Who this guide fits

1. It fits anyone with a dog in or around Austin, Texas, who wants a place to let it run off leash, a patio that welcomes it, or the rules and safety facts the City, the state and veterinary sources set out. Each place comes with its address and the day it was checked. The guide sums up what those sources say; it isn't veterinary or legal advice, so call your vet where they say to.
2. Off leash, by part of town: north Austin (section 2), central Austin (section 3), south Austin (section 4) and the nearby towns (section 7).
3. A fence, for a dog that runs off: Georgetown's Dog Ranch and Round Rock's Dog Depot say they're fenced, and Lakeway's Bark Park calls itself "an enclosed area" (section 7).
4. Small dogs: separate small-dog areas at Georgetown's Bark Park and Dog Ranch (under 30 pounds), Round Rock's Dog Depot (under 40 pounds) and Bastrop's Bark Park (section 7).
5. Water to drink: Georgetown's Bark Park and Dog Ranch and Lakeway's Bark Park list water for dogs (section 7). Elsewhere, bring your own, and a bowl.
6. Water nearby: Auditorium Shores, Red Bud Isle, Riverside Shores and Barking Springs sit on Lady Bird Lake or on Barton Creek near it (section 3), and the Onion Creek Greenbelt, a strip of natural land along the creek, has a creek crossing (section 4). The City has found harmful algae at Red Bud Isle and in "the backwater area between the lake and Barton Springs pool", so read section 5 before your dog goes in.
7. Patios and bars: section 8. Hot days: section 6.
8. The rules, a lost dog, and places dogs can't go: sections 9 to 12.
9. It isn't the guide for hotels that take dogs, boarding or daycare; swimming for people (see "Swimming Holes Near Austin"); hiking with a dog on the Barton Creek Greenbelt (see the Greenbelt guide); or dogs at farmers markets (see the farmers markets guide).

The City's rules for off-leash areas

The City's six off-leash rules: leash on the way in and out, keep your dog in sight and sound control, no dogs in heat, aggressive dogs out at once, rabies shots, and pick up after it.

In Austin, a dog stays on a leash in public unless it's in an off-leash area, a place the City sets aside where a dog may run without one. The City puts it this way: "Austin City Code requires dogs to be on a leash in public areas, unless designated otherwise by City Code." Its rules for the off-leash areas, in its own words:

1. "Leash your dog when you walk them to and from the off-leash area"
2. "Dogs must be within sight and sound control of their humans/handlers at all times", which means your dog stays where you can see it, and comes back when you call.
3. "Dogs in heat are not allowed in off-leash areas"
4. "Aggressive dogs must be removed from public spaces immediately"
5. "Rabies vaccinations are required for all dogs by state law"
6. "Dog owners/handlers must clean up after their dogs and deposit waste into a trash can"

City parks are generally open "from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. unless otherwise posted", and the City warns that "Access can be limited or affected by events or maintenance issues." Its safety sheet for off-leash areas adds: "Bring water and a bowl so you and your dog stay hydrated.", "Have a tag on the collar with your current information" and "microchip your dog in case it runs off." For a puppy, the sheet says to wait "until 4 months after vaccinations are complete, so they can play without picking up a disease", and if another dog plays too rough, "take your dog to a new spot."

These rules fit the City's 19 areas (sections 2 to 4). The nearby towns set their own (section 7). The City's nature preserves, land protected as habitat for endangered species, are off limits to dogs: "Bikes and dogs (either on leash or off) are not allowed in preserves." To report a loose dog or a park problem, call 3-1-1, the City's line for non-emergencies, or 512-974-2000; in an emergency, call 911.

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. The leash law: "Austin City Code requires dogs to be on a leash in public areas, unless designated otherwise by City Code." Another City page: "By City Code, it is illegal to have dogs off-leash in public unless in a designated off-leash area."
2. Hours: "Generally, parks are open for public use each day from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. unless otherwise posted." No area has separate off-leash hours on the City's web pages; Emma Long's park keeps its own (section 2).
3. The City's safety sheet, "Austin Off-Leash Dog Park Safety": "Keep your dog on-leash when walking to/from the off-leash area." "Dogs are only allowed off-leash in designated areas." "Watch for signs of heat exhaustion like rapid panting, drooling and stumbling." (section 6)
4. Fencing, surfaces, water, parking and restrooms: the City keeps these in its PDF maps and guidelines; sections 2 to 4 give what its web pages say.
5. The map: the City's interactive off-leash map, experience.arcgis.com/experience/6cf5048c0d4d46198f1b75ac0bbadc65, and its yearly PDF map, both linked from its Dog Parks: Off-Leash Areas page.
6. Questions and reports: the City's off-leash email, dola@austintexas.gov; loose dogs and park problems, 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000; emergencies, 911.
7. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

Off-leash areas in north Austin

North Austin has seven of the City's off-leash areas; at Emma Long's Turkey Creek Trail, the City's own pages disagree on the leash, so check the signs before you unclip.

The City of Austin's interactive map lists seven off-leash areas in north Austin. Two have "Bark Park" or "Off Leash Area" in their names. The other five sit in a park, a greenbelt (a strip of natural land along a creek) or on a trail, and the City's pages don't always say where in the park the off-leash part is, so keep the leash on until you're inside it, as the City's rules say (section 1). None of the City's pages for these seven says whether the area is fenced or has water for dogs, so bring water and a bowl.

1. Canyon Ridge Bark Park, 12210 Tech Ridge Blvd.: a park of about a third of an acre. Not to be confused with Canyon Ridge Pocket Park, 101 Canyon Ridge Dr.
2. Davis-White Northeast Neighborhood Park, 6705 Crystalbrook Dr.: about 20 acres, with a 0.57-mile trail shared by walkers and cyclists. Where in the park the off-leash area is isn't stated.
3. Emma Long Metropolitan Park, Turkey Creek Trail, 2100 City Park Rd.: a 1.92-mile trail the City's Trail Directory lists as "Shared Use (Hike/Off-leash)". The park's own page says "Pets must remain on leash and under the control of the owner at all times." Check the signs at the trail. Emma Long, one of the City's large metropolitan parks, is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and charges an entry fee by the vehicle, higher from Friday to Sunday and on holidays. For those days its page tells visitors to buy a day pass online ahead, and in one place says "No entry without a day pass reservation", so buy one before you go. Whether the Turkey Creek trailhead is inside the park's fee gate isn't stated (the details).
4. Great Northern Dam Far West Off Leash Area, 7001 Great Northern Blvd.: about 10 acres, and the one park in the City's Park Directory named as an off-leash area.
5. Little Walnut Creek Greenbelt, 6201 Springdale Rd.: a wooded greenbelt "near the intersection of 51st Street and US-183 in East Austin", with an off-leash area off Springdale Road, built by the City with the Austin Parks Foundation alongside a trailhead and a play area.
6. Oertli Neighborhood Park, 12613 Blaine Rd.: a 6-acre park. Where in the park the off-leash area is isn't stated.
7. Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park, 12138 N. Lamar Blvd.: about 296 acres, with trails of 5.32 and 10 miles shared by walkers and cyclists. Where in the park the off-leash area is isn't stated.

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. The City's list, its North Austin group on the map, in its order: "Canyon Ridge Bark Park", "Davis/White NE", "Emma Long Metro", "Far West", "Little Walnut Creek GB", "Oertli NP", "Walnut Creek Metro" (GB for greenbelt, NP for neighborhood park, NE for northeast).
2. Hours: City parks are generally open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. "unless otherwise posted"; Emma Long is open "year-round from 7:00am to 10:00pm".
3. Sizes, from the City's Park Directory: Canyon Ridge Bark Park, 0.336 acres; Davis-White, 19.694; Great Northern Dam Far West, 10.2832; Little Walnut Creek, 214.532 (206 on its project page); Oertli, 6; Walnut Creek, 295.95; Emma Long, 1,147.2.
4. Emma Long's entry: $5 a vehicle Monday to Thursday, $10 Friday to Sunday and holidays, and $1 to walk or bike in; day passes sold online for Friday to Sunday and holidays (its page says both "Walk-ins are welcome until sold-out, or park reaches capacity." and "No entry without a day pass reservation."), walk-in and bike-in passes paid online from Thursday to Sunday, with no roadside parking outside the park for walking in without one. The park's address is 1600 City Park Rd.; whether Turkey Creek Trail users pass the fee gate isn't stated.
5. Little Walnut Creek: the City's project page for the greenbelt lists a drinking fountain among its plans; check it for whether the fountain is in.
6. Davis-White's trail is listed at 5700 Loyola Ln., a different address from the park's.
7. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

Off-leash areas in central Austin

Central Austin has nine of the City's off-leash areas, and four sit on Lady Bird Lake or on Barton Creek near it: read section 5 before your dog goes in the water.

The City of Austin's map lists nine off-leash areas in central Austin. Four are by the water, and on Lady Bird Lake the City has found harmful blue-green algae (section 5). Keep your dog on its leash until you're inside the area.

1. Auditorium Shores, in the City's Town Lake Metropolitan Park (Town Lake is Lady Bird Lake's earlier name): about 48 acres on Lady Bird Lake. The City's Park Directory lists no street address. The City says the algae "have been found in Lady Bird Lake and are most likely to be present during summer and fall."
2. Jain Bark Park, 8400 Jain Ln.: a park of almost 3 acres.
3. Red Bud Isle, 3401 Red Bud Trl.: about 17.5 acres, with a half-mile trail and shoreline on Lady Bird Lake "near Tom Miller Dam". The City names Red Bud Isle among the places it has found harmful algae, so read section 5 before your dog goes in.
4. Riverside Shores, 1009 Edgecliff Terrace: about 21 acres, also in Town Lake Metropolitan Park. Whether dogs can reach the lake here isn't stated; if yours can, section 5 applies.
5. Shoal Creek Greenbelt, in Pease Park: the Pease Park Conservancy, not the City, puts the off-leash area "between 24th Street and 29th Street", in Gaston Green; dogs stay on a leash in the rest of Pease Park. The Conservancy lists a 34-space lot just north of 26th Street, off Lamar Boulevard. Landslides in 2018 and 2019 closed the trail along this stretch, with a detour on the North Lamar Boulevard sidewalk, and the City's pages don't say whether the closure touches the off-leash area, so check the City's closures page and the signs before you go.
6. Triangle Commons Neighborhood Park, 722 W. 46th St.: about 6 acres, with a 0.3-mile trail.
7. West Austin Neighborhood Park, 1317 W. 10th St.: about 3 acres.
8. Zilker Park, the Great Lawn, 2100 Barton Springs Rd.: one of Zilker's two off-leash areas; which part of the lawn is off-leash isn't stated. The lawn closes for events in the park, so check the City's closures page before you go. Barking Springs, below, is the one by the water.
9. Zilker Park, Barking Springs: the City calls it the "Barton Springs Spillway (often called 'Barking Springs')", Barton Creek just below Barton Springs Pool, where it runs toward Lady Bird Lake. The City lists "the backwater area between the lake and Barton Springs pool" among the places it has found harmful algae, so read section 5 before your dog goes in.

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. The City's list, its Central Austin group on the map, in its order: "Auditorium Shores", "Jain Bark Park", "Red Bud Isle", "Riverside Shores", "Shoal Creek GB", "Triangle Commons", "West Austin", "Zilker Great Lawn", "Zilker Barking Springs".
2. Sizes, from the City's Park Directory: Auditorium Shores, 47.7358 acres; Jain Bark Park, 2.8426; Red Bud Isle, 17.5028 (its trail, 0.52 mile); Riverside Shores, 21.4016; Shoal Creek Greenbelt, 94.7596, listed at 2600 N. Lamar Blvd. (its trail, 6.82 miles); Triangle Commons, 6.05 (its trail, 0.30 mile); West Austin, 3.27; Zilker, 274.615.
3. Riverside Shores and the Norwood Tract: the map's older list for phones names "Norwood Tract at Town Lake Metro Park" and no Riverside Shores, and the City's Norwood House page mentions "an adjacent off-leash dog area" by the house on Edgecliff Terrace. They appear to be one area under two names.
4. Shoal Creek, by the Pease Park Conservancy: "Dogs should be on-leash in Pease Park except for the off-leash area between 24th Street and 29th Street." Its lots: Gaston Green, just north of 26th Street off Lamar Boulevard, 34 spaces; the Lamar Senior Center, 2874 Shoal Crest Ave., 33. Its rules: "Owners must pick up after their pet."; "All dogs brought to the park should be current on all vaccinations, be spayed or neutered, and flea and tick free."; "Dogs who display aggressive behavior will be asked to leave."; and, for its splash pad, "Please do not allow your dogs to enter the water feature."
5. The Shoal Creek closure: landslides blocked the creek and trail at about 26th to 27th Street, by the Shoal Creek Conservancy's account, and the City lists closures of this stretch on its closures page. Check it, and the signs, before you go.
6. Zilker: the City's Zilker page says nothing about dogs. "Regular weekend and holiday parking is $3 per hour" (for the season, see the Greenbelt guide, section 2).
7. Barking Springs: the City says the spillway "remains popular year-round", and its restoration work there includes "selective exclusion fencing", fences that keep people and dogs off ground being replanted.
8. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

Off-leash areas in south Austin

In south Austin, go to the right entrance: Onion Creek's off-leash area is in the greenbelt, entered at 6800 Onion Creek Drive, and Mary Moore Searight's off-leash trail starts at its own address, 9500 S. 1st St.

The City of Austin's map lists three off-leash areas in south Austin. Two of them sit inside big parks with other uses, so the address matters.

1. Carson Ridge Bark Park, 2409 Montopolis Dr.: a park of about 1 acre, next to Carson Ridge Pocket Park, 2405 Montopolis Dr.
2. Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park, Off-Leash Trail, 9500 S. 1st St.: a 1.22-mile trail the City lists for walking and off-leash dogs. The park's main address is 907 W. Slaughter Ln., and its other two trails, a 3.97-mile trail for walkers and cyclists and a 2.07-mile trail shared with horses, aren't off-leash.
3. Onion Creek Greenbelt, entered at 6800 Onion Creek Drive: the greenbelt lies next to Onion Creek Metropolitan Park, and the City says it "contains additional nature trails, an off-leash area, playground, picnic areas and creek crossing". The City added parking "for the adjacent Onion Creek Greenbelt off-leash area and playground". The park's north section, next door, has a restroom and a one-mile loop trail of decomposed granite, finely crushed granite that packs into a firm path. If your dog heads for the creek, read section 5 first.
4. Circle C Ranch Metropolitan Park, 6301 W. Slaughter Ln.: not on the City's map list. A City project page describes a permanent off-leash area of "approximately one-half acre" "near the entrance from Slaughter Lane", with fencing and gates, to replace a temporary one. Check that page for whether either is open before you go.

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. The City's list, its South Austin group on the interactive map, in its order: "Carson Ridge Bark Park", "Mary Moore Searight", "Onion Creek GB".
2. Sizes, from the City's Park Directory: Carson Ridge Bark Park, 0.961 acres; Mary Moore Searight, 342.4702; Onion Creek Greenbelt, 323.6675, listed at 7004 Onion Creek Dr. (its 2.16-mile trail at 7002; the entrance the City gives is 6800).
3. Mary Moore Searight's trails (the Trail Directory): the Off-Leash Trail, "Shared Use (Hike and Off-Leash)", 1.22 miles, at 9500 S. 1st St.; the park trail, shared by walkers and cyclists, 3.97 miles, at 907 W. Slaughter Ln.; the equestrian trail, for walkers, cyclists and horses, 2.07 miles.
4. Onion Creek: "The entrance to this north part of the metropolitan park and the Onion Creek Greenbelt is located at 6800 Onion Creek Drive." The park's south entrance, 8652 Nuckols Crossing Road, serves its other section. The north section "contains a one-mile decomposed granite loop trail system, parking lot, restroom, large group pavilion"; whether the off-leash area itself is decomposed granite isn't stated.
5. Circle C: the City's project page describes a permanent off-leash area near the Slaughter Lane entrance, with fencing and entry gates, accessible parking and protection of heritage oak trees, to replace a temporary one; check it for which is open. The City's 2025 trial area at Circle C ended, and community input led to the permanent plan.
6. Hours: City parks are generally open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. "unless otherwise posted"; none of these areas posts its own off-leash hours on the City's pages.
7. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

Before your dog goes in the water

Before your dog goes in a lake or creek, look at the water: stay out if it's warm, stagnant or scummy, or if it rained in the past three days; rinse your dog before it licks its fur; and call a vet if it gets sick.

Blue-green algae are tiny organisms, a kind of bacteria, that grow in lakes, ponds and creek pools. Some make cyanotoxins, poisons that can sicken or kill a dog. The City of Austin has found harmful algae on Lady Bird Lake, at Red Bud Isle and in "the backwater area between the lake and Barton Springs pool", in Lake Austin and Lake Travis, and in Barton Creek below Sculpture Falls, and it ties dog deaths in Austin to the toxins. LCRA, the Lower Colorado River Authority, which tests water in the Highland Lakes, says the toxins "cannot be detected by sight, smell or touch", and that "Dogs are especially at risk through ingestion": they swallow the water and lick their wet fur.

The City's advice, in its words:

1. Don't go in if "Water is warm or stagnant or you see scum, film, or algae." or if "There has been rain in the past three days."
2. "Treat all algae like it may be toxic and do not enter water when algae is present."
3. "Rinse skin or animal fur after contact with water." and "Do not allow dogs to lick their fur prior to rinsing."
4. "If your pets or livestock seem sick after going in or near water, contact a veterinarian right away."

Bring clean water, so your dog doesn't drink from the lake: LCRA's advice is to "Provide clean drinking water for pets near the lake." LCRA says symptoms "can appear within minutes and include vomiting, seizures, and in severe cases, death." The City's dog guide puts it plainly: "Make sure you follow signs and only allow your dog to swim where it's allowed and when it's safe." This fits anyone whose dog goes in or near the water at Red Bud Isle, Auditorium Shores, Riverside Shores, Barking Springs or Onion Creek's crossing, or on the Greenbelt or the Highland Lakes (see those guides). It sums up what the City and LCRA say; it isn't veterinary advice, so call your vet.

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. Dog deaths, by the City's page: "In Austin, the deaths of six dogs have been attributed to toxins since 2019." "It is believed they swallowed blue-green algae."
2. Where, by the City: "Since 2019, we have become aware of harmful algae proliferations on Lady Bird Lake" "including locations such as Red Bud Isle and the backwater area between the lake and Barton Springs pool." "We have even seen a harmful algae bloom in Barton Creek below Sculpture Falls." Its dog page says the algae "are most likely to be present during summer and fall."
3. What it looks like: "They usually look like dark green or dark blueish-green slimy blobs." An algae mat is a floating or shoreline clump of algae.
4. Testing: the City watches three sites on each of the two lakes. "Fortunately, the toxins have only rarely been found in water samples." "Sample results may take weeks to return". LCRA, which tests the Highland Lakes, says its testing "has not detected cyanotoxins in water samples at levels that would be harmful to humans or pets", though toxins have been found in the algae itself in past years.
5. If your dog gets sick: a vet, right away. The City's page also lists the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center (the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), 888-426-4435, and the Pet Poison Helpline, 855-764-7661: "Note that there is a fee for these calls." The City asks people to report a suspected illness on Austin Public Health's form, linked from its algae page.
6. Lady Bird Lake: "It is illegal for any person to swim, bathe, wade or go into the waters of Lady Bird Lake". The City's pages say nothing either way about dogs.
7. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

Heat and hot cars

Heat can creep up on a dog in 10 minutes of play: bring water and a bowl, walk in the cooler hours and on grass, test the pavement with your hand, and never leave your dog in a parked car.

Heat stress, a dog's body getting hotter than it can handle, "can really start after just 10 minutes of a good play session and it's really subtle," says Texas A&M's College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. A dog's normal temperature is "typically 100 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit", heat stress can begin two degrees above it, and heatstroke, the dangerous stage that can kill, comes at 106 degrees.

Before you go, the City says to bring "plenty of fresh drinking water and a bowl", to walk your dog on grass when you can, and to avoid "the hottest part of the day"; the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) says to walk "during the cooler hours of the day". The City warns that "asphalt and dark pavement can become hot enough to burn or blister your pet's paws", and Texas A&M's test is simple: "if the pavement or concrete is too hot for your hand, it is too hot for your pet's paws."

Watch for what the City calls the signs of overheating: "extreme panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart rate," "excessive drooling, glazed eyes, deep red or purple tongue, dizziness or lack of coordination, vomiting". Very old, very young and overweight dogs are at more risk, the City says, and so are short-muzzled breeds, flat-faced dogs such as boxers, pugs, shih tzus and French bulldogs. If your dog overheats, Texas A&M says to start active cooling at once, putting "room temperature water on their bodies" and blowing a fan over them, in shade or air conditioning, "and then seek veterinary care"; the AVMA says to seek emergency veterinary care when the signs appear. Either way, call your vet.

Never leave your dog in a parked car: "Never leave your pet in the car, even with the windows down," Austin Animal Services says. By the City's figures, "On an 80-degree day, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach 94 degrees in just two minutes" "and exceed 120 degrees in less than an hour," and "Cracking the windows does not significantly reduce the temperature inside a vehicle." The AVMA says the danger holds "even if the car is left in the shade." If you see a dog in danger in a parked car, the City's advice for suspected cruelty applies: call 3-1-1, its line for non-emergencies, or 911 "if the animal is in immediate danger".

This fits anyone out with a dog in an Austin summer, and owners of short-muzzled, old, young or overweight dogs in particular. It sums up what these sources say; it isn't veterinary advice.

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. Texas A&M ("Too Hot to Handle", 23 Jul 2026): "A technical heat stroke is when their temperature rises to 106 degrees Fahrenheit,"; check pavement when it's above 90 degrees; early signs include "Panting or mouth breathing", "An elongated tongue" and "Seeking shade and water"; "Do not delay cooling"; "If your pet continues rapidly breathing and experiencing weakness or lethargy after proper cool-off time, contact your veterinarian."
2. Austin Animal Services: "In heat waves, add ice to water when possible." "Animals are at particular risk for heat stroke if they are very old, very young, overweight," "or have heart or respiratory disease."
3. The City's off-leash safety sheet: "Watch for signs of heat exhaustion like rapid panting, drooling and stumbling." Heat exhaustion is the earlier, milder stage of overheating.
4. The AVMA: "Seek emergency veterinary care if you observe any of these signs:" "Anxiousness", "Excessive panting", "Restlessness", "Excessive drooling", "Unsteadiness", "Abnormal gum and tongue color", "Collapse". "Overweight pets and short-nosed dog breeds have higher risk of problems with warm-weather exercise." In a parked car, "the temperature inside your vehicle can rise about 20 degrees Fahrenheit in just 10 minutes"; "And cracking the windows makes no difference."
5. Walk times: no source gives clock hours or a temperature cut-off.
6. Who to call: suspected cruelty, 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000; 911 "if the animal is in immediate danger". "Animal cruelty investigations are handled by Austin Police Department."
7. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

Dog parks in nearby towns: Georgetown, Round Rock, Lakeway, Bastrop, Bee Cave, Kyle and Cedar Park

If your dog needs a fence or a small-dog side, the nearby towns' pages say more than Austin's: Georgetown's Dog Ranch and Round Rock's Dog Depot say they're fenced, with separate areas for small dogs.

Seven towns around Austin list a dog park on a city page: Georgetown, Round Rock, Lakeway, Bastrop, Bee Cave, Kyle and Cedar Park. Each town sets its own rules, so read the town's page before you go: Georgetown posts 26 rules on its Bark Park page, and Round Rock wants dogs microchipped.

1. Georgetown: Bark Park, 151 Holly St. The City of Georgetown's "first public off-leash dog park" covers about 6 acres in a pecan grove "providing significant shade", with separate areas for small dogs (under 30 pounds) and large dogs, water fountains with a dog bowl, an agility course (jumps, ramps and tunnels for dogs), stations with bags for dog waste, benches and a loop trail. It's open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., and no fee is listed. The City's page mentions "an enclosed area" and "the small dog enclosure", without the word "fenced".
2. Georgetown: the Dog Ranch at Garey Park, 6450 Ranch to Market Road 2243. The off-leash Dog Ranch has "4.5 acres of fenced natural area", with "separate fenced areas for small and large dogs", "five shaded picnic shelters and water stations with dog drinking fountains". It's "a natural ranch setting" that "may include plants or critters that can poke or sting your furry friend." Garey Park charges entry by the person, less for Georgetown residents, who show proof of residency, and nothing for children 3 and under. Its hours change with the season (the details). Garey Park posts a notice on its page when part of the Dog Ranch is closed, so check it, or call 512-930-6800, before you go with a large dog.
3. Round Rock: Dog Depot, 800 Deerfoot Drive, behind Lake Creek Pool. "The fenced park" covers 1.85 acres, with agility pieces, a large-dog area, a small-dog area for dogs under 40 pounds, and a third area rested in turn so the grass can grow back. Its entrances are double gates with a small pen between them, built "to make it harder for dogs to escape." The City of Round Rock's rule: "All dogs must be vaccinated and have a microchip." No food, treats or glass. Restrooms are at the Lake Creek Park pavilion, outside the dog park. Its hours change with the season (the details).
4. Lakeway: Bark Park, inside City Park, 502 Hurst Creek Road, on the park's lower level. "The Bark Park is an enclosed area", with "A Pet Water Station". Take no more than two dogs in at a time, and no female dog in season, that is, in heat. City Park opens at 6 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. in daylight saving time and at 8 p.m. in standard time. Lakeway's parks are "free and open to the public", residents or not.
5. Bastrop: Bark Park, 101 Grady Tuck Ln. A "Small Dog Play Area", a "Large Dog Play Area", a "Dog Shower Station" for rinsing dogs, and two dog waste stations. Bastrop's city parks are open daily, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
6. Bee Cave: Central Park, just west of the intersection of Bee Cave Parkway and 620. The City of Bee Cave says the park "features restrooms, water fountains, a dog park and shaded play structures". Its pages give no other details of the dog park, and no street address.
7. Kyle: Steeplechase Park, 295 Hallie Drive, and La Verde Park, 3901 Burnham Road. The City of Kyle lists a dog park at each, in parks open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., both with restrooms. Fencing, small-dog areas and rules aren't stated; La Verde lists drinking fountains, without saying where they are.
8. Cedar Park: Cedar Bark Park, 2525 West New Hope Drive. A listing in the City of Cedar Park's facility directory, with the parks department's phone number, 512-401-5500, and a photo captioned "dog jumping into water". Nothing else is stated, so call before you go.

Travis County's parks have no off-leash areas: "Pets are welcome at most of our parks and are required to be kept on leash at all times", on a leash "not to exceed six feet in length". That covers its parks around Spicewood, Del Valle and Manchaca, which lie outside any city. Some county parks bar pets entirely (section 11).

No city dog park is listed on the park pages of Manor (9 park listings) or Jonestown (6). Pflugerville's park pages don't list its parks one by one, and Dripping Springs, West Lake Hills, Rollingwood and Buda mention none on their home pages. For those towns, and for Leander, Liberty Hill, San Marcos, Wimberley, Hutto, Lago Vista, Taylor, Lockhart, Elgin, Jarrell and New Braunfels, check the town's own parks page: any of them may have one. Hays County and Bastrop County list no dog park in their parks. Fredericksburg's visitor site mentions "the Fredericksburg dog park", with no name or address. In Leander, Dog House Drinkery is a private off-leash park with a bar (section 8).

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. Georgetown's rules, nearly the same at both parks (some of the 26 on the Bark Park page): "All dogs must have current rabies and all other vaccinations as required by the City of Georgetown"; "Dogs must wear current license tags in the dog park."; the rabies tag "attached to their dog's collar"; "Dogs in heat are prohibited."; "Dogs under 4 months of age are prohibited."; "there is a limit of 2 dogs per adult in the dog park at any time"; "Children under 12 years of age must be under strict adult supervision." Dogs are leashed in and out, and owners carry a leash; no food or drink but water, no glass, no spiked collars, no smoking. Bites: 512-930-3510. Maintenance or rule problems: Georgetown Parks and Recreation, 512-930-3595.
2. Garey Park: $2 a person for Georgetown residents and $5 for nonresidents; 3 and under, no charge; annual passes $75 and $125. Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from 1 April to 30 September and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from 1 October to 31 March, with no entry in the last 30 minutes; closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. "Dogs are not permitted on the splash pad."
3. Round Rock: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. from 1 April to 1 October, and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. from 2 October to 31 March; 512-218-5540. "Aggressive dogs are not permitted in the dog park." Its page doesn't mention water, shade, a fee, tags, dogs in heat or a limit on dogs per person.
4. Lakeway's rules, in short: watch your dog and your children, don't leave your dog alone, use the "doggy pot container" for waste, "Take no more than two dogs at any one time into the enclosure.", no smoking or eating "inside the fenced area", no female dog in season, and leash and unleash "in the designated area".
5. Bastrop: the City's Bark Park improvements page mentions repairing the fence where needed, and a water bowl area and a watering station.
6. Kyle: both parks list dog waste stations; Steeplechase Park sits at the corner of Lehman Road and Hallie Drive.
7. Travis County: "Pets are defined as dogs and cats."; pets "shall not be left unattended or constitute a nuisance"; "Noisy, vicious, or dangerous animals are not permitted, as determined on site by park staff." Owners remove their pet's waste. Each of the nine county park pages checked lists "Off-leash pets" as prohibited.
8. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

Dogs on patios and at bars

A Texas restaurant may welcome dogs in its outdoor dining area under six conditions set by state law, so look for the posted sign that says dogs are permitted, or ask.

A 2019 Texas law, Health and Safety Code section 437.025 (the Health and Safety Code is the part of state law that covers public health), lets a restaurant or other food business allow customers' dogs in its outdoor dining area, such as a patio, deck, porch, sidewalk tables or beer garden (the law doesn't define the term). It's the business's choice. The law says it "may permit a customer to be accompanied by a dog in an outdoor dining area" if six conditions are met, in the law's words:

1. "the establishment posts a sign in a conspicuous location in the area stating that dogs are permitted;" Conspicuous means easy to see.
2. "the customer and dog access the area directly from the exterior of the establishment;"
3. "the dog does not enter the interior of the establishment;"
4. "the customer keeps the dog on a leash and controls the dog;"
5. "the customer does not allow the dog on a seat, table, countertop, or similar surface; and"
6. in the area, the business doesn't "prepare food" or "permit open food other than food that is being served to a customer."

The same section says a city "may not adopt or enforce an ordinance, rule, or similar measure that imposes a requirement" on a business "for a dog in an outdoor dining area that is" "more stringent than" those conditions. So the sign is the everyday check: if there's no sign, ask before you sit down with your dog. This sums up the law; it isn't legal advice.

Service animals are a separate matter. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA, the federal disability law), "Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities," and "Establishments that sell or prepare food must generally allow service animals in public areas" "even if state or local health codes prohibit animals on the premises." The Texas patio conditions "do not apply to a service animal". Comfort dogs aren't service animals: "Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA."

Places whose own sites say dogs are welcome (checked 13 Oct 2026). They're here because their own words say so; it isn't a ranking, and a place's rules can change, so check with it or call first:

1. Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden, 79, 81 and 81.5 Rainey Street: the summary its site gives search engines ends "live music, and dogs welcome."; its pages say nothing more about dogs.
2. The ABGB (The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company), 1305 West Oltorf Street: its About page invites guests to hang out "in the shade of our beer garden with your pup, friends, and fellow Austinites."
3. Dog House Drinkery, 3800 County Road 175, Leander: an off-leash dog park with "A dog-friendly bar" and "A fully fenced, half-acre main off-leash play yard". Dogs get in with a day pass or an annual pass, and its page says "Bring current vaccination proof for every dog." It's closed on Mondays except for announced events, so check its page before you go (the details).

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. The law: Senate Bill 476, in effect since 1 September 2019, added section 437.025 to the Texas Health and Safety Code. The state's food establishment rules (section 228.172, effective 8 August 2021) repeat the six conditions, with a sign stating that dogs are "allowed", and exempt "service animals or service animals in training".
2. Austin: Austin Public Health's food permit pages and its permit fee schedule list no dog-patio permit, fee or list of approved patios. Its resource library offers businesses a "No Pets - Service Animals Only Poster".
3. Service animals (ADA.gov): staff may ask two questions, whether the dog is a service animal required because of a disability and "what work or task has the dog been trained to perform", and can't ask about the person's disability or ask for documentation. A handler can be asked to remove the dog if "the dog is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it" or "the dog is not housebroken." Service animals "must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered," "unless the individual's disability prevents using these devices".
4. Banger's: Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; 512-386-1656.
5. The ABGB: Tuesday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 11 p.m., opening at 11 a.m. for college football in the fall; Sunday, noon to 10 p.m.; Monday isn't listed.
6. Dog House Drinkery: its page lists "Trained park supervisors who monitor dog interactions" and says "Enjoy a drink, meet other dog lovers, and relax on the patio while your dog plays nearby." A day pass is $8 and an annual pass $200, plus $50 for each extra dog. Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.; Monday, "Closed except for announced special events". "Hours may change because of weather or special events."
7. Checked on 13 Oct 2026 (Dog House Drinkery at its www address).

The law and the basics

Five rules go with your dog across Austin: rabies shots by 4 months of age, a leash in public outside off-leash areas, the waste picked up, any bite reported, and no leaving it tied up outside.

1. Rabies. "The state of Texas requires that dogs and cats be vaccinated against rabies by 4 months of age," the Texas Department of State Health Services says, and "The vaccination must be administered by a licensed veterinarian." Boosters, the repeat shots that keep the vaccine working, follow the vaccine maker's schedule, and "Local jurisdictions may require more frequent rabies vaccination intervals." When you travel with your dog, carry its rabies certificate, signed by the vet who gave the shot. Austin Animal Services sponsors low-cost vaccines at Emancipet's mobile clinics.
2. The leash. "Austin City Code requires dogs to be on a leash in public areas, unless designated otherwise by City Code." The exceptions are the City's off-leash areas (sections 1 to 4). The City's wildlife pages advise a leash 6 feet or shorter, and its dog guide says "We suggest not using a retractable leash". At home, a dog off its leash has to be behind a fence: "If there is no fence, just an open yard, then it is not allowed."
3. The waste. City Code section 3-4-6, as the City quotes it: "An owner or handler shall promptly remove and sanitarily dispose of feces left on public or private property" "by a dog or cat being handled by the person, other than property owned by the owner or handler of the dog or cat." In plain words, pick up after your dog anywhere but your own property. The City's method: "Pick up the poop, then turn the bag inside out and seal it." "Never leave it on the ground or throw it in a storm drain."
4. Bites. "All animal bites must be reported to Animal Protection." Animal Protection is the rabies control authority, the office that handles bites and rabies cases, for the City of Austin and unincorporated Travis County, the parts of the county outside any city. Call 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000.
5. Tying up. Tethering, tying a dog to something with a chain or rope, "within the city limits of Austin is prohibited by city ordinance unless the owner is physically present with the dog."
6. Licenses. The City's Animal Services pages don't mention a license or registration for an ordinary pet dog. The one registration they describe is for a dog ruled dangerous: "Register the dog as dangerous with the City of Austin and pay an annual $50 fee." To be sure about your own dog, ask 3-1-1.

Nearby towns add their own: Georgetown's dog parks want current license tags and the rabies tag on the collar (section 7). This sums up the rules; it isn't legal advice.

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. Rabies, by the state: in Texas, "the most commonly infected animals include skunks, bats, coyotes, and foxes." A vaccinated pet exposed to rabies is revaccinated at once and "restrained (leashing and confinement) for 45 days"; an unvaccinated one bitten by a known rabid animal is to be euthanized, or, if the owner refuses, vaccinated and "placed in strict isolation for 90 days."
2. Bites, by the state: "PER STATE LAW, ALL ANIMAL BITES TO A HUMAN MUST BE REPORTED TO THE LOCAL RABIES CONTROL" authority, and a healthy dog that bites a person is "observed for 10 days (240 hours) from the time of the exposure". In Austin, "Animals that are currently vaccinated and were restrained at the time the bite occurred" "may qualify for home observation."
3. The leash, in the City's dog guide: "Keep dogs on a leash and under control in all areas that are not designated as 'off-leash'". If a loose dog rushes yours: "In general, if your dog was on-leash, you are not in violation of the City leash laws." Report loose dogs to 3-1-1.
4. Why the waste matters, by the City: "There are more than 250,000 dogs in Austin—that's about 150,000 pounds of waste every day."
5. Tethering and open vehicles: "A tethered dog must be able to get away from standing water and have access to drinkable water" "as well as shade from direct sunlight." A pet riding in an open vehicle must be confined so it can't fall or jump out (the City's dog guide).
6. Dangerous dogs: owners must also "Restrain the dog at all times on a leash in the immediate control of a person or in a secure enclosure."
7. Fines: the City's pages give no amounts.
8. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

Lost and found

If your dog goes missing, check Austin Animal Services in person, and don't wait: it holds a stray for 72 hours before the dog can be adopted out or moved to another group.

Austin Animal Services, the City's shelter, is at 7201 Levander Loop, Building A; call 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000. The City says "Stray pets are held for 72 hours and then are released for adoption or transfer." Its pages give different closing times for reclaiming a pet, 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., so call before you go. To reclaim your dog, bring a photo ID and proof it's yours, "such as veterinarian records or a photo ID of your pet", to the Reclaim Desk in the Adoption Lobby. If you can't come at once, call the reclaim line, 512-978-0556.

If your dog is lost, the City's checklist runs like this:

1. "Check your home thoroughly, then extend out to the neighborhood."
2. Text "lostatx" to 844-764-2125 for tips.
3. Post clear photos on social media and neighborhood sites.
4. "If your pet has a microchip, contact the microchip company to ensure they have your current contact information."
5. File a lost-pet report on Petco Love Lost, and search its found-pet reports.
6. "Post flyers with photos, talk to neighbors, and ask them to keep an eye out."
7. "Visit Animal Services as well as other local shelters and rescues regularly in case your pet has been brought in."

If you find a dog, have it scanned for a microchip right away: the City says "any vet clinic or emergency vet can scan it for a microchip" "and call the owner". If there's a tag and you can read it safely, call the number on it. Text "foundatx" to 844-764-2125, and if the dog is sick or hurt, call 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000.

A microchip is a tiny chip a vet places under a dog's skin. "Microchips do not track pets but they do contain a unique number", which a scanner reads and the chip company links to you, so keep your details current with the company. Austin Animal Services gives microchips at no charge for dogs and cats belonging to residents of Austin and unincorporated Travis County, the parts of the county outside any city, and pet ID tags at no charge in its lobby, and a chip can be registered at no cost through 24Pet. The City's off-leash advice: "Have a tag on the collar with your current information" and "microchip your dog in case it runs off."

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. Address and phones: 7201 Levander Loop, Building A, Austin, Texas 78702; 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000; the reclaim line, 512-978-0556, or animal.reclaim@austintexas.gov ("The hotline is answered daily during business hours.").
2. Hours, as the City's pages give them: the Lost and Found page says 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily in its lost-pet checklist, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily for its Reclaim Department; the home and contact pages say 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Microchips: weekdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the home page, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on its services page. "All dogs must arrive on leash and cats must be contained in secure carriers."
3. Reclaim fees: not listed on the City's page.
4. Scanners: "Austin Animal Services, any area animal shelter, veterinarian offices, fire stations" and Tomlinson's feed stores have scanners, the City says.
5. The checklist's other sites, by the City: Facebook groups, Nextdoor and Craigslist for photos, and PawBoost for an alert.
6. Help for a finder: "Austin Animal Services can help with supplies as well as medical and adoption support," through its Finder to Foster program.
7. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

Buses, pools and places dogs can't go

Some places bar dogs even on a leash: CapMetro carries service animals but no pets, Barton Springs Pool lists "Pets" under "Do NOT bring", and the City's nature preserves and some Travis County parks bar dogs outright.

CapMetro, Austin's public transit agency, bans "Boarding with a pet that is not a service animal (pets, emotional support or comfort animals are not allowed)." On CapMetro a service animal must be "under the full control of their handler at all times", and it can't ride in a cart or stroller or take a seat.

Barton Springs Pool lists "Pets" under "Do NOT bring", and the City's pool pages mention no dog swim day. People may not swim in Lady Bird Lake, and the City's pages say nothing either way about dogs, so read section 5 before yours goes in.

The City's nature preserves say "Bikes and dogs (either on leash or off) are not allowed in preserves." Travis County says "Pets are not allowed in Hamilton Pool Preserve, Pogue Springs Preserve, Wild Basin Preserve," "Hippie Hollow Park, Tom Hughes Park, or on the Point at Bob Wentz Park." At Hamilton Pool: "Do not bring pets, not even on a leash or kept in your vehicle." In four of them, Hamilton Pool Preserve, Hippie Hollow, Pogue Springs and Tom Hughes Park, the county's rules say emotional support dogs aren't allowed and service dogs may be. Hays County says "Several of our parks are not able to allow pets, not even on leashes", so check a Hays County park's page before you go.

Inside parks that do take dogs, some spots don't: Pease Park asks owners to keep dogs out of its splash pad, Garey Park in Georgetown says "Dogs are not permitted on the splash pad.", and Travis County's Bee Creek Sports Complex bans dogs on its playing fields.

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. CapMetro's Code of Conduct: "Service animals must be under the full control of their handler at all times" and "cannot board CapMetro services in carts, strollers, etc., or occupy seats onboard the vehicle." "Service animals that threaten the health or safety of CapMetro team members or customers will be removed from the system." The code says nothing about pet carriers.
2. Lady Bird Lake: "It is illegal for any person to swim, bathe, wade or go into the waters of Lady Bird Lake".
3. Nature preserves: "Preserve land is a unique type of park land that is set aside because it provides essential endangered species habitat,".
4. Travis County: "Emotional support dogs are not permitted in the County parks listed in this subsection", and "Service dogs may be allowed in these designated County parks" under disability law.
5. Pease Park: "Please do not allow your dogs to enter the water feature."
6. Bee Creek Sports Complex, 4440 Bee Creek Road, Spicewood: on its fields, "metal cleats, dogs and other animals, food, chewing gum" are among the banned items.
7. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

Coyotes

Coyotes live in Austin's green spaces and can take a small dog: keep yours on a leash 6 feet or shorter, watch small dogs outside, and scare off a coyote that comes close.

"Coyotes are common in Austin green spaces," the City says. They're "most active at dawn and dusk," but they "are sighted during the daytime in neighborhoods and greenbelts", and they're "known for preying upon small animals, like unsupervised small dogs or outside cats." "Coyotes can carry rabies," too. The City's advice for dog walkers: a leash 6 feet or shorter, not a retractable one, "so it doesn't take off and chase the coyote"; "Keep small pets inside if possible and monitor them when outside."; and "Do not leave pet food outside."

If a coyote comes close, haze it, which means scaring it off on purpose so it stays wary of people. The City's steps:

1. "Make eye contact, yell, and wave your arms."
2. "Use noisemakers such as whistles, air horns, a 'shaker' can full of small rocks".
3. "If the coyote does not leave immediately, throw non-edible objects near it."
4. "Spray the coyote with a water hose, water guns or spray bottles."
5. If it doesn't leave, "maintain eye contact and back away slowly." Then "Notify 311 immediately."

Don't haze a coyote that is sick, injured, cornered or with pups, or one you see in the middle of the night. The City's sheet for dog walkers covers two more: on trails, keep your dog on its leash "to avoid encounters and bites" with snakes, and "If you see a snake, relax and back away slowly, holding your leash close." And "bats are Central Texas's most common carriers of rabies": "If your dog bites one on the ground, seek advice from your vet and call 311 to pick up the bat for testing."

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. Reporting: questions, concerns or a sick or injured animal, 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000; the City's Wildlife Officer, 512-978-0514, offers brochures and talks.
2. The City's approach: "Animal Services does not remove or relocate healthy native animals;" "instead, we work with residents to resolve conflict with wildlife humanely."
3. At home: secure fences, close off crawl spaces under porches, decks and sheds, and clean up under fruit and nut trees. "Pick up any leftover food once your pet is done eating."
4. On a walk: "do not let dogs explore vegetation that you can't see through." "If an area says 'no dogs allowed' do not bring your dog along with you," "especially off-leash."
5. Snakes: "If the snake is venomous or suspected to be venomous, seek medical attention for you and/or your dog."
6. Raccoons: "They are potential rabies carriers and can transmit the disease to humans and dogs."
7. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

At a glance: the off-leash areas and town dog parks

Check four things before you unclip: where the off-leash area starts, whether it's fenced, whether there's water for your dog to drink, and what the lake or creek looks like before your dog goes in.

"Not stated" means the place's own pages don't say.

Before you go

• Leash on until you're inside the off-leash area, and back on before you leave. Keep your dog within sight and sound control: where you can see it, coming back when you call.
• Bring water and a bowl, bags for the waste, and a leash 6 feet or shorter.
• Look at the water before your dog goes in: stay out if it's warm, stagnant or scummy, or if it rained in the past three days, and rinse your dog before it licks its fur.
• Mind the heat: walk in the cooler hours, test the pavement with your hand, and never leave your dog in a parked car.
• Read the town's rules: Georgetown wants current license and rabies tags and no more than 2 dogs per adult; Round Rock wants a microchip; Lakeway allows up to two dogs per person.
• Keep the basics current: rabies shots by 4 months of age, a tag with your details, and a registered microchip.
• If your dog goes missing: Austin Animal Services, 7201 Levander Loop, Building A; 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000; strays are held 72 hours.
• If your dog seems sick after being in or near water: call your vet right away.