Animal Ordinances in Garland, TX (2026)
13 verified animal ordinances for Garland, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Garland allows backyard chickens with setback and coop requirements under Chapter 6 of the City Code; roosters are prohibited in residential zones and the number of fowl is limited by lot size.
Garland Backyard Chickens & Poultry Rules
Light RestrictionsTexas Agriculture Code Sec. 161.041
DISEASE CONTROL. (a) The commission shall protect all livestock, exotic livestock, domestic fowl, and exotic fowl from diseases the commission determines require control or eradication. The commission shall adopt and periodically update rules listing the diseases that require control or eradication by the commission. ... (b) The commission may act to eradicate or control any disease or agent of...
Dog Leash Laws
Once a dog is legally determined dangerous, Texas law forces a leash on it: Health and Safety Code Section 822.042(a) gives the owner 30 days to register the dog with Animal Services, keep it "at all times on a leash in the immediate control of a person or in a secure enclosure," and carry at least $100,000 in liability coverage, or surrender the dog for destruction.
Garland Dangerous Dog Leash Restraint Rule
Heavy RestrictionsTexas Health and Safety Code Sec. 822.042(a)-(b)
(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 enclosure; (3) obtain liability insurance coverage or show financ...
Breed Restrictions
Garland does not ban specific dog breeds; instead, the city follows the Texas dangerous dog statute and enforces its own dangerous-dog registration, containment, and liability-insurance requirements.
Garland Dangerous Dog & Breed Rules
Few RestrictionsTexas 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.
Beekeeping
Beekeeping is permitted in Garland subject to setback, hive density, water source, and flyway barrier requirements; beekeepers must also register with the Texas Apiary Inspection Service.
Garland Beekeeping Ordinance
Some RestrictionsTexas Agriculture Code Sec. 131.045
Sec. 131.045. BEEKEEPER REGISTRATION. (a) Each beekeeper in this state may register on an annual basis with the chief apiary inspector. A registration under this section expires August 31 following the date the registration is issued. (b) A registration must include: (1) information required by the chief apiary inspector; and (2) the county or counties in which the beekeeper operates. (c) The i...
Exotic Pets
Garland prohibits keeping dangerous wild animals (big cats, bears, wolves, primates, venomous reptiles) in residential areas and enforces Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 822 Subchapter E registration requirements.
Garland Exotic & Dangerous Wild Animal Rules
Light RestrictionsTexas Health & Safety Code Sec. 822.101, 822.103
Sec. 822.101. DEFINITIONS. ... (4) "Dangerous wild animal" means: (A) a lion; (B) a tiger; (C) an ocelot; (D) a cougar; (E) a leopard; (F) a cheetah; (G) a jaguar; (H) a bobcat; (I) a lynx; (J) a serval; (K) a caracal; (L) a hyena; (M) a bear; (N) a coyote; (O) a jackal; (P) a baboon; (Q) a chimpanzee; (R) an orangutan; (S) a gorilla; or (T) any hybrid of an animal listed in this subdivision. ....
Pet Limits
Garland has no flat cap on pets. Instead, Section 22.21 lets the Supervisor of Animal Services impose a case-by-case ceiling once an owner has racked up more than two article violations in 12 months and the Supervisor traces those violations to keeping too many animals. Exceeding that individually-set number is then its own offense.
Garland Excessive Animal Number Limit
Significant RestrictionsGarland, TX Code of Ordinances § 22.21(A), (C)
(A) If an owner has violated any provision of this article more than two times in a twelve-month period, and if the Supervisor of Animal Services determines, based upon the following criteria, that those violations are a result of excessive animals, the owner shall reduce the maximum number of animals to the number prescribed by the Supervisor of Animal Services. A person commits an offense if ...
Cat Rules
Garland is the rare city that lets cats roam: Section 22.03(A) bars every animal from running at large except a cat, and a cat can only be impounded on a nuisance complaint under Section 22.08. Persistent laxness that lets a cat disturb a neighbor "of ordinary sensibilities" is still a citable offense.
Garland Cat At-Large Nuisance Rule
Light RestrictionsGarland, TX Code of Ordinances § 22.03(A)-(B); § 22.08(4)
(A) It shall be unlawful for any owner of an animal, other than a cat, to cause, permit, suffer or allow the animal to run at large. (B) The supervisor, any Animal Service Officer, or any police officer is authorized to and may impound an animal found running at large, other than a cat. The supervisor, an Animal Service Officer, or a police officer may impound a cat under the conditions specifi...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Garland bans keeping an unaltered cat or dog past six months old citywide. Section 22.19(A)(1) makes it "unlawful to keep, harbor, sell, transfer, convey or release" an unsterilized cat or dog over six months, but Subsection (B) carves out seven specific defenses, from retail pet stores to registered show animals to a documented medical exemption.
Garland Mandatory Spay Neuter Ordinance
Significant RestrictionsGarland, TX Code of Ordinances § 22.19(A)(1), (B)(3)
(A) It shall be unlawful to keep, harbor, sell, transfer, convey or release any of the following: (1) An unsterilized cat or dog over the age of six months, except as provided in this section... (B) It shall be an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section if the owner of an animal prohibited by subsection (A)(1) of this section establishes one of the following: ... (3) Medical fitne...
Microchipping
Garland does not chip every pet up front, but Animal Services makes a microchip mandatory at two checkpoints: every impounded dog or cat is chipped before release under Section 22.05(E), and any animal legally declared dangerous is chipped under Section 22.20(F). Owners can also request voluntary implantation any time for a fee.
Garland Mandatory Microchip on Impoundment
Some RestrictionsGarland, TX Code of Ordinances § 22.05(E); § 22.04(B)(1), (D)
§ 22.05(E) ... Prior to release, Animal Services shall implant impounded dogs and cats with a microchip identification device. The fee for this service shall be twenty dollars plus the cost of the microchip. ... § 22.04(B)(1) At the request of an owner, Animal Services shall implant an animal with a microchip identification device. The fee for this service shall be in the amount designated in t...
Pet Store Rules
Garland runs no puppy-mill ban and no adoption-only mandate on pet stores. Chapter 22, Article I of the City Code exempts anyone "involved in the retail sale of dogs or cats" from the entire animal ordinance, and a second provision separately confirms store stock is exempt from the citywide unsterilized-pet ban.
Garland Pet Store Retail Sale Exemption
Few RestrictionsGarland, TX Code of Ordinances § 22.00(A)(3); § 22.19(B)(1)
(A) This article's ordinances do not apply to and shall not be enforced against (1) an Agriculture Operation, as that term is amended and defined by the Texas Agriculture Code; (2) a person operating a business involving the breeding, care, treatment, or commercial sale of animals or animal products, including a veterinary practice, if the person operating the business holds a license for the b...
Pet Groomer Rules
No one may groom animals for business in Garland without an Animal Services permit: Section 22.22(A) bans engaging in "the business of selling, grooming, breeding, showing, exhibiting, boarding, or training animals without a valid permit," and any groomer that washes or bathes animals must also install a Supervisor-approved hair trap under Subsection (J).
Garland Animal Grooming Business Permit
Significant RestrictionsGarland, TX Code of Ordinances § 22.22(A), (H), (J)
(A) No person shall engage in the business of selling, grooming, breeding, showing, exhibiting, boarding, or training animals without a valid permit from Animal Services. ... (H) Licensed veterinarians and veterinary clinics are exempt from the provisions of this section except subsection (J). (J) Any business or veterinary clinic within which animals are washed or bathed shall comply with the ...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Garland's Development Code treats veterinary care as three separate zoning uses: Veterinary Clinic, Large Animal; Small Animal (Indoors); and Small Animal (Outdoor). Each is a distinct entry in the citywide Land Use Matrix under GDC § 2.50, so a clinic is allowed by right, allowed only with a Specific Use Provision, or barred outright depending on the district and which category the operation actually fits.
Garland Veterinary Clinic Zoning Categories
Some RestrictionsGarland Development Code § 6.03; § 2.50
VETERINARY CLINIC, LARGE ANIMAL: An establishment where a veterinarian maintains treatment facilities for the medical or surgical treatment of diseased or injured animals of all sizes (may include livestock), including boarding facilities. Some or all of the establishment's activities may occur outdoors (including overnight), in outdoor pens, runs, or corrals. VETERINARY CLINIC, SMALL ANIMAL (I...
Bird Protection
Garland protects birds two ways: a captive-keeping setback and a wild-catching ban. Pigeon coops must sit at least 30 feet from any neighbor's dwelling under Section 22.16, while Section 22.18(H) bars catching wild fowl off any City lake or pond without written Animal Services permission, unless the water is your own.
Garland Pigeon Coop and Waterfowl Rule
Light RestrictionsGarland, TX Code of Ordinances § 22.16; § 22.18(H)
§ 22.16. Pigeons. (A) Pigeons and similar birds (nonfowl) shall be kept in an enclosure that is located at least thirty (30) feet from any residential dwelling, other than that of the owner. (B) It shall be an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section if the birds are kept in a veterinary clinic, zoo, shelter, pet store, or educational institution. ... § 22.18(H) Capturing waterfowl...
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