Rental Property Rules in Dallas, TX (2026)
11 verified rental property rules for Dallas, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rent Control
Dallas has NO local rent control ordinance and is preempted from passing one by Tex. Local Gov't Code § 214.902, which forbids municipal rent control unless the governor approves it after a declared housing-emergency disaster. The Dallas City Code contains no rent stabilization chapter.
Dallas Rent Control: No Local Ordinance — Texas State Law Only
Few RestrictionsTex. Local Gov't Code Sec. 214.902
Sec. 214.902. RENT CONTROL. (a) The governing body of a municipality may, by ordinance, establish rent control if: (1) the governing body finds that a housing emergency exists due to a disaster as defined by Section 418.004, Government Code; and (2) the governor approves the ordinance. (b) The governing body shall continue or discontinue rent control in the same manner that the governor continu...
Just Cause Eviction
Dallas has NO active local just-cause eviction ordinance. A temporary right-to-cure measure was preempted when Tex. HB 2127 took effect in 2023. Texas is a no-cause termination state under Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001 — a month-to-month tenancy may be ended by either party on 30 days' written notice without stating a reason.
Dallas Just Cause Eviction: No Local Ordinance — Texas State Law Only
Few RestrictionsRental Registration
Dallas City Code Chapter 27 requires registration of single-family rental properties through the Single Family Rental Registration program. Property owners who rent or lease single-family homes or condominiums must register with Code Compliance Services. Owners must conduct annual self-inspections, and the city performs interior inspections at least once every five years. Multi-family properties have enhanced registration and inspection requirements. Registration must be completed before June 1 or 60 days before expiration.
Dallas Rental Property Registration
Heavy RestrictionsTexas Property Code Chapter 92 - Residential Tenancies
Sec. 92.201. DISCLOSURE OF OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT. (a) A landlord shall disclose to a tenant, or to any government official or employee acting in an official capacity, according to this subchapter:(1) the name and either a street or post office box address of the holder of record title, according to the deed records in the county clerk's office, of the dwelling rented by the tenant or inquire...
Relocation Assistance
Texas has no statewide tenant relocation assistance law, and Dallas has not adopted a formal relocation-payment ordinance. Tenants displaced by no-fault terminations or condemnation generally receive no city-mandated payment, though federal Uniform Relocation Act may apply if federal funds are involved.
Tenant Relocation Assistance Not Required in Dallas
Few RestrictionsTexas Property Code Sec. 92.054 - Casualty Loss
Sec. 92.054. CASUALTY LOSS. (a) If a condition results from an insured casualty loss, such as fire, smoke, hail, explosion, or a similar cause, the period for repair does not begin until the landlord receives the insurance proceeds.(b) If after a casualty loss the rental premises are as a practical matter totally unusable for residential purposes and if the casualty loss is not caused by the ne...
Security Deposit Rules
Texas Property Code Sections 92.101 through 92.110 set statewide security-deposit rules. Landlords must return the deposit within 30 days of move-out with an itemized list of deductions. Dallas does not impose stricter local limits; state law preempts most local deposit regulation.
Security Deposits Governed by TX Property Code Statewide
Some RestrictionsTexas Property Code Sec. 92.103 - Obligation to Refund Security Deposit
Sec. 92.103. OBLIGATION TO REFUND. (a) Except as provided by Section 92.107, the landlord shall refund a security deposit to the tenant on or before the 30th day after the date the tenant surrenders the premises.(b) A requirement that a tenant give advance notice of surrender as a condition for refunding the security deposit is effective only if the requirement is underlined or is printed in co...
Cash-for-Keys Agreements
Dallas does not regulate cash-for-keys voluntary buyout agreements. Texas Property Code Chapter 92 governs landlord-tenant relations and allows landlords and tenants to negotiate any voluntary surrender of possession in exchange for payment, without city-mandated disclosure forms.
Cash-for-Keys Buyout Agreements in Dallas
Few RestrictionsNo-Fault Evictions
Texas allows landlords to end fixed-term leases at expiration and to terminate month-to-month tenancies with at least 30 days' written notice for any lawful reason. Dallas has no just-cause requirement and no ordinance restricting no-fault, end-of-lease nonrenewal.
No-Fault Lease Termination in Dallas
Few RestrictionsTexas Property Code Sec. 91.001 - Notice for Terminating Certain Tenancies
Sec. 91.001. NOTICE FOR TERMINATING CERTAIN TENANCIES. (a) A monthly tenancy or a tenancy from month to month may be terminated by the tenant or the landlord giving notice of termination to the other.(b) If a notice of termination is given under Subsection (a) and if the rent-paying period is at least one month, the tenancy terminates on whichever of the following days is the later:(1) the day ...
Pass-Through Charges
Texas Property Code governs landlord-tenant rent and fee terms statewide, and few Texas cities limit pass-through charges for utilities, trash, pest control, or amenities. Dallas has no ordinance restricting how landlords pass through operating costs, so lease terms generally control disclosure and amount.
Pass-Through Fees Largely Unregulated in Dallas
Few RestrictionsTenant Anti-Harassment
Dallas does not have a comprehensive tenant anti-harassment ordinance like Los Angeles or Seattle. Tenants rely on Texas Property Code Section 92.331 retaliation rules and Dallas Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Chapter 46 for protection against landlord harassment based on protected characteristics.
Tenant Anti-Harassment Protections in Dallas
Some RestrictionsTexas Property Code Sec. 92.331 - Retaliation by Landlord
Sec. 92.0081. REMOVAL OF PROPERTY AND EXCLUSION OF RESIDENTIAL TENANT. (a) A landlord may not remove a door, window, or attic hatchway cover or a lock, latch, hinge, hinge pin, doorknob, or other mechanism connected to a door, window, or attic hatchway cover from premises leased to a tenant or remove furniture, fixtures, or appliances furnished by the landlord from premises leased to a tenant u...
Source-of-Income Discrimination
Dallas amended its Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Chapter 46 in 2020 to ban housing discrimination based on lawful source of income, including Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. Dallas became the first major Texas city to extend this protection citywide for rental housing.
Source of Income Protection in Dallas
Heavy RestrictionsTexas Local Government Code Chapter 250 - Miscellaneous Regulatory Authority
Sec. 250.007. REGULATION OF RENTAL OR LEASING OF HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS. (a) Except as provided by this section, a municipality or county may not adopt or enforce an ordinance or regulation that prohibits an owner, lessee, sublessee, assignee, managing agent, or other person having the right to lease, sublease, or rent a housing accommodation from refusing to lease or rent the housing accommoda...
Section 8 Voucher Acceptance
The Dallas Housing Authority administers the federal Housing Choice Voucher program for Dallas. Since Dallas City Code Chapter 46 was amended in 2020, landlords cannot refuse vouchers based on source of income, and DHA inspects participating units for HUD Housing Quality Standards.
Section 8 Vouchers and DHA in Dallas
Some RestrictionsLooking for Dallas County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Dallas city rules.
Rental Property Rules in Dallas County →