Roof Rat Laws › Texas › San Antonio
Summary. Good news if you live in San Antonio: we checked, and San Antonio is no stricter than Texas. San Antonio’s animal code (ch. 5) prohibits a specific list of wild and dangerous species, such as monkeys and other primates, wolf hybrids, coyotes, foxes, exotic cats, bears, skunks, raccoons, pot-bellied pigs, and poisonous animals. Rats are not on that list, and the code sets no restriction on keeping a pet rat. 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
San Antonio City Code ch. 5 prohibits keeping a defined list of wild/dangerous species (primates, wolf hybrids, foxes, exotic cats, bears, skunks, raccoons, pot-bellied pigs, poisonous animals). Rats are not on that list, and no separate rule restricts pet rodents. Not stricter than Texas. Confidence medium pending a full read of the prohibited-species section, but rats are absent from the published list.
Sources: City of San Antonio, 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 San Antonio, 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 San Antonio, 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 San Antonio, Texas
Official sources
- San Antonio City Code ch. 5 (Animals; prohibited wild/dangerous species, rats not listed), City of San Antonio, 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.