Animal Ordinances in Rowlett, TX (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for Rowlett, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Rowlett limits residentially-zoned properties to no more than two hens, kept at least 50 feet from the nearest inhabited dwelling other than the owner's. Loud fowl such as roosters, ducks, turkeys, geese, peacocks and guineas are banned within 150 feet of any residence, business or school. All fowl must be kept in a secure pen, coop or enclosure.
Rowlett Chickens and Backyard Fowl Rules
Some RestrictionsDog Leash Laws
Rowlett prohibits owners from letting any animal other than a cat run at large. Dogs must be controlled and confined to the owner's property or restrained when off it. Animal control or police officers may impound animals running at large, and may impound a cat if it causes a nuisance or hazard.
Rowlett Dog Leash and Running-at-Large Law
Some RestrictionsBreed Restrictions
Rowlett has no breed-specific dog ban, and Texas law forbids cities from adopting one. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Sec. 822.047, any additional local rules on dangerous dogs cannot single out a breed. Pit bulls, Rottweilers and similar breeds are legal in Rowlett; restrictions are behavior-based and apply to any dog declared dangerous.
Rowlett Dog Breed Restrictions
Few RestrictionsBeekeeping
Rowlett allows beekeeping with colony limits tied to lot size: two colonies on lots of one-half acre or less, four colonies on lots over one-half but under one acre, and no limit where every hive sits at least 100 feet from all property lines. Hives must be Langstroth-type with removable frames and marked with the beekeeper's contact information.
Rowlett Beekeeping and Honey Bee Hive Rules
Some RestrictionsExotic Pets
Rowlett's Animal Code separates ordinary household pets from wild and exotic animals, and dangerous wild animals are governed mainly by Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 822, Subchapter E. The state requires registration, caging and liability insurance for dangerous wild animals such as big cats and bears, and cities may prohibit or further regulate them by ordinance.
Rowlett Exotic and Dangerous Wild Animal Rules
Heavy RestrictionsWildlife Feeding
Rowlett does not publish a specific ordinance section banning the feeding of wild animals. The city's Wildlife Information guidance strongly discourages it, advising residents not to hand-feed wild animals or keep them as pets and to remove food sources such as pet food and bird feeders to avoid attracting coyotes, raccoons and other wildlife.
Rowlett Wildlife Feeding Guidance
Few RestrictionsLivestock
Texas has no statewide law on keeping livestock inside city limits, so the City of Rowlett's Animal Code controls. Rowlett's code includes livestock and farm animals within its keeping-of-animals provisions and requires all animals to be securely confined so they cannot run at large. Recently annexed acreage receives a temporary exemption from some fowl-and-livestock rules.
Rowlett Livestock and Farm Animal Rules
Some RestrictionsAnimal Hoarding
Rowlett's Animal Code includes a dedicated animal-hoarding provision at Section 6-283. It works alongside the city's per-household animal-count limit (Sec. 6-76) and Texas state cruelty law, which together address keeping animals in numbers or conditions that endanger their health and welfare.
Rowlett Animal Hoarding Rules
Heavy RestrictionsPet Limits
Rowlett caps the number of adult dogs and cats that may be kept on residential property near other homes. It is unlawful to keep four or more adult dogs, four or more adult cats, or any combination exceeding three adult dogs and three adult cats, on residential property within 100 feet of another building used for human habitation.
Rowlett Limit on Number of Dogs and Cats
Some RestrictionsCat Rules
Cats are treated more leniently than dogs in Rowlett. They are exempt from the general running-at-large prohibition, but a cat may be impounded if a complaint shows it causes a nuisance or hazard. Cats must still be registered annually and kept currently vaccinated against rabies, and the household pet-count limit applies to adult cats.
Rowlett Cat Rules and Registration
Few RestrictionsLooking for Dallas County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Rowlett city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Dallas County →