DANGEROUS ANIMALS.

Austin City Code tit. 3, ch. 3-5

in effect

Austin City Code § 3-5-1 DANGEROUS ANIMAL PROHIBITED.

§ 3-5-1 - DANGEROUS ANIMAL PROHIBITED. (A) Except as provided by this article, a person may not keep, raise, harbor, use, possess, have on the person's property, or under the person's control or attempted control a dangerous animal. (B) A person must keep a dangerous animal in an enclosure that meets the requirements prescribed by Section 3-2-11 (Enclosure Required) to prevent accidental contact with the animal: (1) in a zoo, shelter, museum or educational or medical institution; (2) for temporary public exhibition by a circus, carnival or other traveling exhibition; (3) at or in transit to a licensed veterinary clinic; or (4) if the person holds a license or permit that authorizes the person to attempt to rehabilitate the dangerous animal. Source: 1992 Code Sections 3-1-3(A) and (F); Ord. 031009-9; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 3-5-2 INSURANCE REQUIRED.

§ 3-5-2 - INSURANCE REQUIRED. A person permitted to keep a dangerous animal under Subsection 3-5-1(B) (Dangerous Animal Prohibited) shall: (1) maintain liability insurance in an amount not less than $500,000 per claim; and (2) file proof of insurance with the health authority not later than the 30th day after the animal is brought within the City limits. Source: 1992 Code Section 3-1-3(G); Ord. 031009-9; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 3-5-3 IMPOUND OF A DANGEROUS ANIMAL.

§ 3-5-3 - IMPOUND OF A DANGEROUS ANIMAL. (A) The health authority may impound a dangerous animal kept in violation of this section or found at large. The health authority may use reasonable force to safely secure and impound a dangerous animal, including the use of a volunteer. (B) The health authority may obtain a search warrant and impound a dangerous animal that the health authority has probable cause to believe is kept in violation of this title. (C) The remedies provided in this section are cumulative of other remedies available at law or in equity. Source: 1992 Code Sections 3-1-3(B) and (D); Ord. 031009-9; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 3-5-4 DESTRUCTION OF A DANGEROUS ANIMAL.

§ 3-5-4 - DESTRUCTION OF A DANGEROUS ANIMAL. (A) The health authority may destroy a dangerous animal running at large if the health authority reasonably believes that the animal's capture may be hazardous due to the nature, disposition or diseased condition of the animal. (B) A peace officer may destroy a dangerous animal if the peace officer reasonably believes that the animal presents a threat to a person's life. Source: 1992 Code Section 3-1-3(C); Ord. 031009-9; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 3-5-5 RELEASE OF DANGEROUS ANIMAL TO OWNER.

§ 3-5-5 - RELEASE OF DANGEROUS ANIMAL TO OWNER. (A) The health authority may not release a dangerous animal to its owner or handler unless the owner or handler: (1) pays all fees and charges assessed under this title, including the actual cost of care and feeding incurred by the animal shelter; or (2) makes payment arrangements acceptable to the health authority. (B) The health authority may not release a dangerous animal to its owner or handler unless the owner or handler agrees: (1) to remove the animal from within the city limits; (2) to confine the animal in a licensed veterinary clinic, zoo, shelter, museum, or educational or medical institution; or (3) to give the animal to a person holding a valid license or permit authorizing an attempt to rehabilitate the dangerous animal. Source: 1992 Code Section 3-1-3(E); Ord. 031009-9; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 3-5-6 AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE.

§ 3-5-6 - AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE. (A) Except as provided in Subsections (B) and (C), it is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this article that a dangerous animal is: (1) kept in a zoo, shelter, museum, or educational or medical institution; (2) kept for temporary public exhibition by a circus, carnival, or other traveling exhibition; (3) kept at or in transit to a licensed veterinary clinic; or (4) kept by a person holding a license or permit that authorizes the person to attempt to rehabilitate the dangerous animal. (B) A person may assert a defense under this section only if the person has provided proper care for the dangerous animal and securely confined the dangerous animal to prevent contact with humans. (C) A person may assert a defense under Subsections (A)(1), (2) or (3) only if the person is in compliance with the requirements prescribed by Section 3-5-2 (Insurance Required). Source: 1992 Code Sections 3-1-3(F) and (G); Ord. 031009-9; Ord. 031211-11.

Austin City Code § 3-5-7 RELEASE OR DESTRUCTION OF AN IMPOUNDED DANGEROUS ANIMAL.

§ 3-5-7 - RELEASE OR DESTRUCTION OF AN IMPOUNDED DANGEROUS ANIMAL. (A) Except as provided by Subsection (B), if the owner or handler of a dangerous animal does not reclaim the animal on or before the seventh day after the date the animal is impounded, the health authority may release custody and control of the animal to an animal shelter or impound facility. (B) The health authority may release a dangerous animal for destruction by an animal shelter or impound facility before the deadline prescribed in Subsection (A) if the health authority obtains an opinion from a veterinarian stating that the animal is sick or injured and that destruction is necessary to avoid unnecessary suffering by the animal. (C) An animal shelter or impound facility may dispose of, sell or destroy a dangerous animal released by the health authority under this title or state or local regulation. Source: 1992 Code Section 3-1-3(H); Ord. 031009-9; Ord. 031211-11.

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_CH3-5DAANFetched: 10/27/2026