Rental Property Rules in Carrollton, TX

Carrollton maintains 136 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with rental property rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Carrollton falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Just Cause Eviction

Carrollton follows state landlord-tenant law for evictions. Landlords must follow proper notice procedures but may not need to state cause for non-renewal of month-to-month tenancies in most cases.

Repairs & Habitability

Carrollton's Single- and Multi-Family Housing Code sets binding habitability standards for every rental: minimum 70 degrees Fahrenheit heat, air conditioning capped at 81 degrees indoors, working screens, and hot and cold running water. The Director of Code Operations enforces the standards and can placard a unit substandard.

Key details: Governing code: Chapter 96, City Code § 96.06. Minimum indoor heat: 70°F at 3 feet above floor. Max A/C indoor temp: 81°F for tenant-occupied units. Bathroom fixtures required: Water closet, lavatory, tub or shower. Enforcing official: Director of Code Operations (DCO).

Under § 96.04, it is unlawful for an owner, operator, property manager or occupant to violate any Chapter 96 provision, and no culpable mental state is required to establish the offense. For rental-property conditions such as lack of hot or cold running water, inoperable or missing smoke detectors, hazardous electrical wiring, or infestation of insects, vermin or rodents, the Director of Code Operations can prosecute without first serving a notice of violation. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense.

This is one of the stricter rules in Carrollton's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Rental Registration

Every single-family and multi-family rental in Carrollton must be registered annually with the Director of Code Operations before it is leased. Owners who rent an unregistered unit, or who miss the renewal deadline, commit a separate offense for each day the lapse continues.

Key details: Governing code: City Code § 96.02. Application review window: 30 days for DCO to act. Single-family certificate term: Valid through the calendar year. Multi-family certificate term: 12 calendar months from issuance. New-owner deadline: Re-register within 30 days.

Failing to submit a complete, accurate and timely registration, or renting a dwelling that is not registered, is an offense under § 96.02(A)(8)-(9) and (B)(8)-(9). Each day an owner continues to fail to register or renew a single-family or multi-family rental unit constitutes a separate offense under § 96.02(A)(10) and (B)(11), and using more than one trade name at a single multi-family location is separately unlawful under § 96.02(B)(10).

Compared to other cities, Carrollton takes a harder line on rental registration. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Carrollton is tougher than many cities when it comes to rental property rules. Out of the 3 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Carrollton, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Carrollton's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.