As any dog lover knows, you can never have too many dogs. The state of Texas doesn’t have a statewide limit on the number of dogs you can own. But it does authorize individual municipalities to set their own rules.

Want to learn more about dog laws in the Lone Star State?

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has all the info you need. In this article, we’ll go over how many dogs you can own in Texas, Breed Specific Legislation, and leash laws.

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Does Texas have laws limiting how many dogs you can own?

There is no statewide limit to how many dogs you can own in Texas. Dog ownership laws come down to individual towns and cities to decide. That said, urban areas tend to limit the number of dogs you can have to 3-6 per household.

For example,

Dallas

sets the limit at 6 dogs or cats per single-family household, while the city of Mesquite allows only 3 dogs or cats on a property at once. These limits generally don’t apply to litters of kittens or puppies under a certain age or feral animals on larger properties.

Even within a city, the number of dogs you can own may depend on your housing arrangement. In Dallas, people in townhouses that share a wall may have no more than 4 dogs, less than the limit for single-family households.

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Are there any dog breeds outlawed in Texas?

Texas is one of 17 states that doesn’t allow its counties and cities to pass Breed Specific Legislation (BSL), a type of law that bans or restricts certain breeds based on physical characteristics.

Breeds that are commonly targeted by BSL include Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds. In the state of Texas, all breeds are legal to own.

The state does, however, place restrictions on “dangerous dogs.”

State legislature defines a “dangerous dog” as any dog that has either attacked someone unprovoked or has given ample reason to believe it will do so.

Owners of “dangerous dogs” may be subject to certain restrictions in their municipality, such as being subject to harsher leash laws or being required to place warning signs on their property. In severe cases, “dangerous dogs” may be required to stay on their owner’s property at all times.

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What are the leash laws in Texas?

Any dog can make an escape attempt if they smell something interesting over the fence. What is Texas’ policy about dogs running off-leash?

Texas’ only stateside leash law prohibits dogs that are known to chase and harm livestock or fowl from running off-leash. Otherwise, leash laws are determined by specific municipalities for their residents to follow.

San Antonio

, for example, dogs must be leashed at all times in public unless you’re in a designated dog park or off-leash area. Owners are also required to carry a pooper scooper when walking their dogs, and it’s actually illegal not to clean up after your dog in a public place.

Dog laws exist to keep Texas residents and their animals safe and unperturbed by dogs running loose. Breaking these laws can have consequences not only for owners, but for their dogs as well.

Penalties for breaking dog laws in Texas

As with any violation of the law, the severity of punishments for breaking dog ownership laws depends on the situation.

The state law on dogs that are known to harm livestock running loose carries a $100 fine for each offense. Other cities, such as Irving, can require fines of up to $2,000 for breaking leash laws. In general, owners are liable for any damage, injury, or in the worst case, death caused by their dog.

Owners of dogs who injure others can be charged with a felony in the third degree. In extreme cases, the court may order the dog to be put down, especially if the dog has had multiple offenses or is already labeled as “dangerous.”

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Where to find affordable insurance in Texas

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