Roof Rat Laws › Texas › Dallas
Summary. Good news if you live in Dallas: we checked the full city code, and Dallas is no stricter than Texas. Dallas bans only a specific list of dangerous and exotic animals (Sec. 7-6.1: dangerous wild animals per Texas Health & Safety Code 822.101 plus margay, badger, wolf, dingo, elephant, primates, crocodilians, venomous reptiles, etc.). Rats are not on that list, and Dallas sets no pet limit on rodents. A pet roof rat is allowed, the same as Texas. The only ‘rat’ mention in the code is about pest-control traps, not pet keeping.
legal note
This is a research aid, not legal advice; rules change and are interpreted by local officials. Verify with the official source before acting.Status by activity
Keeping / owning Legal
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-20
Dallas City Code ch. 7. The prohibited-animals list (Sec. 7-6.1) is dangerous/exotic species only and does not include rats; rodents are kept as pets with no numeric limit. The sole code reference to ‘rats’ concerns traps for pest control. Not stricter than Texas.
Sources: City of Dallas, Texas, Michigan State University College of Law (mirror of Dallas City Code)
Breeding Legal
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-20
No local rodent-breeding restriction or pet-rat cap; Texas imposes no state restriction.
Sources: City of Dallas, Texas, Michigan State University College of Law (mirror of Dallas City Code)
Selling or giving away Legal
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-20
No local restriction on giving or selling a pet rat; Texas state rules apply.
Sources: City of Dallas, Texas, Michigan State University College of Law (mirror of Dallas City Code)
Transport & import Legal
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-20
No local transport restriction on a pet rat; Texas state rules apply.
Sources: City of Dallas, Texas, Michigan State University College of Law (mirror of Dallas City Code)
Official sources
- Dallas City Code ch. 7, Sec. 7-6.1 (Prohibited animals; dangerous/exotic species, rats not listed), City of Dallas, Texas
- Dallas City Code ch. 7 (Animals), full text (Animal Legal & Historical Center mirror), Michigan State University College of Law (mirror of Dallas City Code)
Search terms: Rattus rattus, roof rat, pet, wild animal, prohibited animal.
Last reviewed 2026-06-20, which is when a person last read this page against its sources. Spotted an error, or know the law has changed? Email blonderoofrat@gmail.com. And if you write to the agency yourself and get an answer in writing, please forward it. Written agency replies are how 31 of these pages stopped being research and became confirmed.