Roof Rat Laws › Texas › Houston
Summary. Good news if you live in Houston: we checked, and Houston is no stricter than Texas. Houston regulates only ‘wild animals,’ which its code defines as species that are ‘wild by nature and, because of size, vicious nature or other characteristics, dangerous to human beings’ (City Code ch. 6, art. III). A domesticated pet rat is neither wild by nature nor dangerous, so it is not a regulated ‘wild animal,’ and the code sets no limit on pet rodents. A pet roof rat is allowed, the same as Texas.
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: Medium · Last verified 2026-06-20
Houston Code ch. 6 (Animals and Fowl), art. III (‘Keeping of Wild Animals’) applies only to animals that are ‘wild by nature’ and ‘dangerous to human beings.’ A domesticated pet rat is not dangerous and is not a ‘wild animal’ under that definition; no separate Houston rule restricts keeping pet rodents. Texas imposes no state restriction. Confidence medium pending a full read of the prohibited-species text, but the operative ‘dangerous wild animal’ definition clearly excludes a pet rat.
Sources: City of Houston, Texas
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 Houston, Texas
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 Houston, Texas
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 Houston, Texas
Official sources
- Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 6 art. III (Keeping of Wild Animals; ‘wild animal’ = wild by nature and dangerous to humans), City of Houston, Texas
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.