Despite lack of statewide leash law, Houston dog owners still have responsibility under city code

In the wake of several violent dog attacks across the Houston area, questions are resurfacing about leash laws, ownership responsibility, and how local ordinances attempt to prevent tragedies.

Despite these alarming incidents, Texas does not have a statewide leash law. Instead, cities and counties are left to create and enforce their own animal control ordinances. In Houston, the city’s municipal code makes it clear: dog owners are not allowed to let their pets “run at large.”

Section 6-4 of the Houston Code of Ordinances states that allowing any domestic animal to roam freely is considered a nuisance and is against the law. The only exception is if the dog is inside a designated off-leash area, such as a dog park, where it must still remain under the owner’s immediate supervision and