GENERAL RESTRICTIONS.

Austin City Code tit. 3, ch. 3-2, art. 1

in effect

Austin City Code § 3-2-1 RUNNING AT LARGE PROHIBITED.

§ 3-2-1 - RUNNING AT LARGE PROHIBITED. Except as specifically provided in this title, an owner or handler may not allow livestock, fowl, a dog, or other domestic or dangerous animal or reptile to run at large. Source: 1992 Code Sections 3-1-3(G), 3-2-2, 3-2-25, and 3-3-2; Ord. 031009-9; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 3-2-2 NOISY ANIMALS.

§ 3-2-2 - NOISY ANIMALS. An owner or handler may not keep an animal that makes frequent or long, continued noise that is disturbing to a person of normal sensibilities. Source: 1992 Code Section 3-3-6; Ord. 031009-9; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 3-2-3 COMMERCE IN LIVE ANIMALS.

§ 3-2-3 - COMMERCE IN LIVE ANIMALS. (A) A pet trader commits an offense if the pet trader conducts a retail sale in violation of Subsections (E) through (G) of this section. (B) A pet trader commits an offense if the pet trader conducts an off-site retail sale. (C) A person commits an offense if the person sells, trades, barters, leases, rents, gives away, or displays for a commercial purpose a live animal on a roadside, public right-of-way, or commercial parking lot, or at an outdoor special sale, swap meet, flea market, parking lot sale, or similar event. (D) This section does not apply to: (1) the City of Austin animal shelter or a City of Austin animal shelter certified partner, or a not for profit 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization registered with the City; or (2) an event primarily for the sale of agricultural livestock such as hoofed animals or animals or fowl commonly raised for food, dairy, or fiber products; or (3) an adoption at which consideration is paid if it occurs at a mobile pet adoption establishment that is operated by an organization that is exempt pursuant to paragraph (D)(1) of this section. (E) A pet trader who exchanges a dog or cat for consideration shall pay an animal processing fee prescribed by ordinance, except that the fee is not required for a spayed female or neutered male dog or cat, or a dog or cat certified by a licensed veterinarian to be incapable of breeding or being bred. (F) A pet trader shall implant an identification microchip in the dog or cat before an exchange. Registration information regarding the microchip shall be provided to the new owner. (G) This subsection prescribes requirements for disclosure of information by a pet trader to a recipient of the dog or cat. (1) A pet trader shall deliver to a recipient of a dog or cat at the time of exchange the following information on a form prescribed by the city manager: (a) the breeder's name and address, and license information if the breeder is licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture; (b) the date of the dog or cat's birth; (c) the breed, sex, color, and identifying marks at the time of exchange, if any; (d) a record of each inoculation and worming treatment administered, if any, to the dog or cat, including the date of administration and the type of vaccine or worming treatment; (e) a record of veterinarian treatment or medication received by the dog or cat while in the possession of the pet trader including a receipt or other documentation from a licensed veterinarian documenting the dog or cat was spayed or neutered, if the dog or cat was spayed or neutered; and (f) a document signed by a veterinarian licensed in the State of Texas: (i) stating that the dog or cat has no known disease or illness that adversely affects the health of the dog or cat at the time of the exchange or that is likely to adversely affect the health of the dog or cat in the future; or (ii) describing any known disease or illness that is likely to adversely affect the health of the dog or cat in the future; and (iii) documenting that the veterinarian spayed or neutered the dog or cat, if the veterinarian performed this surgery. (2) A pet trader shall sign the completed form to certify the accuracy of the information, and the recipient of the dog or cat shall sign the completed form to acknowledge receipt of the information. (3) In addition to providing the completed and signed form to the recipient, the pet trader shall verbally disclose the information on the form to the recipient. (4) A pet trader shall: (a) retain a copy of each completed and signed form for a period of not less than two years after the exchange of the dog or cat; and (b) make each completed and signed form available for inspection or copying by a humane officer, animal control officer, or law enforcement officer during business hours. Source: 1992 Code Section 3-1-8; Ord. 031009-9; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. 20080228-057; Ord. 20101216-024; Ord. 20121018-024.

Austin City Code § 3-2-4 HUNTING AND TRAPPING WILD ANIMALS.

§ 3-2-4 - HUNTING AND TRAPPING WILD ANIMALS. (A) Except as provided in Subsection (B), a person may not: (1) knowingly shoot, kill, or hunt a wild animal; or (2) use a steel-jawed spring trap or any other type of trap that could injure a trapped animal or person. (B) Subsection (A) does not prohibit the use of conventional mouse traps to catch mice and rats. (C) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the person is: (1) a City employee acting within the course and scope of the person's duty's as a City employee; or (2) acting within the scope of an unexpired permit issued by the director of the Parks and Recreation Department or the director of the Water and Wastewater Department authorizing the person to hunt or trap animals on a wildlife preserve. Source: 1992 Code Section 10-1-6; Ord. 031009-9; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 3-2-5 PROPER CARE OF ANIMALS.

§ 3-2-5 - PROPER CARE OF ANIMALS. (A) An animal's owner shall keep the animal in a clean, sanitary, and healthy condition. (B) An animal's owner or handler shall provide for the animal: (1) regular and adequate amounts of nutritious food that is appropriate for the species and that maintains the animal in good health; (2) a constant and adequate supply of clean, fresh, potable water that keeps the animal hydrated for environmental conditions; and (3) care and medical treatment for injuries, parasites, and diseases that is sufficient to maintain the animal in good health and minimize suffering. (C) An animal's owner shall provide the animal with shelter that: (1) is large enough for the animal to enter, stand, turn around, and lie down in a natural manner; (2) keeps the animal dry; (3) provides the animal with natural or artificial shade from direct sunlight; (4) protects the animal from excessive heat and cold and other adverse weather conditions; and (5) is adequately ventilated. (D) An animal's owner may not confine the animal to the extent that it is forced to stand, sit, or lie in its own excrement. (E) An animal's owner shall regularly maintain the animal and its shelter to prevent odor or a health or sanitation problem. (F) An animal's owner shall provide the animal with exercise space that is large enough to prevent injury and keep the animal in good condition. (G) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the animal's treatment was as directed by a licensed veterinarian. (H) Microchipping. (1) This subsection applies to animals at least four months of age that are not wildlife or livestock. (2) In this subsection, MICROCHIPPED ANIMAL means an animal implanted with a registered identification microchip. (3) The owner of an animal is responsible for having each animal in their possession microchipped and for maintaining a current registration with a microchip registration company. (4) The owner of a microchipped animal shall update contact information, including a new address or telephone number, with the microchip registration company within 30 days of the date of the change in contact information. (5) When the ownership of a microchipped animal changes: (a) the previous owner is responsible for ensuring that the microchip is no longer registered in the previous owner's name within 30 days from the date ownership changes; and (b) the new owner is responsible for re-registering the microchip and providing the new owner's address and telephone number within 30 days from the date ownership changes. (6) In the event that the health authority determines that an owner has not complied with this subsection, the health authority will provide the owner with educational materials on microchipping. (7) Failure to comply with this subsection is not an offense under this title. Source: Ord. 20061005-007; Ord. No. 20240926-002, Pt. 1, 10-7-24.

Austin City Code § 3-2-6 SAFETY OF ANIMALS IN MOTOR VEHICLES AND ENCLOSED SPACES.

§ 3-2-6 - SAFETY OF ANIMALS IN MOTOR VEHICLES AND ENCLOSED SPACES. (A) A person may not transport an animal in a motor vehicle on a public roadway unless: (1) the animal is safely enclosed within the vehicle; or (2) if the animal is transported in an unenclosed vehicle, including a convertible, pick-up truck, flatbed truck, or motorcycle, the animal shall be confined in a secure and appropriately sized vented container or confined in a manner that prevents the animal from falling or jumping from the vehicle or otherwise being injured. (B) A person may not keep an animal in a motor vehicle or other enclosed space in which the animal's health or life is endangered by high temperature, low temperature, or inadequate ventilation. (1) A peace officer or animal control officer may, after attempting to locate the animal's owner, remove the animal from a vehicle or enclosed space using any reasonable means, including breaking a window or lock. If professional services are required to remove the animal, the owner is responsible for the cost. (2) A peace officer or animal control officer who removes an animal from a vehicle or enclosed space in accordance with this subsection is not liable for any resulting property damage. Source: Ord. 20061005-007.

Austin City Code § 3-2-7 TREATMENT OF ELEPHANTS.

§ 3-2-7 - TREATMENT OF ELEPHANTS. (A) A person may not use a bull hook to train or control an elephant. (B) A person may not brandish, exhibit, or display a bull hook in the presence of an elephant. Source: Ord. No. 20150806-051, Pt. 2, 10-1-16.

Austin City Code § 3-2-8 TRAINING AND CONTROL OF ANIMALS.

§ 3-2-8 - TRAINING AND CONTROL OF ANIMALS. (A) A person may not train or control an animal by the use of a baseball bat, axe handle, pitchfork, bull hook or device of similar design for similar purpose. (B) A person who trains or controls an animal as set forth in Subsection (A) commits a violation. (C) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution that the animal is livestock as defined in City Code Section 3-1-1 (Definitions) and is not being treated cruelly in the manner prohibited by Texas Penal Code Section 42.09. Source: Ord. No. 20220407-002, Pt. 2, 4-18-22.

Austin City Code § 3-2-9 PRACTICE OF DECLAWING CATS.

3-2-9 - PRACTICE OF DECLAWING CATS. (A) Except as provided in subsection (C), a person may not perform or procure a procedure that results in the partial or complete declawing of a cat for any reason. (B) A person who declaws a cat, or who procures the declawing of a cat, as set forth in subsection (A) commits a violation. (C) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution that the declawing was done for a therapeutic purpose. Source: Ord. No. 20210304-003, Pt. 2, 3-15-21.

Source: City of Austin, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT3ANRE_CH3-2REAN_ART1GEREFetched: 10/27/2026