Animal Ordinances in Grand Prairie, TX (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for Grand Prairie, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Grand Prairie Sec. 5-26(a) requires livestock kept at least 100 feet from residences and businesses (other than owner's) with minimum 5,000 sq ft per animal. Swine prohibited except 2 potbellied pigs. Daily manure removal required per Sec. 5-29.
Grand Prairie Livestock Regulations
Light RestrictionsTex. Agriculture Code Sec. 142.001, 142.003 (Estrays)
Sec. 142.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:(1) "Estray" means stray livestock, stray exotic livestock, stray bison, or stray exotic fowl. ... 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 c...
Dog Leash Laws
Grand Prairie requires dogs to be on a leash or confined at all times when off the owner's property. Dogs running at large may be impounded by Animal Services. All dogs must be registered and vaccinated against rabies.
Grand Prairie Dog Leash Laws
Light RestrictionsTex. Health and Safety Code Sec. 822.042 (Requirements for Owner of Dangerous Dog)
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
Grand Prairie's animal services manager can declare any dog dangerous after an attack and order it excluded from the city or humanely destroyed under Code of Ordinances Sec. 5-17. Owners get fifteen days to appeal to Grand Prairie Municipal Court, but the dog must be surrendered to Animal Services pending that appeal, then microchipped for life if the declaration stands.
Grand Prairie Dangerous Dog Rules
Heavy RestrictionsGrand Prairie Code of Ordinances § 5-17
(d)Determination. If the animal services manager determines that the dog is dangerous, he/she shall make a disposition determination based on the necessity to preserve the public health, safety, and welfare of the community. This determination shall be one (1) of the following:(1)Exclusion of the dangerous dog from the city; or(2)Humane destruction of the dangerous dog...(4)Appeal.a.A victim, n...
Beekeeping
Grand Prairie's entire local beekeeping rule is one setback: Code of Ordinances Sec. 5-32 makes it unlawful to keep a honey bee hive closer than one hundred feet to the nearest private residence. The city imposes no separate hive permit, colony cap, or registration; violations fall under the general Chapter 5 animal services penalty and inspection framework.
Grand Prairie Beehive Setback Rule
Light RestrictionsGrand Prairie Code of Ordinances § 5-32
Sec. 5-32. - Keeping of bees. It shall be unlawful to keep or harbor on the owner's premises any hive of honey bees which is located closer than one hundred (100) feet from the nearest private residence.
Exotic Pets
Grand Prairie makes it unlawful to keep any wild animal within the city limits under Code of Ordinances Sec. 5-31, with only two narrow carve-outs: registered dangerous-wild-animal facilities exempt under state law, and non-human primates owned in a commercially zoned area since before September 11, 1982. Everyone else is barred outright, backed by the animal services manager's search-warrant and right-of-entry powers.
Grand Prairie Wild Animal Keeping Ban
Heavy RestrictionsGrand Prairie Code of Ordinances § 5-31
(a)It shall be unlawful to keep any wild animals within the corporate city limits of Grand Prairie, except as set out in subsection (b) herein.(b)Exceptions:(1)A wild animal may be kept in a facility at which the State of Texas has declared that the prohibition against unregistered dangerous wild animals does not apply, in Chapter 822, specifically V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code § 822.102, or...
Cat Rules
Grand Prairie only bans a cat from roaming at large if it is unvaccinated or unsterilized, under Code of Ordinances Sec. 5-12(b). A loose cat that is current on rabies shots and fixed doesn't violate this section. Verified community cat caretakers working with Animal Services and a nonprofit under the city's community cat policy get a built-in legal defense.
Grand Prairie Cat At-Large Rules
Some RestrictionsGrand Prairie Code of Ordinances §§ 5-12(b), 5-61(d)
Sec. 5-12. - Running at large and strays prohibited.(a)It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog to permit or allow such animal to run at large within the corporate limits of the city.(b)It shall be unlawful for the owner of any unvaccinated or unsterilized cat to allow or permit such animal to run at large within the corporate limits of the city. ... Sec. 5-61(d) A citizen working with the...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Grand Prairie requires an animal health care provider to sterilize any dog impounded three times, or whose owner is convicted of three running-at-large violations or has the dog confined for a bite three times, within any twelve-month period under Code of Ordinances Sec. 5-21. The owner has thirty days from the triggering event to file written proof with Animal Services.
Grand Prairie Mandatory Dog Sterilization
Some RestrictionsGrand Prairie Code of Ordinances § 5-21
(a)If, within any twelve-month period, a dog is impounded three (3) times under this chapter, then the dog must be sterilized by an animal health care provider. The owner of the dog must provide to the animal services manager written proof of sterilization from an animal health care provider not later than thirty (30) days after the date on which the dog is released from the third impoundment. ...
Microchipping
Grand Prairie requires every dog and cat in the city to carry an implanted microchip under Code of Ordinances Sec. 5-11. Going without one is a criminal offense, though puppies and kittens under four months, new residents, and recent adopters get temporary exemptions. Animal Services provides free chipping to verified residents who don't breed or sell animals commercially.
Grand Prairie Dog & Cat Microchipping Law
Significant RestrictionsGrand Prairie Code of Ordinances § 5-11
(a)An owner of a dog or cat commits an offense if the dog or cat does not have a microchip.(b)It is a defense to prosecution under subsection (a) that:(1)The dog or cat was under four (4) months of age;...(3)The owner of the dog or cat has resided in the City of Grand Prairie for fewer than thirty (30) days;(4)The dog or cat owner is not a resident of the City of Grand Prairie and is staying in...
Pet Store Rules
Grand Prairie bans exchanging a dog or cat for money anywhere except where the animal was born, and separately bans curbside, parking-lot or park sales, under Code of Ordinances Sec. 5-65. Only Animal Services, nonprofit rescues, mobile adoption partners, and one grandfathered pet store operating before May 2, 2023 may sell dogs or cats commercially.
Grand Prairie Retail Pet Sale Ban
Heavy RestrictionsGrand Prairie Code of Ordinances § 5-65
(a)A person commits an offense if the person exchanges a cat or dog for consideration, regardless of the age of the cat or dog, at a location other than where the cat or dog was born.(b)A person commits an offense if the person sells, trades, barters, leases, rents, or gives away any cat or dog, on any roadside, public right-of-way, commercial parking lot, park, or community center.(g)A retail ...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Grand Prairie's Unified Development Code defines a veterinarian clinic as an establishment where animals are diagnosed and treated for diseases and injuries, one that may include indoor or outdoor kennels and pet training (UDC art. 30, Definitions). Citywide placement runs through district-by-district use tables, but the Hospital District appendix carries a specific, quotable rule: it allows a veterinary office only as a Special Exception Use, on Specific Use Permit and Site Plan approval, and bars outside pens outright.
Grand Prairie Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsGrand Prairie Unified Development Code, Appendix O (Hospital District) sec. 7.3.5(C)
7.3.5 Special Exception Uses The following uses shall be allowed in the (HD) Hospital District only after approval of a Specific Use Permit and Site Plan review: A. Utility buildings and structures; power sub-stations; water tanks. B. Helistop for loading and unloading passengers who are not emergency patients for the health care facilities. C. Veterinarian offices only (without outside pens).
Looking for Dallas County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Grand Prairie city rules.
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