Animal Ordinances in Rowlett, TX (2026)
7 verified animal ordinances for Rowlett, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Rowlett bars keeping horses, cattle, goats, and other large livestock on residential lots under one acre, and requires 150 feet of separation from a neighbor's living quarters on qualifying lots.
Rowlett Large Livestock Residential Lot Rules
Significant RestrictionsRowlett Code of Ordinances § 6-101(b)
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep large livestock in an area zoned residential on any lot having an area less than one acre. For the first acre, a minimum of one-third of that acre shall be set aside for exclusive use by the large livestock and no more than two large livestock may be kept in that area. For any additional livestock animals, an additional acre is required per two livest...
Dog Leash Laws
Rowlett bans letting any animal other than a cat run at large; an animal is legally "at large" unless it's confined by a fence or building, or on a leash and held by its owner. A separate tethering rule bans staking a dog to a chain or stationary object at all, with narrow exceptions that carry their own restraint specifications.
Rowlett Dog Leash and Tethering Rules
Some RestrictionsRowlett Code of Ordinances § 6-4; § 6-8(b)-(d)
(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)Any animal services officer or police officer is authorized to impound such animals running at large, other than a cat, unless the cat appears sick or injured. ... (b)Dog tethering. It shall be unlawful for a person to use a chain, rope, tether, leash, cable, or ...
Breed Restrictions
Rowlett doesn't ban dog breeds: it regulates by behavior, requiring owners of dogs declared dangerous after an unprovoked attack to carry $100,000 liability insurance, secure enclosures, and city registration.
Rowlett Dangerous Dog Registration Rules
Significant RestrictionsRowlett Code of Ordinances § 6-188
The owner of a dangerous dog shall comply with the following requirements within ten days of notification by the animal services manager, or within 48 hours of an unsuccessful appeal:(1)Present proof of liability insurance or financial responsibility in the amount of at least $100,000.00 to cover damages resulting from an attack by the dangerous dog which causes bodily injury to a person...(5)P...
Beekeeping
Rowlett limits residential beekeepers to two hives on a half-acre lot or smaller and four on up to one acre, but lifts the cap entirely if hives sit 100 feet from every property line.
Rowlett Beekeeping Colony Density Limits
Some RestrictionsRowlett Code of Ordinances § 6-108(f)
It shall be unlawful to keep more than the following number of colonies on any lot, in an area zoned residential within the city, based upon the size of the lot which the apiary is situated:(1)One-half acres or less of lot size: two colonies,(2)Larger than one-half but less than one acre of lot size: four colonies,(3)Regardless of lot size, where all hives are situated at least 100 feet in any ...
Exotic Pets
Rowlett bans keeping any wild or exotic animal for pet ownership, sale, display, or exhibition anywhere in city limits, with narrow exceptions for zoos, circuses, and licensed wildlife rehabilitation.
Rowlett Wild and Exotic Animal Pet Ban
Heavy RestrictionsRowlett Code of Ordinances § 6-7(e)
No person shall keep or permit to be kept on his premises or premises under his control any wild or exotic animal for pet ownership, sale, or display, or for exhibition purposes, whether gratuitously or for a fee. This section shall not be construed to apply to zoological parks, performing animal exhibitions, permitted wildlife rehabilitation, or circuses.(f)Slaughtering of animals. It shall be...
Pet Limits
Rowlett makes it a public nuisance to let a home, yard, or enclosure used for keeping animals become unsanitary or foul-smelling: the city's main tool against animal hoarding since it has no separate hoarding statute.
Rowlett Nuisance Rule Targets Unsanitary Animal Keeping
Some RestrictionsRowlett Code of Ordinances § 6-7(d)
It shall be unlawful and considered a public nuisance for any person to allow any house, building, business, lot, pen, enclosure, yard, or similar place used for the keeping of animals to become unsanitary, offensive by reason of odor, or disagreeable to persons of ordinary sensibilities residing in the vicinity thereof or to the public at large. Any condition injurious to public health caused ...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Rowlett is one of the few Texas suburbs with an outright sterilization mandate: any pet ferret over six months old must be spayed or neutered before it can legally be kept in the city. Dogs and cats aren't mandated to be sterilized outright, but the Code charges owners a lower registration fee if theirs are.
Rowlett Requires Sterilization of Pet Ferrets
Some RestrictionsRowlett Code of Ordinances § 6-103
(a)Certificate required. It shall be unlawful to possess, harbor, or keep a ferret at any residential dwelling without obtaining a registration certificate from the animal services division. ... (c)Fees. The application described in this section shall be accompanied by a fee established by resolution of the city council. The registration certificate shall be valid for one year from the date of ...
Looking for Dallas County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Rowlett city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Dallas County →