Animal Ordinances in Texas City, TX (2026)
9 verified animal ordinances for Texas City, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Texas City, Texas requires the owner of any livestock inside city limits to register annually with the Police Department for $10, expiring August 31. Livestock must sit behind adequate fencing, and letting it run at large is unlawful. The code defines livestock as grazing animals and does not name chickens.
Texas City Livestock Registration, Fencing and Running at Large
Some RestrictionsTexas City Code of Ordinances §§ 95.070-95.073
LIVESTOCK. ... Any grazing animal, including but not limited to cattle, horses, mules, asses, burros, sheep and goats. ... (A) The owner or possessor of any livestock situated within the city limits of the city must annually complete an application and obtain an owner’s registration from the Police Department. The Police Department shall retain a copy on file of each owner’s registration. (B) T...
Dog Leash Laws
In Texas City, Texas, no owner or keeper can permit a dog to run at large within the corporate limits. A dog is at large when it is not under the control of its owner or an authorized person by cord, leash, chain or confinement, and § 95.028 separately bars chaining or tying dogs.
Dog At-Large and Leash Rule in Texas City, Texas
Some RestrictionsTexas City Code of Ordinances §§ 95.015 and 95.023
AT LARGE. A dog shall be deemed at large within the meaning of this subchapter when it is not under the control of the owner, or that of a person authorized by the owner to care for such dog, either by cord, leash, chain or confinement. ... No owner or keeper of any dog shall permit the dog to run at large within the corporate limits of the city.
Breed Restrictions
Texas City, Texas has no breed ban in § 95.029. The code labels an animal vicious by what it does: severe injury or death to a person, a bite, killing a domestic animal off the owner's property, a menacing chase, or a known propensity to attack. Three of those four triggers declare the animal vicious automatically.
Texas City Vicious Animal Declaration Rules, No Breed Ban
Significant RestrictionsTexas City Code of Ordinances § 95.029
(A) Definitions. ... DANGEROUS OR VICIOUS TENDENCIES. The following shall be deemed animals with dangerous or vicious tendencies: (a) Any animal that inflicts severe injury or death to a person, or bites a person on public or private property; (b) Any animal that has killed a domestic animal without provocation while off the owner’s property; (c) Any animal which chases or approaches a person u...
Exotic Pets
In Texas City, Texas, any wild and exotic animal is presumed vicious under § 95.029(B). The definition covers any mammal, amphibian, reptile or fowl that is wild by nature and dangerous to people, names lions, wolves, raccoons, skunks, monkeys and alligators, and exempts gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, rabbits and ferrets.
Texas City Wild and Exotic Animals Presumed Vicious
Significant RestrictionsTexas City Code of Ordinances § 95.029(B)
(B) Wild and exotic animals. Any animal, under the definition of the term “wild and exotic”, shall be presumed to be a vicious animal. WILD AND EXOTIC ANIMALS shall mean any mammal, amphibian, reptile or fowl which is of a species which is wild by nature, and of a species which, due to size, vicious nature or other characteristic, is dangerous to human beings. Such animals shall include, but no...
Pet Limits
In Texas City, Texas, it is unlawful to keep, harbor, possess or maintain more than four dogs upon or within any premises owned by the person at any one time. Section 95.027 names dogs only, and the offense is punished under the Chapter 95 penalty section.
Four-Dog Limit Per Premises in Texas City, Texas
Some RestrictionsTexas City Code of Ordinances § 95.027
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, harbor, possess or maintain more than four dogs upon or within any premises owned by such person within the city at any one time.
Cat Rules
In Texas City, Texas, every cat must wear a city tag on a collar or harness at all times, and cats four months of age or older must be vaccinated against rabies. The tag is purchased at the Galveston County Animal Resource Center for a $10 fee.
Cat Tag and Rabies Rules in Texas City, Texas
Some RestrictionsTexas City Code of Ordinances §§ 95.002, 95.016 and 95.017
On dogs and cats, there shall at all times be securely attached to a collar or harness around the neck of the animal a city tag, which shall be purchased at Galveston County Animal Resource Center. ... (A) All dogs and cats, four months of age or older, within the city are hereby required to be immunized against rabies by means of an anti-rabies vaccine approved by the Galveston County Animal R...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Texas City, Texas has no citywide spay and neuter mandate. Section 95.029(H)(1)(f) requires only an animal declared vicious to be spayed or neutered and micro-chipped, as one of six owner conditions that must be met within 30 days of the final determination.
Texas City Spay, Neuter and Microchip Rule for Vicious Animals
Some RestrictionsTexas City Code of Ordinances § 95.029(H)
(H) Requirements for owners of vicious animals. (1) An owner of an animal declared to be a vicious animal under this section must comply with the following within 30 days of such final determination. Compliance with these requirements will be determined by the Officer or designee. (a) The animal must be registered in accordance with this section. ... (f) The vicious animal must be spayed or neu...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In Texas City, Texas, veterinary clinics are a listed principal use in District O-P, Office-Professional, but only where all activities are conducted within a totally enclosed building. District D, Neighborhood Service, takes in every O-P use under its own standards, and screening is required against adjacent residential districts.
Texas City, Texas Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsTexas City Code of Ordinances § 160.032
(A) Purpose. ... District O-P is intended to provide for low to moderate intensity office and professional uses which provide a service rather than sell products. The uses in this district should not have an adverse effect on adjacent residential areas nor create excessive amounts of traffic. All uses are to be conducted within an enclosed building. (B) Principal uses. ... (8) Veterinary clinic...
Bird Protection
All of Texas City, Texas is a designated bird sanctuary under § 95.055, including the improved areas, municipal parks, the seawall and the Texas City Dike. Section 95.056 makes it unlawful to trap, hunt, shoot or molest any bird or wildfowl or rob nests, with a nuisance-bird process in § 95.057.
Texas City Bird Sanctuary and Bird Protection Rules
Some RestrictionsTexas City Code of Ordinances §§ 95.055-95.057
The area embraced within the corporate limits of the city shall be the improved areas of the city, municipal parks, the seawall and the Texas City Dike, and such area is hereby designated as a bird sanctuary. ... It shall be unlawful to trap, hunt, shoot or molest in any manner any bird or wildfowl, or to rob bird nests or wildfowl nests, within the corporate limits of the city. ... (A) If star...
Looking for Galveston County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Texas City city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Galveston County →