Animal Ordinances in Pearland, TX (2026)
12 verified animal ordinances for Pearland, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Pearland repealed its backyard-fowl restrictions in 2025. The city no longer caps hen numbers, requires a coop setback, or limits roosters; keeping poultry is protected as an agricultural practice under Texas Right-to-Farm law. General nuisance and at-large rules still apply.
Backyard Chickens in Pearland, Texas
Few RestrictionsPearland Code of Ordinances § 6-5 (Ratites prohibited), as amended by Ord. No. 528-11 (2025)
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, possess, or maintain within the territorial limits of the City of Pearland any species or subspecies of ratites.
Dog Leash Laws
Pearland requires dogs to be leashed or confined within a fence at all times, prohibiting tethering outside of fenced yards and running at large in the city.
Pearland Dog Leash and Restraint Requirements
Light RestrictionsTexas Health and 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 enclosure;...
Breed Restrictions
Pearland does not ban dogs by breed; instead Article IV of the animal code lets the animal control officer declare an individual dog dangerous after an unprovoked attack. Once declared, owners have 30 days to license, microchip, muzzle, insure for $250,000 and secure the dog or face forced euthanasia or removal from the city.
Pearland Dangerous Dog Declaration and Requirements
Significant RestrictionsPearland, TX Code of Ordinances, Ch. 6, Art. IV, § 6-54 (Requirements for caretaker or owner of a dangerous dog) (Ord. No. 528-11, § 1, 11-10-25)
Not later than the thirtieth (30th) calendar day after the date a caretaker or owner has been notified of the final determination s/he is the owner of a dangerous dog that a court has not ordered to be humanely euthanized, the caretaker or owner shall:(1)Comply at all times with the requirements set forth in this article and, if applicable, in Subchapter D, Chapter 822 of the Texas Health and S...
Exotic Pets
Pearland outlaws keeping any wild animal within city limits unless it is in a licensed zoo, a state-licensed raptor or falcon, or in the custody of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. City Code Sec. 6-1 defines wild animal broadly to include lions, bears, monkeys, alligators, and all venomous reptiles.
Pearland Bans Keeping Wild Animals as Pets
Heavy RestrictionsPearland, Tex., Code of Ordinances § 6-6 (Restrictions on Keeping Wild Animals); § 6-1 (definition of "Wild animal")
Sec. 6-6. - Restrictions on keeping wild animals. It shall be unlawful to keep, possess or maintain, or to cause to be kept, possessed or maintained, any wild animal within the city, unless such wild animal is: (1)Contained within a licensed and permitted zoo;(2)Is licensed by the State of Texas as a licensed raptor or falcon; or(3)Kept, possessed or maintained by a licensed and permitted wildl...
Wildlife Feeding
Pearland prohibits feeding wild ducks, including Muscovy ducks, and discourages feeding alligators, coyotes, and other wildlife to prevent habituation and nuisance conditions.
Pearland Wildlife and Duck Feeding Prohibition
Some RestrictionsCity of Pearland Animal Services — Local Wildlife and Fauna guidelines
ALLIGATOR SAFETY Alligators have inhabited Texas' marshes, swamps, rivers, ponds and lakes for years across the state and in the Pearland area. They are an important part of Texas' natural history, as well as an integral component of freshwater ecosystems. As Texas residents expand their homes and businesses, encounters between these normally shy reptiles and people are increasing. Pearland res...
Pet Limits
No Pearland property may keep more than five ferrets, dogs, or cats combined once they are over four months old, and only one litter is allowed on a dwelling unit's premises at a time, under City Code Sec. 6-4. Licensed kennels, shelters, pet shops, and vet hospitals are exempt from the cap.
Pearland Caps Households at Five Dogs or Cats
Some RestrictionsPearland, Tex., Code of Ordinances § 6-4 (Limitations on Number of Animals to be Kept; Exceptions)
(a)Dwelling/dwelling unit as defined by the City of Pearland Unified Development Code (UDC). It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, harbor, possess, maintain, or allow to be kept, harbored, possessed, or maintained more than five (5) ferrets, dogs, or cats or combination of said animals with the total number exceeding five (5), over four (4) months old, upon or within any premises owned, ...
Cat Rules
Pearland's animal shelter must generally hold an impounded animal 72 hours before disposition, but City Code lets the animal control officer skip that hold once a feline is determined feral, and lets shelters route unadoptable feral cats straight into a trap-neuter-release program instead of the adoption floor.
Pearland Feral Cat Hold and TNR Rules
Light RestrictionsPearland, Tex., Code of Ordinances § 6-41(a)(2) (Redemption of Impounded Animals); § 6-42(5) (Disposition of Animals Not Redeemed)
(a)Animals brought to the animal shelter and adoption center will be held by the city for seventy-two (72) hours, unless the animal control officer determines one (1) of the following criteria are met:(1)When an animal is unhealthy and untreatable.(2)When a feline is determined to be feral... Felines not deemed suitable for adoption may be transferred to a humane organization which places the f...
Microchipping
Every dog, cat, ferret, and equine kept in Pearland must be implanted with a registered microchip before it turns four months old under City Code Sec. 6-3, and owners have just thirty days to update the microchip registry whenever their contact information or the animal's ownership changes.
Pearland Requires Microchips for Dogs and Cats
Some RestrictionsPearland, Tex., Code of Ordinances § 6-3 (Microchipping Required)
(a)The owner or caretaker of any equine, ferret, dog or cat must have the animal implanted with a registered microchip before the animal attains four (4) months of age.(b)The owner or caretaker of an equine, ferret, dog, or cat shall maintain current registration with a microchip registration company.(c)If there is a change in contact information of an owner or caretaker of a registered microch...
Pet Store Rules
Pearland bans selling, bartering, leasing, or displaying a live animal for a commercial purpose on a roadside, public right-of-way, commercial parking lot, or at an outdoor swap meet, flea market, or special sale. A city certificate of occupancy for a pet-selling business exempts brick-and-mortar pet shops from that ban.
Pearland Bans Roadside and Parking-Lot Pet Sales
Some RestrictionsPearland, Tex., Code of Ordinances § 6-11 (Sale of Animals Prohibited)
Sec. 6-11. - Sale of animals prohibited. (a)It shall be unlawful to sell, offer for sale, barter, and lease or give away, or display for a commercial purpose a live animal on a roadside, public right-of-way, commercial parking lot, or at an outdoor special sale, swap meet, flea market or similar event within the city's territorial limits.(b)This section shall not apply to an agent of a business...
Pet Groomer Rules
Pearland's Unified Development Code defines a 'Pet and Animal Grooming Shop' as its own listed use and places it in the Non-Residential Land Use Matrix's Commercial & Related Service Uses category. Depending on the zoning district, the matrix marks grooming shops either 'P,' permitted by right, or 'C,' requiring a discretionary Conditional Use Permit, so approval requirements shift with the site's district.
Pearland Pet Grooming Shop Zoning Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsPearland Unified Development Code, Chapter 5, Definitions §§ (409)-(410); Chapter 2, Article 5, §§ 2.5.1.1, 2.5.2.2 (Non-Residential Land Use Matrix)
(410) PET AND ANIMAL GROOMING SHOP: An establishment offering grooming services for dogs, cats, and similar animals. (409) PET CARE FACILITY/ANIMAL KENNEL: A commercial establishment in which dogs or other domesticated (pet) animals are housed, groomed, bred, boarded, trained, sold, or provided other health and well-being related services, for a fee or compensation. ... This term does not inclu...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Pearland's Unified Development Code treats a veterinary office or animal hospital as a conditional use, not an as-of-right one, across nearly the entire city. A clinic without outdoor pens can open by right only in the Old Townsite general-business and mixed-use districts; everywhere else, and for any clinic with outdoor pens, the owner must first win a discretionary Conditional Use Permit.
Pearland Veterinary Clinics Need a Conditional Use Permit
Significant RestrictionsPearland Unified Development Code, Chapter 5, Definitions §§ (379)-(380); Chapter 2, Article 5, §§ 2.5.1.1, 2.5.2.2 (Non-Residential Land Use Matrix)
(379) OFFICE/CLINIC, VETERINARIAN: A place where a veterinarian maintains treatment facilities for diseased or injured animals, including boarding facilities (no outside pens or kennels). (380) OFFICE/CLINIC, VETERINARIAN (ANIMAL HOSPITAL, WITH OUTSIDE PENS): An Office for a veterinary professional/group used for the medical or surgical treatment for animals or pets. This use allows for the usa...
Bird Protection
Pearland's general code declares the entire city a bird sanctuary and makes it unlawful to kill, trap, ensnare or even attempt to catch any wild bird, at any age, anywhere within city limits. A narrow exception protects ordinary backyard bird feeders. Violators face a municipal fine of up to $500 per day.
Pearland Bird Sanctuary Bans Killing Wild Birds
Heavy RestrictionsPearland, TX Code of Ordinances § 6-14 (Bird sanctuary; shooting, catching birds prohibited) (Ord. No. 528-11, § 1, 11-10-25)
(a)The city is hereby declared to be a bird sanctuary.(b)It shall be unlawful for any person to kill, trap, ensnare, or otherwise catch any wild bird, regardless of age, within the city. It shall also be unlawful for any person to attempt to kill, trap, ensnare, or otherwise catch any wild bird, regardless of age, within the city.
Looking for Brazoria County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Pearland city rules.
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