort Worth City Code § 6-15.4
(a) Immediately after a person learns that the person is the owner of a dangerous dog, and during any appeal of a dangerous dog determination, the person shall: (1) Restrain the dangerous dog at all times: a. On a leash in the immediate control of a person; or b. In a secure enclosure as defined in § 6-1; and (2) Secure the dangerous dog with a muzzle in a manner that will not cause injury to t...
Beekeeping
Fort Worth allows beekeeping on residential property under Chapter 6 of the Code. If hive entrances are perpendicular to and within 25 feet of a property line, the keeper must install a solid 6-foot-tall wall, fence, or hedge between the hives and the property line as a flyway barrier.
Fort Worth Beekeeping Rules
Light RestrictionsTex. Agriculture Code Sec. 131.001(2)-(5), (8-a)
Sec. 131.001. DEFINITIONS. In 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, possesses, controls, or manages one or more colonies of bees for any personal or commercial purpose. (4) "Bee" means any stage of the common honeybee, Apis mellifera species. (5) "Colony" means a distinguishable localized ...
Exotic Pets
Fort Worth Sec. 6-62 prohibits dangerous animals and TX HSC §822.102 Dangerous Wild Animals (lions, tigers, bears, primates, etc.). Exemptions for zoos, circuses, educational institutions, licensed labs, and wildlife rehabilitators. Miniature swine addressed separately.
Fort Worth Exotic Pet Regulations
Some RestrictionsTex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 822.103
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...
Pet Limits
Fort Worth Animal Care and Control investigates suspected hoarding under City Code Chapter 6 and Texas Penal Code 42.092. Officers may seize neglected animals, file misdemeanor or felony charges, and seek court-ordered relinquishment of all animals.
Animal Hoarding: Cruelty Investigation and Seizure
Light RestrictionsTex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 821.002
Sec. 821.002. TREATMENT OF IMPOUNDED ANIMALS. (a) A person who impounds or causes the impoundment of an animal under state law or municipal ordinance shall supply the animal with sufficient wholesome food and water during its confinement.(b) If an animal impounded under Subsection (a) continues to be without necessary food and water for more than 12 successive hours, any person may enter th...
Cat Rules
Fort Worth City Code Chapter 6 requires cats over four months old to be registered with Animal Care and Control and vaccinated against rabies. Owners must keep proof of current vaccination, and feral colony caretakers may participate in trap-neuter-return programs.
Cat Rules: Registration and Rabies Vaccination
Light RestrictionsTex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 826.001-.002
Sec. 826.001. SHORT TITLE. This chapter may be cited as the Rabies Control Act of 1981. Sec. 826.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:(1) "Animal" means a warm-blooded animal. ... (3) "Cat" means Felis catus. ... (5) "Department" means the Department of State Health Services.(6) "Dog" means Canis familiaris.(7) "Epizootic" means the occurrence in a given geographic area or population of c...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Fort Worth City Code Chapter 6 requires dogs and cats over six months old to be spayed or neutered unless the owner obtains an annual intact-animal permit from Animal Care and Control. The rule aims to reduce shelter intake and euthanasia citywide.
Mandatory Spay-Neuter: Intact Animal Permit Required
Light RestrictionsTex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 828.002-.003
Sec. 828.002. 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. Sec. 828.003. STERILIZATION AGREEMENT. (a) The sterilization agreement used by a releasing agency must contain:(1) the d...
Microchipping
Fort Worth requires every dog and cat to be implanted with a registered microchip before it turns four months old, unless the owner instead buys and displays a city dog/cat license. Owners must also keep the microchip's contact registration current, updating it within 30 days of any address, phone or ownership change.
Fort Worth Dog and Cat Microchipping Rule
Some RestrictionsFort Worth City Code §§ 6-17, 6-19
(a) The owner of any dog or cat must have the animal implanted with a registered microchip before the animal attains four months of age. (b) A dog or cat is exempt from this requirement if the dog or cat is licensed by the city. Such license shall require a fee as established by city council. A person who is the owner of a dog or a cat that is exempt from this requirement shall, at all times, d...
Pet Store Rules
Fort Worth City Code Chapter 6 regulates pet shops through licensing, sourcing disclosure, and humane handling standards. Unlike Dallas, Fort Worth has not adopted a strict shelter-only sourcing ban for retail dogs and cats as of 2026.
Pet Store Retail Sales Rules in Fort Worth
Light RestrictionsTex. Occ. Code Sec. 802.001-.002
Sec. 802.001. SHORT TITLE. This chapter may be cited as the Dog or Cat Breeders Act. Sec. 802.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:(1) "Adult animal" means an animal six months of age or older.(2) "Animal" means a dog or a cat. ... (8) "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 direc...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Fort Worth zoning splits veterinary clinics by district: in commercial zones under § 5.142 the whole operation, kennels included, must run inside a soundproofed, air-conditioned building with no animals ever kept outside; in industrial zones outdoor kennels are allowed but must sit at least 100 feet from any residential use.
Fort Worth Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsFort Worth Zoning Ordinance (Code Appendix A) § 5.142
(a) Commercial districts (indoor). Veterinary clinics, including dog and cat hospitals and associated indoor kennels, may be permitted in commercial districts, subject to the following conditions. (1) The entire business must be conducted wholly within a completely enclosed sound-proofed and air-conditioned building. (2) Noise and odors created by activities within the building shall not be per...
Looking for Tarrant County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Fort Worth city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Tarrant County →