New City of Austin Requirement for Dog Boarding Facilities 

On Oct. 22, Austin City Council adopted a new ordinance to improve safety at dog boarding facilities. If your facility boards dogs in outdoor runs, it applies to you. The ordinance calls for a dig guard protection system on those runs, a barrier at the base of the enclosure that keeps dogs from digging their way out.  

Existing dog boarding facilities will need to install dig guards compliant with these new requirements by May 1, 2027. 

A dig guard can be added a few different ways, such as a buried wire mesh skirt, an L-shaped footer, or a poured concrete footing along the base of each enclosure. The adopted ordinance lists the specifications each option must meet and can help determine which one best fits your enclosures. 

Keeping dogs securely enclosed protects the animals, the neighborhood, and the facilities that care for them.