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Animal Ordinances in Leander, TX (2026)

6 verified animal ordinances for Leander, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Chickens & Livestock

Leander limits livestock to properties of three or more acres, caps animal units by lot size, and keeps grazing and livestock structures 50 to 200 feet from neighboring homes and businesses.

Leander Livestock Acreage and Setback Rules

Some Restrictions

Leander Code of Ordinances § 2.03.011

(c)Distance from residence or building open to the public. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep livestock within the corporate limits of the city unless the livestock is being kept in accordance with the following restrictions:(1)The overall lot must be three or more acres in size and the livestock shall be kept on a parcel of land that is at least one acre in size.(2)There shall be no m...

Dog Leash Laws

Leander, Texas bans letting any dog run at large, requiring a leash, chain, cord or fence restraint, with fines up to $500 per day for violations.

Leander Leash Law for Dogs

Some Restrictions

Leander Code of Ordinances § 2.03.002

It shall be unlawful for any person who owns, keeps, harbors or otherwise has control over any animal within the city to allow or permit such animal to run or be at-large within the city.(b)Cats. The prohibition against an animal running at-large shall not apply to a domestic cat which has been vaccinated as required by this chapter and which is wearing the required vaccination tags or feral ca...

Breed Restrictions

Leander has no breed-specific ban; instead, once a dog is declared dangerous under state law, its owner must register it with animal services within 30 days, post warning signage, and renew yearly.

Leander Dangerous Dog Registration Rules

Significant Restrictions

Leander Code of Ordinances § 2.05.008

In compliance with HSC 822, dangerous dog owners must comply with all requirements and the dangerous dog must be registered. The owner must register the dog with animal services and pay the fees as required by state law not later than 30 days after the owner is notified that the dog is dangerous. The registration shall not be transferable and shall expire one year from date of issuance....(1)Po...

Beekeeping

Leander bars anyone from constructing, placing or maintaining a beehive within 500 feet of a neighboring residence without the occupants' consent, under Section 2.03.007 of the Code of Ordinances. The Code separately notes that a beehive tract of three acres or more changes that distance calculation, though the keeper still needs consent from any residence closer than 500 feet outside that acreage.

Leander Sets 500-Foot Beehive Buffer

Some Restrictions

Leander Code of Ordinances § 2.03.007

No person shall construct, place or maintain any beehive within 500 feet of any residence other than that of the owner except with the consent of the occupants of all such residences. A tract or parcel of land where the bees are kept or enclosed that is three acres or more in size.

Exotic Pets

Leander bars anyone from keeping, possessing or having custody of a "prohibited animal," wild animal or wildlife within city limits, and bans selling, giving or importing any wild animal into the city. The rule, Section 2.03.005 of the Leander, Texas Code of Ordinances, exempts zoos, circuses, schools and short-term care of injured wildlife bound for a rehabilitator.

Leander Bans Keeping Prohibited Wild Animals

Heavy Restrictions

Leander Code of Ordinances § 2.03.005

(a)No person shall possess, keep or have care, custody or control of a prohibited animal, wild animal or wildlife within the city except as provided herein.(b)All persons shall be prohibited from selling, giving, transferring or importing into the city any wild animal.(c)This section shall not apply to approved zoological parks or circuses. Nor shall this section apply to primary and secondary ...

Pet Limits

Leander treats an animal as a public nuisance whenever the sheer number kept threatens public health, safety, or welfare, giving animal services a case-by-case tool against hoarding beyond the flat household pet cap.

Leander Animal Hoarding Nuisance Rule

Some Restrictions

Leander Code of Ordinances § 2.03.006

(a)Any animal within the city that unreasonably disturbs, annoys, or alarms persons of ordinary sensibility, endangers the public health, safety, or welfare, or substantially interferes with the rights of citizens to quiet enjoyment of life or property, including but not limited to:...(11)Any animal that is a threat to public health safety or welfare by virtue of the number of animals. It shall...

Looking for Williamson County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Leander city rules.

Animal Ordinances in Williamson County