Breed and Weight Limits in Texas for Service Dogs, ESAs and Pets
Texas cities cannot ban a breed, yet plenty of apartments still say "no pit bulls" or "25 pounds maximum." Whether that rule reaches your dog depends on who wrote it and whether your dog is trained.
Three Different Rule-Makers, Three Different Answers
Most confusion comes from mixing up public law with private contracts.
Cities and counties
Landlords and HOAs
Insurance companies
Does the Limit Apply to My Dog?
Pick two answers for a plain-language starting point. It is not legal advice.
Your starting point
Choose one option in each row to see how breed and weight limits usually work in that situation.
Breeds That Often Show Up on Texas Lease Lists
Restricted lists vary by property and insurer, but these names appear again and again.
Weight Limits and Big Working Dogs
Apartment caps are often far below the adult weight of common service dog breeds. Approximate adult weights:
Breed Rules Versus Texas Dangerous Dog Law
Texas separates a dog's appearance from what the dog has actually done.
| Question | Breed-based rule | Dangerous dog finding |
|---|---|---|
| What triggers it? | The dog's breed or appearance | An unprovoked attack or behavior that made someone reasonably fear injury |
| Can a Texas city impose it? | No, Section 822.047 bars breed-specific local rules | Yes, through animal control and the process in Chapter 822 |
| What does the owner have to do? | Nothing under public law; private leases may differ | Register the dog, restrain or securely enclose it, and carry at least $100,000 in liability coverage |
| Does it affect a service dog? | Should not decide access on its own | Yes, a dog's own dangerous conduct can justify exclusion |
Asking for an Exception When Your Dog Is Over the Limit
A request that shows the individual dog is safe carries more weight than any certificate.
Put it in writing
Name the rule you are asking to set aside, such as a breed list or a 40-pound cap.
Show the disability link
Include documentation from a licensed clinician. See the housing letter guide.
List the trained tasks
For a service dog, describe tasks and training history in plain terms.
Offer behavior evidence
A Canine Good Citizen title, trainer letter or prior landlord reference.
Add health records
Current rabies vaccination and local registration where required.
Offer to talk
An interactive conversation often solves insurance worries. If refused, use the denial rules.
What a Landlord Can Point To, and What It Cannot
Reasons that focus on the specific dog
- A direct threat shown by that dog's actual behavior
- Serious property damage the dog has caused and the handler has not controlled
- For untrained ESAs after 2026, a documented, individualized reason the request is not reasonable
Reasons that rely on stereotypes
- "We do not allow that breed" for a trained service dog, with nothing more
- "Big dogs damage units" without evidence about this dog
- Charging a service dog handler a pet deposit, which Texas law prohibits
Insurance Policies and Homeowners Associations
When insurance is the stated reason
Some landlords say their carrier will not cover certain breeds. Ask for the policy language in writing, offer proof of your own renters liability coverage, and ask whether another carrier without the exclusion is available.
Also compare what fees can be charged.
When the HOA writes the rule
Deed restrictions in Texas subdivisions and condos can limit pets, but the Fair Housing Act applies to associations as well as landlords. Send the request to the board or management company and keep a copy.
Board members in Houston-area master-planned communities often handle these requests.
Documentation That Supports an Exception Request
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Breed and Size Questions in Texas
Can a Texas city ban pit bulls?
No. Texas Health and Safety Code Section 822.047 prevents counties and cities from adopting dangerous dog rules that target a specific breed. Local rules must focus on a dog's behavior.
Can a Texas apartment refuse a service dog because of its breed or size?
Generally no. A trained service dog should be judged on its own behavior, not on breed or weight lists. A landlord may raise a direct threat or serious damage caused by that specific dog.
Do breed restrictions apply to emotional support animals in Texas in 2026?
They often can. Since May 2026 HUD no longer presumes that waiving pet policies for untrained emotional support animals is reasonable, so a tenant should ask in writing and explain why the particular animal is needed, while landlords decide case by case.
Can an HOA in Texas enforce a dog weight limit?
An HOA can enforce pet rules in its deed restrictions, but the Fair Housing Act also covers HOAs, so a resident with a trained service dog can request an exception as a reasonable accommodation.
Can airlines refuse a large service dog?
US airlines cannot ban service dogs by breed, but they may require the dog to fit within the handler's foot space or lap. A dog that does not fit may need to move to another flight or travel as cargo.
What happens if my dog is declared dangerous in Texas?
An owner of a dog found dangerous must register it with animal control, keep it restrained or in a secure enclosure, and carry at least $100,000 in liability coverage, among other requirements.
Related Texas Guides
General information about Texas breed and size rules, current as of September 2026. Lease terms, insurance policies and local ordinances vary; it is not legal advice.
Judge the Dog, Not the Breed List
Find out in a few minutes whether clinician documentation could support your request.
