Animal Ordinances in Dallas County, TX (2026)

Tex. Agric. Code Sec. 142.003(a)-(b)

Sec. 142.003. DISCOVERY OF ESTRAY; NOTICE. (a) If an estray, without being herded with other livestock, roams about the property of a person without that person's permission or roams about public property, the owner of the private property or the custodian of the public property, as applicable, shall, as soon as reasonably possible, report the presence of the estray to the sheriff of the county...

Tex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 822.042(a)

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;...

Tex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 822.047 — Local Regulation of Dangerous Dogs (breed-specific restrictions prohibited)

Sec. 822.047. LOCAL REGULATION OF DANGEROUS DOGS. A county or municipality may place additional requirements or restrictions on dangerous dogs if the requirements or restrictions: (1) are not specific to one breed or several breeds of dogs; and (2) are more stringent than restrictions provided by this subchapter.

Tex. Agric. Code Secs. 131.025, 131.041 — State Beekeeping Permits and Pest Reporting

Sec. 131.041. PERMIT FOR INTERSTATE MOVEMENT. (a) A person may not ship or cause to be shipped bees or equipment into or out of this state unless the person has a permit issued by the chief apiary inspector authorizing the shipment. (b) A permit issued under this section applies to all shipments made by the beekeeper and expires on August 31 following the date the permit is issued. The term of ...

Dallas County Code Sec. 6-193

A person may not own, harbor, or have custody or control of any "dangerous wild animal" (as defined by V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code ch. 822, subch. E) for any purpose within the county, except as otherwise specifically permitted by state or federal law. A violation of this section is an offense punishable as a class C misdemeanor. A violation of this section may be enjoined by the county th...

Tex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 821.022(a)-(b)

Sec. 821.022. SEIZURE OF CRUELLY TREATED ANIMAL. (a) If a peace officer or an officer who has responsibility for animal control in a county or municipality has reason to believe that an animal has been or is being cruelly treated, the officer may apply to a justice court or magistrate in the county or to a municipal court in the municipality in which the animal is located for a warrant to seize...

Tex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 826.021 — Rabies Vaccination of Dogs and Cats Required

Sec. 826.021. VACCINATION OF DOGS AND CATS REQUIRED. (a) Except as otherwise provided by department rule, the owner of a dog or cat shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies by the time the animal is four months of age and at regular intervals thereafter as prescribed by department rule. (b) A veterinarian who vaccinates a dog or cat against rabies shall issue to the animal's owner a vacc...

Tex. Health & Safety Code Secs. 828.002-828.003 — Sterilization Required for Adopted Dogs and Cats

Sec. 828.002. REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTION. Except as provided by Section 828.013, a releasing agency may not release a dog or cat for adoption unless the animal has been sterilized or the release is made to a new owner who signs an agreement to have the animal sterilized ... Sec. 828.003. STERILIZATION AGREEMENT. (a) The sterilization agreement used by a releasing agency must contain: ... (4) the...

Tex. Occ. Code Sec. 802.101

Sec. 802.101. LICENSE REQUIRED. (a) A person may not act as, offer to act as, or represent that the person is a dog or cat breeder in this state unless the person holds a license under this chapter for each facility that the person owns or operates in this state. A license for a single facility may cover more than one building on the same premises. (b) The commission by rule may establish requi...

Tex. Parks & Wild. Code Sec. 64.002(a)-(b)

Sec. 64.002. PROTECTION OF NONGAME BIRDS. (a) Except as provided by this code, no person may: (1) catch, kill, injure, pursue, or possess, dead or alive, or purchase, sell, expose for sale, transport, ship, or receive or deliver for transportation, a bird that is not a game bird; (2) possess any part of the plumage, skin, or body of a bird that is not a game bird; or (3) disturb or destroy the ...