Registration required.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 6-86
in effectSec. 6-86. - Registration required.
(a) The owner or custodian of any dog or cat must register the animal by providing to BARC animal services the identification number of the implanted chip and a physical description of the animal before the animal attains four months of age, for an amount set in the city fee schedule. It is the duty of the owner or custodian of the animal to ensure that the animal's implanted microchip identification number is registered with the manufacturer of the microchip in addition to being registered with BARC animal services. If there is a change in contact information for the owner or custodian of the microchipped animal, the owner or custodian shall update the contact information with BARC animal services and the microchip manufacturer within 30 days after the date of the change in contact information. If there is a change in ownership of a microchipped animal, the initial owner or custodian shall be responsible for notifying BARC animal services and the microchip manufacturer of the change within 30 days after the date of change in ownership. The new owner or custodian shall be responsible for providing BARC animal services with the new owner's or custodian's name, address and telephone number within 30 days after the change in ownership.
(b) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that:
(1) The animal owner is a nonresident of this city and is keeping the subject animal in the city for fewer than 30 days;
(2) The animal owner has been a resident of this city for fewer than 30 days; or
(3) The animal had been abandoned or lost and the temporary owner has had the dog or cat for fewer than 30 days.
(Ord. No. 2022-44, § 2(Exh. A), 1-19-2022)
Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH6ANFO_ARTIVDOCA_DIV2MIVA_S6-86REREFetched: 10/26/2026